Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County spreads across hilly terrain with farmland and forests, crossed by numerous waterways and the Allegheny River. The area combines open farm fields with dense woodlands and offers a mixed landscape.

The territory was assigned to Albany County in 1683 and received its current form as an independent county on March 28, 1817. This change marked a significant administrative reorganization in Western New York.

The name comes from the Seneca language and refers to natural gas emissions from local rock formations, reflecting the Native American heritage of this region. This naming shows how deeply the land is connected to the traditions of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Interstate 86 and U.S. Route 62 connect the communities throughout the county. The region is well served by local roads and two airports provide air transportation options for visitors.

The area contains two distinct Rock City formations with natural stone arrangements that create patterns similar to street layouts. These rock clusters formed through geological processes and create unexpected maze-like structures in the landscape.

Location: New York

Inception: March 28, 1817

Capital city: Little Valley

Part of: Southern Tier

Shares border with: Erie County, McKean County, Warren County, Allegany County, Chautauqua County, Wyoming County

Website: http://co.cattaraugus.ny.us

GPS coordinates: 42.23032,-78.63821

Latest update: December 17, 2025 07:48