Population124,126 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
A County Story Told Through Civic Beginnings
Chautauqua County, New YorkMayville anchors Chautauqua County’s government history, which distinguishes legislative creation from the later start of county operations. The county historian and village resources preserve that sequence, along with the development of the first courthouse and the eventual standardization of the county’s familiar spelling. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 124,126 residents in Chautauqua County, New York, on July 1, 2025.
Chautauqua County at a Glance
Population124,126 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatMayville
StateNew York
Established1808 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP CodesVary by address
Total Area, Including Water1,500.192 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Road InformationState transportation resources below
Area CodesSee local phone listings
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County was created by legislation in 1808, but county government began operating in 1811. The first courthouse developed between 1812 and 1815, giving the new institutions a physical home in Mayville. The county historian also records the adoption of the present spelling in 1859. These details matter when reading early documents: government dates and place names can change independently, and understanding those changes makes the county's records easier to follow across its first decades.
Use Mayville and the county historian's resources as a starting point for a focused local-history visit or research project. The courthouse chronology provides one theme, while changing spelling offers another clue for archival searches. Keep the 1808 creation date separate from the 1811 start of government. Current village and county information can guide public access and destinations, allowing the historical framework to support a practical plan rather than remain only a list of dates.
What Shapes Us
Place And Character
The county historian and village resources preserve that sequence, along with the development of the first courthouse and the eventual standardization of the county's familiar spelling.
The Local Story
Chautauqua County was created by legislation in 1808, but county government began operating in 1811. The first courthouse developed between 1812 and 1815, giving the new institutions a physical home in Mayville.
Explore The County
Use Mayville and the county historian's resources as a starting point for a focused local-history visit or research project. The courthouse chronology provides one theme, while changing spelling offers another clue for archival searches.
Discover the details that bring a county's beginnings into focus.
A Closer Look
Chautauqua County
Places and perspectives from Chautauqua County
New York State Department of Transportation
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Read the Story Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Chautauqua County
Stories from every corner of Chautauqua County.
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation to Host Two Public Information Meetings for Proposed Projects in Towns of Wirt and Burns, Allegany County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation Announces Completion of $19.9 Million Bridge Replacement Project in Hamilton County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Major Work on the Transformative Van Wyck Expressway Project
Oct 26, 2026 • 2 min read
War on Potholes: Governor Hochul Fills the One Millionth Pothole on State Roads in 2026
Oct 22, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
County photographs from Wikimedia Commons; images may be cropped for display.
- Chautauqua County Courthouse, Mayville.jpg — Nyttend. Public domain. Own work
- Bell Tower Banner.jpg — LJ's Photos. CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miller_Bell_Tower_Chautauqua_Institution_Chautauqua_NY.jpg
- Chautauqua Creek.JPG — Oceangod8 (talk) (Uploads). Public domain. Own work (Original text: self-made)
Government
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Bemus Point Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 41 LIBERTY ST, BEMUS POINT, NY 14712. 716-386-3795.
Brocton Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 138 W MAIN ST, BROCTON, NY 14716. 716-792-2102.
Sinclairville Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 43 SINCLAIR DR, SINCLAIRVILLE, NY 14782. 716-962-5195.
Chautauqua Lake Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-06. 100 N ERIE ST, MAYVILLE, NY 14757. 716-753-5841.
Clymer Central School – Other; grades PK-12. 8672 E MAIN ST, CLYMER, NY 14724. 716-355-4444.
Dunkirk Intermediate School – Elementary; grades 03-06. 525 EAGLE ST, DUNKIRK, NY 14048. 716-366-9300.
Harvey C Fenner Elementary School – Elementary; grades 03-05. 2 EAST AVE N, FALCONER, NY 14733. 716-665-6627.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Brooks-Tlc Hospital System, Inc – Acute Care Hospitals. 529 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048. 716-366-1111.
Upmc Chautauqua At Wca – Acute Care Hospitals. 207 Foote Avenue, Jamestown, NY 14701. 716-487-0141.
Westfield Memorial Hospital, Inc – Acute Care Hospitals. 189 East Main Street, Westfield, NY 14787. 716-326-4921.
Westfield Memorial Hospital, Inc – Rural Emergency Hospital. 189 East Main Street, Westfield, NY 14787. 716-326-4921.
New York statewide resources
Public Safety
Use these official resources for law-enforcement information, criminal-justice services, safety programs and public-safety assistance.
- New York State Police — State Police services, safety information, news and contact resources.
- Division of Criminal Justice Services — Criminal-justice programs, public-safety resources, statistics and services.
- Sex Offender Registry — Search New York State public sex-offender registry information.
- Missing Persons Clearinghouse — Official missing-person information and resources.
- Office of Victim Services — Information about victim compensation, assistance programs and local service providers.
- Traffic Safety — Statewide traffic-safety programs, education and highway-safety information.
- Homeland Security & Emergency Services — Preparedness, emergency management, fire prevention and homeland-security programs.
- NY.gov Safety & Justice Services — Search state services related to safety, justice and identification.
Emergency Services
New York statewide resources
State Parks
Plan a New York park trip with official park finders, camping tools, events, passes, historic sites and recreation information.
- Find a State Park — Search New York state parks by region, county and recreation options.
- New York State Parks — Main portal for parks, historic sites, recreation, events and visitor information.
- Camping — Camping information, policies and reservation guidance for state parks.
- Park Activities — Explore trails, boating, swimming, golf, birding and seasonal activities.
- Park Regions — Browse parks and recreation opportunities by New York State Parks region.
- Historic Sites — Explore state-operated historic sites, museums and heritage destinations.
- DEC Places to Go — Find state forests, wildlife areas, campgrounds and other DEC-managed lands.
- DEC Camping — Camping information for DEC campgrounds and backcountry areas.
Trails
Utilities
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Ashville Free Library – 2200 North Maple Street, Ashville, NY 14710. 716-763-9906.
Bemus Point Public Library – 13 Main Street, Bemus Point, NY 14712. 716-386-2274.
Ahira Hall Memorial Library – 37 West Main Street, Brocton, NY 14716. 716-792-9418.
Smith Memorial Library – 21 Miller Avenue, Chautauqua, NY 14722. 716-357-6296.
Clymer-French Creek Free Library – 564 Clymer – Sherman Road, Clymer, NY 14724. 716-355-8823.
Dunkirk Public Library – 536 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY 14048. 716-366-2511.
Ellington Farman Library – 760 Thornton Road, Ellington, NY 14732. 716-287-2945.
New York statewide resources
Courts
Find courts, case information, forms, self-help guidance and court services through the New York State Unified Court System.
- New York Courts — Main portal for the New York State Unified Court System.
- Find a Court — Search courts by county, court type and case type.
- CourtHelp — Plain-language information for people handling common court matters.
- eCourts — Access public case information for supported New York court matters.
- Court Forms — Find statewide and court-specific forms.
- Programs & Services — Access ADR, accessibility, criminal-history search and other court-user services.
- Jury Service — Official New York juror information and service guidance.
- Law Libraries — Find court law libraries and legal-research assistance.
Motor Vehicle Services
Paving Project Scheduled at Dunkirk DMV
Transportation
CHQ Transit Launches “Fill the Bus” Food Drive to Support Local Families
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
How do I look for Civil Service Employment Opportunities?
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Chautauqua County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Chautauqua County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
124,126 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
1,500.192 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with Employment, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Board of Elections, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Veteran Services, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Emergency Services, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Public Transportation, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Water & Sewer Districts, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with County Clerk / DMV, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Parks & Trails, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
A New Stop, a Local ConnectionExplore the Listings Below