Steuben County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, its population was 93,584. Its county seat is Bath. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same (). The county is part of the Southern Tier region of the state.
Steuben County comprises the Corning, NY micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Elmira-Corning, NY combined statistical area.
History
Ontario County was established in 1789 to govern lands the state of New York had acquired in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase; at the time, it covered the entirety of Western New York. Steuben County, much larger than today, was split off from Ontario County on March 8, 1796. In 1823, a portion of Steuben County was combined with a portion of Ontario County to form Yates County. Steuben County was further reduced in size on April 17, 1854, when a portion was combined with portions of Chemung and Tompkins Counties to form Schuyler County.
In its earliest years, Steuben County was demographically and geographically linked to the Susquehanna River basin in Pennsylvania, leading to the port of Baltimore. The Canisteo River, navigable as far as Arkport, emptied into the Chemung River and it into the Susquehanna. No natural barriers, such as the Cohoes Falls on the Mohawk, existed to impede transportation, and timber and other agricultural products were easily shipped downriver from what are the towns of Addison, Canisteo, and Hornellsville. Prior to the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, followed by the railroads, communication with the Hudson Valley and New York City was difficult. Limited to horses, mules, and donkeys, using it to ship bulky agricultural products was far too expensive.
In 1892, a bill was introduced in the legislature to split Steuben County, with Canisteo, Corning, and "the south towns" becoming Lincoln County. It did not pass.
Geography
thumb|right|Former Steuben County Courthouse in [[Corning, New York|Corning]]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which (1.0%) are covered by water.
Steuben County is in the southwestern part of New York, immediately north of the Pennsylvania border. The population of Steuben County according to the 2000 U. S. census was 98,726. The county is in the Southern Tier region of New York.
Adjacent counties
- Ontario County - north
- Yates County - northeast
- Schuyler County - east
- Chemung County - east
- Tioga County, Pennsylvania - south
- Potter County, Pennsylvania - southwest
- Allegany County - west
- Livingston County - northwest
Government and politics
Steuben County is governed by a 17-member legislature headed by a chairman.
State and federal government
Steuben County is a Republican stronghold in national elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide.
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Office !! District !! Area of the county !! Officeholder !! Party !! First took office !! Residence
|-
| U.S. Representative || New York's 23rd congressional district || All || Nicholas Langworthy || Republican || 2022 || Pendleton, Niagara County
|-
| State Senator || 58th State Senate District || All || Thomas F. O'Mara || Republican || 2011 || Big Flats, Chemung County
|-
| State Assemblyman || 132nd State Assembly District || All of the county not covered by the 133rd and 148th assembly districts || Philip A. Palmesano || Republican || 2011 || Corning, Steuben County
|-
| State Assemblyman || 133rd State Assembly District || The north and northwest parts of the county (towns of Dansville, Cohocton, Hornellsville, Prattsburgh, Wayland) || colspan=3 align=center| Vacant ||
|-
| State Assemblyman || 148th State Assembly District || The southwest corner of the county (towns of Greenwood, Jasper, Troupsburg, West Union) || Joseph M. Giglio || Republican || 2005 || Gowanda, Cattaraugus County
|}
Steuben County is part of:
- The 7th Judicial District of the New York Supreme Court
- The 4th Department of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division