early little valley
The first white settlers came to the Little Valley area as early as 1808 but all left during the war of 1812.
The oldest surviving minutes book begins with the March 1823 Annual Meeting held at the home of Enoch Chase. At that meeting, Simeon Sneed was elected Town Supervisor and Guilson Morgan was elected Town Clerk.
Children's education was important in the new Town and descriptions of school districts laid out between 1828 and 1916 are part of the Town's archival records.
Because of the many farms, a number of cheese factories were built with the abundant supply of lumber from the forested hills, gristmills, and sawmills along the creeks. In the 1880s, the first of several cutlery's were established.
The oldest surviving minutes book begins with the March 1823 Annual Meeting held at the home of Enoch Chase. At that meeting, Simeon Sneed was elected Town Supervisor and Guilson Morgan was elected Town Clerk.
Children's education was important in the new Town and descriptions of school districts laid out between 1828 and 1916 are part of the Town's archival records.
Because of the many farms, a number of cheese factories were built with the abundant supply of lumber from the forested hills, gristmills, and sawmills along the creeks. In the 1880s, the first of several cutlery's were established.
town of little valley
The Town of Little Valley, formed by the Cattaraugus County Legislature in 1818, is located among the hills and valleys of central Cattaraugus County in western New York. The original Town was much larger than its present size with five additional towns formed between 1823 and 1864. State Highway Routes 353 and 242 crosses through the township. In 1867, the County seat was moved to Little Valley from Ellicottville because of Little Valley's location along the railroad. Later, the trolley line between Salamanca and Little Valley became an important mode of transportation. Near the southeast corner of the Town is a uniquely picturesque area known as "Rock City". The stone city of huge 20 to 30 feet high conglomerate rocks and narrow passageways covers many miles.
ARCHIVAL RECORDS
The Towns of Little Valley Records Archival are records created and received in normal course of business from 1822 to the present. These records include minutes of the Town Board, beginning with the 1823 Annual Board Meeting, local town laws, annual financial reports, school district records, tax rolls, unique 1800s records such as animal markings and strays, pathmaster lists, Civil War military records, and many other records that document the history of the Town and it's residents.
The laying out of roads was vital to the growth of the Town and many of the original road surveys still exist.
The laying out of roads was vital to the growth of the Town and many of the original road surveys still exist.
access to records
The Town of Little Valley archival records that have been arranged and described are available for research at the Town Hall, located at 201 Third Street, in the Town of Little Valley, during the Clerk's regular office hours. An appointment may be made by calling or writing and stating the type of records you wish to see. Research must be conducted in the Town Hall.