This map (above is a sample clip) presents the percent of total population for each Town within Allegany County, NY whose 1999 income was below poverty level.  This map is intended to assist in understanding population demographics within Allegany County. 

United States Census Bureau; Alfred University; New York State GIS Clearinghouse; ESRI

NAD 1983 StatePlane New York West FIPS 3103 (Feet)

Map created on 3/1/06 by

Rural Justice Institute GIS Services

Percent of population (all ages) for whom income in 1999 is below poverty level range from 5.3% in the Town of Grove to 32.8% in the Town of Centerville.  This excludes the portion of the Oil Springs Indian Reservation occurring in Allegany County.

The demographic data used in this map was acquired from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Factfinder Census 2000 Summary File 3 Geographic Comparison Table (GCT) P14: Income and Poverty in 1999: 2000.  The attribute used is “Income in 1999 below poverty level; Percent of population for whom poverty status is determined; All ages.”  Note that Summary File 3 contains population and housing data collected from a 1-in-6 sample and weighted to represent the total population.

The Census Bureau uses the federal government's official poverty definition.  There is no single dollar amount applied to every individual/family to determine poverty status.  The following explanation of how poverty is defined is taken from the American Factfinder Help: “The poverty status of families and unrelated individuals in 1999 was determined using 48 thresholds (income cutoffs) arranged in a two dimensional matrix. The matrix consists of family size (from 1 person to 9 or more people) cross-classified by presence and number of family members under 18 years old (from no children present to 8 or more children present).”