Little Valley was formed from the Town of Perry, and was the fourth town to be
organized in the County. Little Valley's first formation, in 1818, included the
present towns of Leon, Conewango, Randolph, South Valley, Coldspring, Napoli,
New Albion, Mansfield, Salamanca, Red House, and Little Valley. Following
several divisions, the Town of Little Valley as it exists today was formed in
1854.
As early as 1807, claim was taken upon land in Little Valley. The first permanent
settler arrived in 1815. In early years, dairy interest of the Town evolved
around cheese which resulted in the building of the Little Valley Cheese Factory
(1867), Larabee Creamery & Cheese Factory (1871), and the Little Valley Creamery
(1877). The first saw and grist mill was built in 1809 on Little Valley Creek.
The present site of the Village of Little Valley, developed slowly until the
coming of the railroad in 1851. The New York, Lake Erie & Western railroad ran
through the Town along Little Valley Creek and had a station in the Village. The
County courthouse and jail was completed in 1867 on a five acre lot donated by
John Manley. The cost of the building was $33,000, with $18,000 being appropriated
by the Towns of Little Valley and Napoli, and the remaining balance provided
by individual contributions. The Cattaraugus County Agricultural Society
first met in 1856 and secured the current fairgrounds in 1870. On the fairgrounds
numerous arrowheads, finished and unfinished have been found. The Little
Valley Water Company was organized in 1872, obtaining quality water from an
excellent spring about a mile way, furnishing water to its customers at a moderate
cost. The Village of Little Valley was incorporated in 1876.
In the 1890's, the Village had several stores, 3 churches, a school (Little
Valley Union Free School - 1877), cutlery shop (Cattaraugus Cutlery Company),
several hotels (i.e. Rock City, New Palace, Burrell House, Drew's Hotel), opera
house, bank (Crissey & Crissey - 1868), court house and jail, a lawyer (1869),
saw and grist mills, cheese box factory, a doctor (1839), Kellogg Washing Machine
Company, a weekly journal (Cattaraugus Republican - 1868), shops (i.e . cooper
shop).
The east side of Main Street was almost totally destroyed by fire in the 1920's,
and the west side suffered a similar fate in 1951.
Elkdale, previously known as Little Valley Center, contained a post office,
school house (the first in the Town), a cheese factory, a store, a hotel, a
church and a tavern. In the early years, Elkdale was the "place of business" in
the Town. Today, Elkdale attracts golf enthusiasts from miles around.
Also located in the Town of Little Valley is a natural formation of hugh boulders
and cylindrical shapes of rock, with large fissures between, through which the
adventurous can climb and walk. This "city" of stone covers nearly 100 acres,
and towers to heights of 2,000 feet, giving it the name of Rock City.
Source: Cattaraugus County Book 1808-1995/96