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It's been some time since I've been there. I remember Franklinville as somewhat run-down but peaceful, in a good way. Still had the handsome bones of upstate towns.
Ellicottville was certainly quaint. But I've heard that it has gotten major infusions of ski-country second homes, lodges, etc., that, along with some general prosperity, have made home prices in general on the high side.
In any case, what is your opinion of these and other Cattaraugus County towns, and the county generally?
Is the county roughly comparable to Allegany County (which I know much better)?
Which towns/villages would you list as best, which ones as worst, in terms of balancing what remains of the classic upstate old towns' virtues (livability, in sum) vs. the last 40 years of upstate towns' problems (weak economy, in sum)?
I know Cattaraugus pretty well. I really like it in terms of the natural scenery and the outdoor activities available. It has the bigger, higher profile attractions like the ski resorts in Ellicottville, which has become an interesting town, not a quaint NY type town, but interesting and touristy, and Cattaraugus has Allegany State Park, Allegheny River/Reservoir, Zoar Valley, and Salamanca's new casino which has been doing well. I think Olean is a pretty nice small city, but I really can't think of any towns in Cattaraugus that I would call quaint in the NY or New England sense. I don't know Allegany county as well, but in comparison, it has stood still, lacks any big development, and has several really quaint and appealing small towns like Cuba, Wellsville, Angelica, maybe more. A good way to see the counties is to compare their ski resorts, Holiday Valley and Swain. Each has very distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Ellicottville has becoming even more snobby with condos & winter ski homes galore and trendy shops. It even has a fairly big Wingate Inn now ( for the not B&B crowd). I don't like it in winter. If you want a booming town, I guess that is is. OTOH, Franklinville is still a sturdy town and -- depending on what you want for a place to live -- can be town or rural. Arcade is still a stuggling village; a bit worse for wear than Franklinville. My husband's family farmed in the area until about 1900; he still has relatives who farm there. The small towns are shadows of themselves -- given the car, everyone will drive to get to what they want. Sad the little towns fell by the wayside, but it is happening all over NY state.
Randolph, which is on the Chautauqua County line is a nice little town with lots of scenery. It is close to Alleghany State Park and nestled between Jamestown, NY and Salamanca, NY along interstate 86.
Its worth a look as maybe I am biased, but I love that place
Little Valley: Basically looks like a ghetto now. Rock City St. has a cute strip of houses but the only thing nice in the center of town is the bank. Everything else is practically falling apart.
Franklinville: Has a lot of really cheap (but nice) houses, but they usually have really small yards. Down town is nice, they have a small grocery store, two pizza places, a coffee shop, a bar, and a few other things. People there are friendly, but they tend to be hermits. Out of all the small towns in Catt Co. this is definitely my favorite, its also the least run down.
Ellicottville: Ellicottville has a repuation for having alot of snobby people. Real estate their has sky rocketed over the years, it isn't horribly expensive but houses are definitely more expensive there than in other areas. Property taxes are extremely high for Ellicottville, so alot of people are moving and its becoming more of a tourist town than anything. The ski industry is quite active there and alot of people from Canada come down for vaction durring the winter months.
Olean: Its a pretty small city..nothing really goes on, there aren't a whole lot of jobs, the housing isn't fantastic, and people have a pessimistic attitude.
Jamestown: Has gotten pretty nasty over the years, its not nearly as bad as Buffalo but there is still a lot of gang activity, racism, and violence. I'm not sure about real estate prices but the general state of housing is mediocre.
To be honest I think that Cattaraugus County as a whole is a **** hole. Most would agree with me, I only know a few people that actually enjoy living here. Its generally a cheap place to live but I wouldn't recommend it if you want to raise a family. Jobs are kinda scarce and are most in education, health care, minimum wage food service, and factories.
what is the job situation like in franklinville or surrounding area?
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Randolph
