Photo provided by Arcade & Attica Railroad/       Patrick D. Connors

General Overview

Wyoming County is showing progress in several areas, while lagging behind the region in others. Wyoming has the highest percentage of mothers receiving early prenatal care and one of the lowest rates of low birth-weight babies in the region. Wyoming students consistently do well on state tests, and have one of the highest graduation rates in the region. However, the county has the lowest rate of post-high school education and the lowest level of pre-kindergarten participation in the region. Wyoming has also seen a slight decline in population, increasing poverty rates, and declining incomes. Similar to the rest of the region, Wyoming has seen significant declines in crime rates. However, Wyoming had the greatest increase in the rate of felony drug-related arrests of all counties in the region.

Demographic Overview

Wyoming ties Orleans for the greatest decline in population in the region since 2000. Wyoming lost roughly 2,000 residents (-5%) to have a population of just over 41,000 in 2009, the smallest total population of all of our area counties. 

Similar to other counties in the upstate region, Wyoming is experiencing substantial declines in its number of youths and young adults. Between 2000 and 2008, Wyoming had the largest decrease in the region of people under the age of 20 — a decline of 21%, compared to an 11% drop in the overall region, 4% drop in the state and a 3% increase in the nation. The county also experienced a 6% decline in 20 to 39 year olds, which was on par with the region but slightly more than the state (-5%).

Minority populations are growing in Wyoming County, although it remains 92% white. The most substantial growth between 2000 and 2009 occurred in those self-reporting as "two or more races," which increased by 31% to 280 residents.  Despite an increase of only 2% during this time, African Americans or blacks made up the largest minority group in the county at 2,500 residents, followed by Hispanics with 1,400.

Wyoming County has experienced a decrease in the share of households of married couples with children and a slight increase in unmarried households with children. From 2000 to 2006-08 the share of households of married couples with children living at home fell from 26% to 23%. During the same time, unmarried households with children grew as a share of the total, from 8% to 9%. These changes in household types are similar to the trends for the region, state and nation.

Arts and Culture

Tourism spending has increased in Wyoming County. Tourists spent $33.7 million in the county in 2008, up 3% from 2005, after adjusting for inflation. Recreational spending has increased, with tourists spending $139 per resident in 2008, up from $123 in 2005 – the second highest rate in the region.

Wyoming's ratio of Arts teachers per 1,000 students increased from 6 in 2000 to 7 in 2008. The county is just above the rate for the region (6.9) and exceeds the state rate of 5.1.

Children and Youth

Wyoming County has traditionally had one of the highest percentages of mothers seeking early prenatal care in the region. In 2008, 79% of mothers sought care within their first trimester of pregnancy, compared with 77% in the region and 72% in the state. Despite its high rate, the proportion of mothers receiving prenatal care has fallen 3 points since 2000.

Wyoming County has the lowest rate of low birth-weight babies in the region. In 2008, 4.6% of babies were of low birth weight, compared to 7.4% in the region and 8.2% in the state.

In 2006-08, 18% of children in Wyoming County were living in poverty. This rate ties both Monroe and Wayne as the highest rate in the region, though it is slightly below the state rate of 19%. Like the rest of the region, the poverty rate has increased since 2000, with Wyoming's rate increasing by six percentage points, to a total of roughly 1,500 children.

Wyoming had the second lowest rate of children living in single-parent households in 2006-08. About 24% of children lived with one parent, second only to Livingston with 23%. Wyoming's rate is up from 22% in 2000, yet remains below the rates for the state and nation of 34% and 32% respectively.

The rate of Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) petitions has fluctuated over the decade, yet overall declined by 22% from 2000 to 2008. The rate of PINS petitions per 1,000 youth in Wyoming declined from 7.2 in 2000 to 5.6 in 2008, after hitting its 2002 high of 11. Despite the overall decline, Wyoming's rate is higher than both the region (3.6) and the state (2.2).

In 2008, Wyoming had the lowest rate of juvenile delinquency intakes in the region. Wyoming's juvenile delinquency intakes rate of 51 per 10,000 children is lower than the state (104) and region (127). From 2000 to 2008, Wyoming County had the second greatest decline in the rate of intakes (-51%) in the region after Livingston, and runs counter to the region and state, which posted increases of 4% and 8% respectively.

Community Engagement

Wyoming County has the lowest voter registration rate in the region, with 74% of voting age adults registered. In the 2008 presidential election, 53% of voting age adults voted, the second lowest in the region after Orleans. Participation was below the regional rate of 62%, and the national rate of 57%, though it did exceed the state turnout of 51%. During non-presidential elections, turnout floats around 40%, below the rates for the region (42%) but above the state turnout (32%).

Average donations fell by 13% from 2002 to 2006 in Wyoming, the largest decrease in the region. In 2006, the average donation was around $2,300, below the regional ($3,000) and the state ($5,000) averages. As a percent of income, donors gave 2.4% in 2006, on par with most of the region.

Economy

Wyoming County has experienced significant shifts in jobs by sector. The number of jobs in Professional and Business Services, the county's fastest-growing sector, doubled between 2001 and 2007 to nearly 1,700 jobs. During this time, Wyoming experienced declines in jobs in the Financial Activities (-11%), Information (- 18%) and Manufacturing (-3%) sectors.

Wyoming County has felt the repercussions of the economic crisis of 2007-09, having the second highest unemployment rate in the region. The unemployment rate in Wyoming County hit a decade high of 9% in 2009, second only to Orleans County at 9.3%, and up from the low of 4.7% in 2000.

In 2008, Wyoming County's average salary of $34,800, adjusted for inflation, represented an increase of 4.7% since 2000. This was one of the higher rates of growth in the region, and exceeds the increase in the nation (3.1%), but not the state (7.2%).

Education

Wyoming County has the lowest rate of pre-kindergarten participation in the region. Only 14% of the county's 4-year-olds were enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs in 2008-09. This rate is much lower than the region (33%) and state (40%). Wyoming's participation rates decreased by 7 percentage points since 2000, while most of Wyoming's neighboring counties experienced substantial increases.

Similar to students throughout our region, students in Wyoming outperform those across the state on most key state tests and graduate at higher rates. For example, 87% of eighth-graders met or exceeded standards on the state math test, above the rates for the region (72%) and the state (69%). Wyoming also has the second highest percentage of students graduating on time (83%), well above the rate for the region (76%) and exceeding the statewide rate (80%).

Wyoming County has the lowest proportion of residents with a post-high school education. In 2006-08, 42% of residents 25 years and older had completed at least some college. While this increased from 36% in 2000, it is still well below the region (59%), state (55%), and nation (55%). The proportion of adults with less than a high school diploma dropped to 15% in 2006-08 from 24% in 2000. While Wyoming is still above the regional rate in this category, it is now below the state and on par with the nation.

Spending per student by school districts in Wyoming has increased 18% since 2000, even after adjusting for inflation. In 2009, Wyoming school districts spent around $15,700 per student, comparable to spending in surrounding counties, but less than the state rate of $18,300.

Environment

Wyoming's total emissions per resident fell by 22% from 2002 to 2005.  Despite the decline, Wyoming's rate exceeds the rates for the region and state. Wyoming has the lowest rate of vehicle emissions in the region, emitting 21 tons per square mile in 2005, well below the regional rate of 93.

Pesticide use has fallen by 8% in Wyoming County from 6 pounds per resident in 2003 to 5.5 pounds per resident in 2005. While this does exceed the overall regional and state rates, it is in between the rates for the counties surrounding Monroe which range from a low of 2 pounds per resident in Ontario to a high of 13 in Wayne. 

Financial Self-Sufficiency

Wyoming County had the third lowest median household income in the region in 2006-08, following Genesee and Orleans. Wyoming County's median household income was about $49,800, lower than the region ($51,700), state ($55,000) and nation ($52,000). After adjusting for inflation, the county's median household income fell by 3% from 2000 to 2006-08, while the regional median decreased by 9% and the state decreased by 1%.

Wyoming has one of the lowest poverty rates of all the region's counties. In 2006-08, 11% of Wyoming residents had incomes below the poverty line, compared to 14% for the state and 13% for the nation. Despite having the lowest rate in the region, just over 4,000 Wyoming residents live in poverty, up from 3,300 residents in 2000. 

Wyoming has the lowest rate of individuals receiving government support in the region. In 2009, there were only eight public assistance recipients per 1,000 residents, compared to 30 in the region and 27 in the state. This figure has stayed roughly constant since 2001. Wyoming also has the lowest rate of people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in the region (16 per 1,000 residents), much lower than the rates for the region (26) and state (34).

Health

In 2006, 15% of Wyoming County residents under 65 did not have health insurance. This is more than the region (13%), but fewer than the state (16%) and nation (18%).

Every county in the region has seen a steady decline in overall mortality rates since 2000. Between 2000 and 2008, Wyoming residents had a decline in mortality rates from heart disease (-3%), cancer (-7%), and stroke (-73%). However, mortality rates from chronic lower respiratory disease increased by 26%.

Housing

Homes  in Wyoming County have retained their value through the housing bubble, remaining fairly flat since 2000. In 2006-08, Wyoming had a median home value of $93,700, substantially lower than that of the region ($118,800) and state ($310,600). During this time period, regional home values increased by 3% while the state and nation posted double digit growth.

Wyoming County had one of the highest homeownership rates in 2006-08. Second only to Livingston County, 76% of all occupied housing units in Wyoming County were owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is higher than the national rate (67%) and 20 percentage points greater than the state (56%).

Wyoming County leads the region in the rate of non-residential building permits issued. While all other counties in the region experienced significant declines in non-residential building permits, Wyoming increased from a low .12 permits per 1,000 residents in 2000 to 1.85 in 2008, compared to the regional rate of .23.

Public Safety

Wyoming County has experienced some of the largest drops in crime rates of all the regional counties since 2000. Similar to reduced crime rates experienced statewide, Wyoming has seen a decline in serious crimes (-54%), violent crimes (-56%), property crimes (-54%), and other reported crimes (-30%). However, the county had a substantial increase in felony drug-related arrest rates, from 1.6 cases per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 10.1 in 2008— a great increase which runs counter to the declining trends experienced in the region and state.

Transportation

Similar to most counties in the area, Wyoming County residents rely on cars for transportation. In 2006-08, 94% of households had access to a vehicle and the same percent of workers either drove alone or carpooled to work. Average travel time to work was 23 minutes, consistent with most of the region.

Wyoming County has seen a decrease in crashes resulting in personal injuries, with the rate falling by 19% from 2000 to 2008. In 2008, 58 crashes per 10,000 residents resulted in personal injury, below the rates for the region with 67 and the state with 69.