The town was first settled around 1822. The Town of Carrollton was formed on March 9, 1842 from the town of Great Valley. In 1877, the community of Limestone set itself off from the town by incorporating as a village. In 2011, this community reverted to being a hamlet within the town because voters agreed to dissolve the village in 2009.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.14%, is water. The Allegheny River flows through the northern portion of the town, from southeast to northwest. Tunungwant Creek flows south to north through the middle of the town, joining with the Allegheny near Riverside Junction. The south town line is the border of McKean County, Pennsylvania. The Southern Tier Expressway cross the north part of the town, and U.S. Route 219 passes north-south through the town, joining New York State Route 417 north of the Allegheny River.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,410 people, 553 households, and 383 families residing in the town. The population density was 33.3 people per square mile. There were 639 housing units at an average density of 15.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 94.82% White, 1.56% African American, 1.56% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population. There were 553 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couplesliving together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males. The median income for a household in the town was $31,290, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $28,854 versus $19,861 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,678. About 9.9% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Frederic Palen Schoonmaker, former US federal judge, born in Limestone
Allegany State Park - A part of this park in the western section of the town.
Carrollton - The hamlet of Carrollton, formerly a station on the Erie Railroad is in the northwest part of the town on a side road, off Routes 219 and 417. The community developed at the junction of two rail lines. The hamlet consists entirely of residences and has no businesses.
Irvine Mills - A hamlet south of Seneca Junction and north of Limestone on US Route 219.
Limestone - The former village of Limestone, now a census-designated place, is in the south part of the town on US Route 219.
Mount Irvine - A small mountain peak, elevation, west of Irvine Mills.
New Ireland - A ghost town located west of Limestone. Now surrounded by Allegany State Park, it was settled by Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine of the 1840s and abandoned during the Great Depression when its founders' descendants became involved in the petroleum industry and moved west.
Riverside Junction - A hamlet west of Route 219 by the Allegheny River.
Seneca Junction - A hamlet at the junction of Routes 219 and 417, near Interstate 86 exit 23.
South Carrollton - A hamlet on Routes 219 and 417 south of Carrollton.
South Vandalia - A hamlet near the east town line on County Road 30.
Tuna - A former community in the town.
Vandalia - A hamlet on the east town line on Route 417. The eastern gateway to the Allegany Reservation, the hamlet has many native businesses selling gasoline and cigarettes.
