The area was first settled around 1806. The town of Pomfret was formed in 1808 from the town of Chautauqua, being the first partition of Chautauqua after the county was formed. Pomfret later lost substantial parts of its territory during the formation of five new towns of the county.
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,703 people, 5,105 households, and 2,971 families residing in the town. The population density was 334.9 people per square mile. There were 5,558 housing units at an average density of 126.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 95.28% White, 2.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population. There were 5,105 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couplesliving together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94. In the town, the population was spread out with 18.2% under the age of 18, 30.7% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $35,444, and the median income for a family was $47,252. Males had a median income of $35,669 versus $25,997 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,506. About 4.6% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over. As of the Census of 2010, there were 14,965 people and 5,296 households within the town. The population density was 340.9 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was: 93.52% white; 2.26% African-American; 1.37% Asian; 0.36% Native American/Alaskan; 0.04% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; 1.08% other; and 1.38% two or more races. Out of the population of any race, 4.06% were Hispanic/Latino. The population of the town was spread out with 14.75% under the age of 18, 12.91% ages 18 and 19, 21.78% ages 20–24, 7.54% ages 25–34, 13.75% ages 35–49, 16.53% ages 50–64, and 12.75% over the age of 65. The male population made up 47.50% of the total population and the female population made up 52.50% of the total population.
Communities and locations in Pomfret
Bear Lake - A small lake west of Lily Dale, partly in the town.
Canadaway Creek - A stream flowing northward through the town toward Lake Erie.
Cassadaga Lake - A lake composed of two large sections joined by a narrow channel. The northern large section is in Pomfret, and the southern is in the town of Stockton.
Cordova - A hamlet west of Fredonia on County Road 78.
Fredonia - The village of Fredonia is on the northern town border and has a population of 11,230, or 75% of the town population.
Fredonia Reservoir - A lake intersected by Canadaway Creek.
Greencrest - A lakeside hamlet on the shore of Lake Erie, partly in Pomfret.
Lamberton - A hamlet located on Route 20 in the northern part of the town.
