The Village of Mayville is in the Town of Chautauqua, and is the county seat of Chautauqua County.  The Village Office is located on South Erie Street across from the Village Green.

Mayville is the nearest village to the Chautauqua Institution, which draws thousands of visitors during the summer months.  Businesses in the Village do a brisk tourist business both with Chautauqua and with visitors to cottages and resorts on the east and west sides of the lake.