Amherst, New York
Encyclopedia
Amherst is a town in Erie County
, New York
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period. In July 2010, CNNMoney.com ranked Amherst 42nd in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.
The largest and most populous suburb
of Buffalo, New York
, the Town of Amherst encompasses most of the Village of Williamsville
and the hamlets of Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder
, Swormville, and East Amherst
. The town is in the northern part of the county and borders a small section of the Erie Canal
.
Amherst is home of the Amherst campus of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
, the graduate campus of Medaille College
, a campus of Bryant and Stratton College, and Daemen College
. Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital is located in the center of town on Maple Road.
. Timothy S. Hopkins was elected the first Supervisor of the Town of Amherst in 1819. Part of Amherst was later used to form the Town of Cheektowaga in 1839.
The Town of Amherst Archives Center is housed in the Former Reformed Mennonite Church
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2003.
, the town has a total area of 53.5 square miles (138.6 km²), of which 53.2 square miles (137.8 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (0.50%) is water.
Much of Amherst was originally floodplain and marshland, much of which has been drained in recent years to facilitate development of new homes and businesses. The central and southern parts of the town are heavily suburbanized, however the southernmost hamlets (Eggertsville
, Snyder
) and the Village of Williamsville
have managed to retain much of their original character. The northern part of the town is still relatively undeveloped with the prominent exception of the portions along Niagara Falls Boulevard (U.S. Route 62
) bordering the Town of Tonawanda
and the Town of Wheatfield
. Some sections of northern and eastern Amherst have experienced problems with residential foundations as a result of unstable soil conditions. A few active farm
s may still be found in the northern part of the town.
Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek
and Niagara County
, New York. Ellicott Creek
flows through the town.
As of the census
of 2010, there were 122,366 people, 48,894 households, and 29,840 families residing in the town. There were 51,179 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 83.8% White, 5.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 7.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races
, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.
There were 48,894 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 31.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,427, and the median income for a family was $68,951. Males had a median income of $51,667 versus $32,030 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $27,647. About 4.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
47.4% of residents (aged 25 and over) have obtained a Bachelor's degree
or higher, including 22.6% with a Graduate or professional degree.
Areas within Amherst are referred to by the former post office station names and are not legally incorporated. During the 1990s, many of these regional post offices were closed and consolidated into the central Amherst 14226 post office on Bailey avenue, leaving only a Williamsville (14221) post office on Sheridan Drive, a Getzville (14068) post office on Millersport Highway, and an East Amherst (14051) post office on Transit Road. Mailing addresses to areas within the Town of Amherst are Amherst, East Amherst, Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, and Williamsville. These postal districts are still recognized by the post office and widely referred to by citizens.
Some of these mailing addresses overlap - some areas of Clarence directly east of Transit Road have Williamsville addresses, although for the purposes of taxes, schools and community resources, these people are residents of the Town of Clarence.
(housing all of the University programs apart from architecture, planning, nursing, dentistry, and medicine), Daemen College
, and one of the three campuses of Erie Community College
are located there. Bryant and Stratton
offers two year programs. Both Medaille College
and Canisius College
have satellite campus classrooms in Amherst.
is the largest and comprises the eastern half of the town along with portions of the Town of Clarence
. A small portion of Amherst residents in the southeast corner of the town are in the Clarence Central School District. The Amherst Central School District is the southwestern portion of the town with its core in the Eggertsville and Snyder areas. The Sweet Home Central School District
is the northwestern portion of the town along with portions of the Town of Tonawanda
with its core in West Amherst and Getzville.
In 1819, Timothy S. Hopkins was elected the first supervisor for the Town of Amherst. He appointed two Constables, Joseph Hershey and Palmer Cleveland, These two men patrolled the present boundaries of Amherst as well as portions of Cheektowaga, By 1883, the number of the Town Constables had been increased to five.
The Village of Williamsville was served by Town Constables until it was
incorporated in 1850. Early records show that no Constables appeared on the election ballots until late in the 19th century. Then, when speeders became a problem in 1918, the Village Trustees hired two men, W. Carlton Baker and Jewett Hoffman, whose only duties were to arrest speeders.
In 1920, the Town and Village began the practice of hiring special police officers.
In June of that year, Mr. Edwin Evans, a former State Trooper, was appointed in
Williamsville. Charles Albert, Howard F. Voelpel and Hubert Daniels were appointed to the Town post.
Eggertsville was set up as a police district in 1922, and Richard Maving was appointed to be the officer. He left after a few months and was replaced by Earl E. Speich.
In 1924, the Town of Amherst Police and the Village of Williamsville Police merged. Officer Speich was appointed to the Amherst Police and Mr. Maving was rehired. Then Town Supervisor, Mr. Wehrle, appointed Edwin Evans Chief of Police, a position he held until 1956. By 1938, the Department had grown to thirteen men.
After World War II, additional men were appointed in 1947. One of the men, Herbert E. Zimmerman, later replaced Mr. Evans as Chief of Police in 1956 and served as Chief of Police for 31 years. In 2006, the Police headquarters building was named after Chief Zimmerman.
In January 1989, John B. Askey was appointed Chief of Police and served in that capacity for 10 years. His goals included maintaining the community’s status as one of the safest in the nation and sustaining the police department’s reputation as one of the finest.
In 1999, John Moslow took over the office of Police Chief. Chief Moslow met with President George W. Bush in 2002 and was in office to see the Bike Bath Rapist cases finally come to a close, after a two decade crime spree.
In 2007, John Askey Jr. became Chief, after Moslow retired. The department currently employs around 156 sworn officers, including a Chief, Assistant Chief, seven Captains and at least 20 Lieutenants.
, Amherst has frequently been ranked as the Safest City in America (1996–1998, 2000–2003, 2010); many other years it ranks within the Top 5. The designation is based on crime statistics for the year in six categories: murder
, rape
, robbery
, aggravated assault, burglary
, and auto theft. In 2006, Amherst was ranked the second safest city in the United States, after Brick Township
, New Jersey
. In 2008, it dropped to 7th place.
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period. In July 2010, CNNMoney.com ranked Amherst 42nd in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.
The largest and most populous suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, the Town of Amherst encompasses most of the Village of Williamsville
Williamsville, New York
Williamsville is a village in Erie County, New York in the United States. The population was 5,573 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Jonas Williams, an early settler...
and the hamlets of Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder
Snyder, New York
Snyder is a hamlet within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, United States that is part of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The hamlet was established in 1837...
, Swormville, and East Amherst
East Amherst, New York
East Amherst is a hamlet, or unincorporated community. It straddles Transit Road , which in addition to being a major thoroughfare, serves as the boundary separating the towns of Amherst and Clarence in Erie County, New York, United States of America...
. The town is in the northern part of the county and borders a small section of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
.
Amherst is home of the Amherst campus of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, the graduate campus of Medaille College
Medaille College
Medaille College a private liberal arts college located in the historic Olmsted Crescent of Buffalo, New York, that draws extensively from the Western New York and Southern Ontario regions. It is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational institution.-History:...
, a campus of Bryant and Stratton College, and Daemen College
Daemen College
Daemen College is a liberal arts college located on Main Street in Amherst, New York.-History:Daemen was founded in 1947 as Rosary Hill College for women by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headed by Mother Magdalene Daemen...
. Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital is located in the center of town on Maple Road.
History
The Town of Amherst was created by the State of New York on April 10, 1818. Amherst was formed from part of the Town of Buffalo (later the City of Buffalo), which had previously been created from the Town of ClarenceClarence, New York
Clarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
. Timothy S. Hopkins was elected the first Supervisor of the Town of Amherst in 1819. Part of Amherst was later used to form the Town of Cheektowaga in 1839.
The Town of Amherst Archives Center is housed in the Former Reformed Mennonite Church
Former Reformed Mennonite Church
Former Reformed Mennonite Church is a historic Reformed Mennonite church located at Williamsville in Erie County, New York. It is a Greek Revival style structure constructed in 1834. It served as a house of worship until 1981. It is now occupied by the Town of Amherst Archives Center.It was...
. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2003.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 53.5 square miles (138.6 km²), of which 53.2 square miles (137.8 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (0.50%) is water.
Much of Amherst was originally floodplain and marshland, much of which has been drained in recent years to facilitate development of new homes and businesses. The central and southern parts of the town are heavily suburbanized, however the southernmost hamlets (Eggertsville
Eggertsville, New York
Eggertsville, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
, Snyder
Snyder, New York
Snyder is a hamlet within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, United States that is part of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The hamlet was established in 1837...
) and the Village of Williamsville
Williamsville, New York
Williamsville is a village in Erie County, New York in the United States. The population was 5,573 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Jonas Williams, an early settler...
have managed to retain much of their original character. The northern part of the town is still relatively undeveloped with the prominent exception of the portions along Niagara Falls Boulevard (U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 62 runs from the US-Mexico border at El Paso, Texas to Niagara Falls, New York, near the United States-Canada border. It is the only east-west US Route that connects Mexico and Canada.Parts of U.S...
) bordering the Town of Tonawanda
Tonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
and the Town of Wheatfield
Wheatfield, New York
Wheatfield is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 18,117 at the 2010 census. The name stems from the agricultural use of the town lands: Growing Wheat....
. Some sections of northern and eastern Amherst have experienced problems with residential foundations as a result of unstable soil conditions. A few active farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s may still be found in the northern part of the town.
Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek is a small river in Western New York, in the United States. William Bright says the best that can be said of the name is that it is "probably from an Iroquoian source, but of unclear derivation".-Description:...
and Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, New York. Ellicott Creek
Ellicott Creek
Ellicott Creek is a stream in Western New York, United States. It is a tributary of Tonawanda Creek, which in turn into the Niagara River.-Course:...
flows through the town.
Adjacent Cities & Towns
- Town of TonawandaTonawanda (town), New YorkTonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
- west - Niagara CountyNiagara County, New YorkNiagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, City of North TonawandaNorth Tonawanda, New YorkNorth Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south border...
- west - City of BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
- southwest - Town of CheektowagaCheektowaga (town), New YorkCheektowaga is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree...
- south - Town of LancasterLancaster (town), New YorkLancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population has 39,019 residents.The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east of...
- southeast - Town of ClarenceClarence, New YorkClarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
- east - Niagara CountyNiagara County, New YorkNiagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, Town of PendletonPendleton, New YorkPendleton is a town on the southern edge of Niagara County, New York, United States. It is east of the city of Niagara Falls and southwest of the city of Lockport. The population was 6,397 at the 2010 census.- History :...
- north - Niagara County, Town of WheatfieldWheatfield, New YorkWheatfield is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 18,117 at the 2010 census. The name stems from the agricultural use of the town lands: Growing Wheat....
- northwest
Major Highways in the Town of Amherst
Interstate 90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(New York State ThruwayNew York State ThruwayThe New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
), passes through the southern part of town.
Interstate 290Interstate 290 (New York)Interstate 290 runs for near Buffalo, New York from I-90 to I-190. It connects Buffalo with its northern suburbs of Amherst and Tonawanda, and provides a route to Niagara Falls that bypasses the city of Buffalo. I-290 also connects to Interstate 990, and through this connection,...
(Youngmann Expressway), travels through the town diagonally from I-90 to US 62 and beyond to Tonawanda, NY.Tonawanda (town), New YorkTonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
Interstate 990 (Lockport Expressway), is a short Interstate Highway located entirely within the Town of Amherst. I-990 runs in a roughly north-south direction through the southwest and central part of Amherst until its end at Millersport Hwy. (NY 263)
U.S. Route 62U.S. Route 62U.S. Route 62 runs from the US-Mexico border at El Paso, Texas to Niagara Falls, New York, near the United States-Canada border. It is the only east-west US Route that connects Mexico and Canada.Parts of U.S...
, marks the west town line as Niagara Falls Blvd. as the route heads north, then as Sheridan Drive then Bailey Avenue heading south out of town.
New York State Route 5New York State Route 5New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
, locally called "Main Street," passes through the town.
New York State Route 78New York State Route 78New York State Route 78 , most commonly known as Transit Road, is a state highway in Western New York, USA. While it is signed north–south, the lower portion runs in an east–west direction across Wyoming County, from its beginning north of the Village of Gainesville.NY 78 is...
, named Transit Road, it marks the east town line.
New York State Route 240New York State Route 240New York State Route 240 is a state highway in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 242 in the Ellicottville community of Ashford in northern Cattaraugus County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 324...
(Harlem Rd.), North-South Road from Sheridan Dr. (NY 324) south heading out of town.
New York State Route 263New York State Route 263New York State Route 263 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends from just north of the northeast corner of the city of Buffalo in a roughly northeast direction almost straight to just south of the north county...
(Millersport Hwy.), North-South Highway from Bailey Ave. (US 62) to Transit Rd. (NY 78)
New York State Route 270New York State Route 270New York State Route 270 is a north–south state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs through rural and wooded areas of the town of Amherst in Erie County and the town of Pendleton in Niagara County. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 263...
(Campbell Blvd.), North-South Highway from Millersport Hwy. (NY 263) north out of town.
New York State Route 277New York State Route 277New York State Route 277 is a state highway in New York, USA. This highway is also called Union Road, along with other names. NY 277 is a major north–south road east of Buffalo, New York, through the middle of Erie County...
(North Forest Rd.,Union Rd.), North-South Road from Sheridan Dr. (NY 324) south out of town.
New York State Route 324New York State Route 324New York State Route 324 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States...
(Sheridan Dr.), East-West Highway through the town from Niagara Falls Blvd. (US 62) to Transit Rd. (NY 78)
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 122,366 people, 48,894 households, and 29,840 families residing in the town. There were 51,179 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 83.8% White, 5.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 7.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.
There were 48,894 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 31.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,427, and the median income for a family was $68,951. Males had a median income of $51,667 versus $32,030 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $27,647. About 4.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
47.4% of residents (aged 25 and over) have obtained a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or higher, including 22.6% with a Graduate or professional degree.
Climate
Amherst is among the top ten American cities (with a population greater than 50,000) in average yearly snowfall making the region a winter destination, particularly the ski slopes south of the region.Communities and locations
Some of these mailing addresses overlap - some areas of Clarence directly east of Transit Road have Williamsville addresses, although for the purposes of taxes, schools and community resources, these people are residents of the Town of Clarence.
Communities and locations in the Town of Amherst
The areas listed below are governed by the Town of Amherst. The Village of Williamsville also has its own Mayor and board.- Audubon - A location in the center of the town situated around John James Audubon Parkway. The town police, courthouse, and main library are located here.
- East AmherstEast Amherst, New YorkEast Amherst is a hamlet, or unincorporated community. It straddles Transit Road , which in addition to being a major thoroughfare, serves as the boundary separating the towns of Amherst and Clarence in Erie County, New York, United States of America...
(formerly Transit Station) – An unincorporated community or hamlet in the eastern part of the town, shared with the Town of ClarenceClarence, New YorkClarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
. The East Amherst area is defined by the 14051 zip code with a post office located on Transit Road. Many of the houses were built between 1960-1980. - EggertsvilleEggertsville, New YorkEggertsville, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
is a suburbSuburbThe word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an community in the southwest part of the town, bordering on Buffalo centered around Eggert Road. The community is named after early postmaster Christian Eggert. Many of the houses in Eggertsville were built between 1900-1930. - GetzvilleGetzville, New YorkGetzville, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA.Getzville's zip code is 14068, and has a post office located on Millersport Highway -Geography :...
- A location near the center of the town by Campbell Boulevard (Route 270New York State Route 270New York State Route 270 is a north–south state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs through rural and wooded areas of the town of Amherst in Erie County and the town of Pendleton in Niagara County. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 263...
) and Dodge Road. The name comes from early resident Joseph Getz. The Getzville post office, located on Millersport HighwayNew York State Route 263New York State Route 263 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends from just north of the northeast corner of the city of Buffalo in a roughly northeast direction almost straight to just south of the north county...
in the 14068 zip code, the Getzville Fire District, was originally a stop on the Peanut Line railroad. - Great Baehre SwampGreat Baehre SwampGreat Baehre Swamp is a New York state wetland located inside the Town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA. The conservation area is characterized as a Silver Maple-Ash swamp of ....
State Wetlands – A conservation area with trails for nature viewing. - North BaileyNorth Bailey, New YorkNorth Bailey, New York is a hamlet in the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A location near the junction of Bailey Avenue and Maple Road. The main post office for Amherst is located in North Bailey in the 14226 zip code. - SnyderSnyder, New YorkSnyder is a hamlet within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, United States that is part of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The hamlet was established in 1837...
(originally Snyderville after postmaster Michael Snyder) – A suburban community located between Eggertsville and the Village of Williamsville. The Snyder post office was formerly located at Main and Chateau Terrace and was closed in the 1990s. Snyder is served by the Snyder fire departmentSnyder fire departmentThe Snyder Fire Department began operations serving the residents of Snyder, NY in 1916 as the Snyder Hose Company. Today the department responds to an average of 1000 emergency calls a year...
. Daemen CollegeDaemen CollegeDaemen College is a liberal arts college located on Main Street in Amherst, New York.-History:Daemen was founded in 1947 as Rosary Hill College for women by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headed by Mother Magdalene Daemen...
is located on Main Street (NY Route 5New York State Route 5New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
). - SwormvilleSwormville, New YorkSwormville is a hamlet in the eastern part of Amherst and the western part of Clarence, New York, USA.Named after Adam Schworm, a prominent landowner and businessman who built a store on the Clarence side of Transit Road, Swormville has a population of 17,694...
- A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the eastern part of the town, shared with the Town of Clarence. Named for Adam Schworm, prominent landowner and businessman. Once also known as "Swormsville". - West Amherst - A location in the northwestern part of the town bordered by Niagara Falls Boulevard (US 62) to the west, Sweet Home Road to the east and Maple Road to the south. Principally the section of the town which comprises the ZIP code 14228. However, "West Amherst" is not an acceptable locality name per States Postal Service mailing regulations.
- WilliamsvilleWilliamsville, New YorkWilliamsville is a village in Erie County, New York in the United States. The population was 5,573 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Jonas Williams, an early settler...
- The incorporated Village of Williamsville is mostly within the incorporated Town of Amherst, located in the south central part of the town. Business and residential addresses having ZIP code 14221 are often referred to as being in Williamsville. However, this zip code extends beyond the Village of Williamsville and includes a large portion of the Town of Amherst and to a lesser extent portions of the towns of ClarenceClarence, New YorkClarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
and LancasterLancaster (town), New YorkLancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population has 39,019 residents.The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east of...
.
Education
There are four institutions of higher education located in Amherst. The North Campus of the University at BuffaloUniversity at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
(housing all of the University programs apart from architecture, planning, nursing, dentistry, and medicine), Daemen College
Daemen College
Daemen College is a liberal arts college located on Main Street in Amherst, New York.-History:Daemen was founded in 1947 as Rosary Hill College for women by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headed by Mother Magdalene Daemen...
, and one of the three campuses of Erie Community College
Erie Community College
Erie Community College is a two-year community college that is part of the 64-campus SUNY system. It is the fourth-largest community college in New York State....
are located there. Bryant and Stratton
Bryant and Stratton
Bryant & Stratton College is a for-profit college with campuses in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. Founded in 1854, the college offers two-year programs at all campuses and four-year programs at select campuses. This school began as a business institute, but now is an accredited...
offers two year programs. Both Medaille College
Medaille College
Medaille College a private liberal arts college located in the historic Olmsted Crescent of Buffalo, New York, that draws extensively from the Western New York and Southern Ontario regions. It is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational institution.-History:...
and Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
have satellite campus classrooms in Amherst.
Public schools
There are four separate public school districts within the town. The Williamsville Central School DistrictWilliamsville Central School District
Williamsville Central School District is a public school district in New York that serves the village of Williamsville, as well as the towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga, and Clarence. The district enrollment is approximately 10,600 students throughout 13 schools in the district. The district...
is the largest and comprises the eastern half of the town along with portions of the Town of Clarence
Clarence, New York
Clarence is a town located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 30,673 according to the 2010 census. This represents an increase of 17.42% from the 2000 census figure . Clarence is also the name of a postal district in the south part of the town...
. A small portion of Amherst residents in the southeast corner of the town are in the Clarence Central School District. The Amherst Central School District is the southwestern portion of the town with its core in the Eggertsville and Snyder areas. The Sweet Home Central School District
Sweet Home Central School District
Sweet Home Central School District is a New York State public school district that serves the towns of Amherst and Tonawanda, NY of Erie County...
is the northwestern portion of the town along with portions of the Town of Tonawanda
Tonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
with its core in West Amherst and Getzville.
Cultural Resources
- Amherst MuseumAmherst MuseumAmherst Museum is a historic house museum located in Amherst, NY. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the the Town of Amherst, the Village of Williamsville and the Niagara Frontier...
is a historic house museum dedicated to preserving and communicating the history of the Town of Amherst. - Amherst Saxophone Quartet is affiliated with the SUNY Buffalo Department of Music
- Amherst Symphony, founded in 1946. Volunteer amateur and professional musicians of all ages; performs free concerts throughout the year at various locations.
- Cabaret in the Square in Snyder offers musicals, concerts, plays and dinner-theater packages.
- Central Station Dinner Theater in Williamsville
- Katherine Cornell Theatre at the University of Buffalo Amherst campus seats 400 in the round and is used by speakers, for educational programs and stage productions.
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo (north branch - Benderson Family Building).
- Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier in Getzville.
Annual events
- July – Fourth of July Fireworks – at the SUNY Buffalo Amherst Campus
- July – Old Home Days – four-day festival at Island Park
- August – Savor the Flavor, food samplings from local restaurants – Island Park
- August – Scottish Festival featuring Highland games, dancers and entertainment – Amherst MuseumAmherst MuseumAmherst Museum is a historic house museum located in Amherst, NY. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the the Town of Amherst, the Village of Williamsville and the Niagara Frontier...
Police Department
The Village of Williamsville was served by Town Constables until it was
incorporated in 1850. Early records show that no Constables appeared on the election ballots until late in the 19th century. Then, when speeders became a problem in 1918, the Village Trustees hired two men, W. Carlton Baker and Jewett Hoffman, whose only duties were to arrest speeders.
In 1920, the Town and Village began the practice of hiring special police officers.
In June of that year, Mr. Edwin Evans, a former State Trooper, was appointed in
Williamsville. Charles Albert, Howard F. Voelpel and Hubert Daniels were appointed to the Town post.
Eggertsville was set up as a police district in 1922, and Richard Maving was appointed to be the officer. He left after a few months and was replaced by Earl E. Speich.
In 1924, the Town of Amherst Police and the Village of Williamsville Police merged. Officer Speich was appointed to the Amherst Police and Mr. Maving was rehired. Then Town Supervisor, Mr. Wehrle, appointed Edwin Evans Chief of Police, a position he held until 1956. By 1938, the Department had grown to thirteen men.
After World War II, additional men were appointed in 1947. One of the men, Herbert E. Zimmerman, later replaced Mr. Evans as Chief of Police in 1956 and served as Chief of Police for 31 years. In 2006, the Police headquarters building was named after Chief Zimmerman.
In January 1989, John B. Askey was appointed Chief of Police and served in that capacity for 10 years. His goals included maintaining the community’s status as one of the safest in the nation and sustaining the police department’s reputation as one of the finest.
In 1999, John Moslow took over the office of Police Chief. Chief Moslow met with President George W. Bush in 2002 and was in office to see the Bike Bath Rapist cases finally come to a close, after a two decade crime spree.
In 2007, John Askey Jr. became Chief, after Moslow retired. The department currently employs around 156 sworn officers, including a Chief, Assistant Chief, seven Captains and at least 20 Lieutenants.
Crime in Amherst
Based on statistics reported to the Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, Amherst has frequently been ranked as the Safest City in America (1996–1998, 2000–2003, 2010); many other years it ranks within the Top 5. The designation is based on crime statistics for the year in six categories: murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
, aggravated assault, burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
, and auto theft. In 2006, Amherst was ranked the second safest city in the United States, after Brick Township
Brick Township, New Jersey
-Transportation:The major county routes that pass through are CR 528, and CR 549 . Two state routes pass through: Route 70 and Route 88...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. In 2008, it dropped to 7th place.
Notable residents
- Scotty BowmanScotty BowmanWilliam Scott "Scotty" Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
, former National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
coach - Harry NealeHarry NealeHarold Watson Neale is a hockey colour commentator, who currently works for the Buffalo Sabres on the Sabres Hockey Network...
, hockey broadcaster and former NHL coach - Billy SheehanBilly SheehanWilliam "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
, rock bassist - Michael SnyderMichael SnyderMichael Snyder is an actor who holds the distinction of being one of only 32 actors or actresses to have starred in both the original Star Trek, up to and including Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and then in one of the spin offs....
, Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
actor - John StevensJohn Stevens (singer)John Bassat Stevens IV is an American classic pop singer and was the sixth-place finalist on the third season of the television series American Idol.-Biography:...
, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist (season 3, 2004) - James WhitmoreJames WhitmoreJames Allen Whitmore, Jr. was an American film and stage actor.-Early life:Born in White Plains, New York, to Florence Belle and James Allen Whitmore, Sr., a park commission official, Whitmore attended Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York, before graduating from The Choate School in...
, American actor, attended Amherst High School - Keith O'NeilKeith O'NeilKeith Daniel O'Neil is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
, former National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLI Champion - Mike RobitailleMike RobitailleMichael James David Robitaille is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks...
, former National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player and current Sabres broadcaster - Sarfaraz Semy, Director Beautishape America
- Seth Kaplan, former adult film industry star
