Boston, New York
Encyclopedia
Boston is a town
in Erie County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 7,897 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Boston, Massachusetts
.
The Town of Boston is an interior town of the county and one of the county's "Southtowns." Boston is southeast of Buffalo
.
, under various names, lived here until the European immigrants became predominant.
In 1804, brothers Charles and Oliver Johnson and their families became the area's first settlers. The first Christian church was the Free Will Baptist Church, founded circa 1811. On April 5, 1817 the town of Boston was formed from a portion of the Town of Eden. The first post office opened in 1832 on the north side of town.
In 1843, the town suffered an epidemic (28 of the 43 residents were affected, 10 of them died) believed to be typhoid fever, possibly from a local well.
This town has much history that can be found on the headstones in the cemetery across from the Boston Town Hall. There are many old gravestones that show some of the first settlers in the town and the infamous "Love" murder.
, the town has a total area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), all of it land.
Geologically speaking, Boston, NY is one of the more interesting places in the Greater Niagara region, for many glacial activities, over very many long years, caused sufficient pressure indentation to alter dramatically the landscape and even the water table.
U.S. Route 219 crosses the town. New York State Route 277
(Boston State Road/Herman Hill Road) intersects New York State Route 391
(Boston State Road) in the northwest part of the town at North Boston.
of 2000, there were 7,897 people, 2,997 households, and 2,244 families residing in the town. The population density
was 220.4 people per square mile (85.1/km²). There were 3,122 housing units at an average density of 87.1 per square mile (33.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.91% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 2,997 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,315, and the median income for a family was $57,714. Males had a median income of $42,101 versus $27,798 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,303. About 3.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Erie County
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...
. The population was 7,897 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The Town of Boston is an interior town of the county and one of the county's "Southtowns." Boston is southeast of Buffalo
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...
.
History
The IroquoisIroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
, under various names, lived here until the European immigrants became predominant.
In 1804, brothers Charles and Oliver Johnson and their families became the area's first settlers. The first Christian church was the Free Will Baptist Church, founded circa 1811. On April 5, 1817 the town of Boston was formed from a portion of the Town of Eden. The first post office opened in 1832 on the north side of town.
In 1843, the town suffered an epidemic (28 of the 43 residents were affected, 10 of them died) believed to be typhoid fever, possibly from a local well.
This town has much history that can be found on the headstones in the cemetery across from the Boston Town Hall. There are many old gravestones that show some of the first settlers in the town and the infamous "Love" murder.
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 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²), all of it land.
Geologically speaking, Boston, NY is one of the more interesting places in the Greater Niagara region, for many glacial activities, over very many long years, caused sufficient pressure indentation to alter dramatically the landscape and even the water table.
U.S. Route 219 crosses the town. New York State Route 277
New York State Route 277
New 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...
(Boston State Road/Herman Hill Road) intersects New York State Route 391
New York State Route 391
New York State Route 391 is a short state highway in Erie County, New York, United States. The route is signed as north–south; however, it follows more of a southeast–northwest alignment between NY 277 in the hamlet of North Boston and U.S. Route 62 in the village of Hamburg...
(Boston State Road) in the northwest part of the town at North Boston.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2000, there were 7,897 people, 2,997 households, and 2,244 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 220.4 people per square mile (85.1/km²). There were 3,122 housing units at an average density of 87.1 per square mile (33.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.91% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% 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 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 2,997 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% 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, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,315, and the median income for a family was $57,714. Males had a median income of $42,101 versus $27,798 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 $21,303. About 3.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Boston
- BostonBoston (hamlet), New YorkBoston, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Boston in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– 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 south part of the town on Boston State Road, NY-391. The community was once called "Boston Corners" and "Torrey Corners." - Boston Forest County Park – An undeveloped conservation area in the southwest corner of the town, consisting of 700 acres (2.8 km²) of woodland and meadows.
- CreeksideCreekside, New YorkCreekside, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Boston in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A location by the north town line, north of North Boston. - East Boston Hill – A location near the eastern town line.
- Eighteen Mile CreekEighteen Mile Creek (Erie County)Eighteen Mile Creek, Erie County, New York, USA, flows into Lake Erie in the south part of Erie County. The name is derived from the distance south of the Niagara River in Buffalo....
– A stream that flows northward through the town. - North BostonNorth Boston, New YorkNorth Boston is a hamlet located in the Town of Boston in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, this hamlet population was 2,680...
– The hamlet of North Boston, located by the northern town line. - PatchinPatchin, New YorkPatchin, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Boston in Erie County, New York, USA.Major landmarks include the Boston Town Hall and a New York State Police barracks .-References:...
– A hamlet located near the town's center on the Boston State Road. The community was once known as "Boston Center." It was named after Talcott Patchin, a tanner. - Ski Tamarack – A former skiing location in the northeast corner of the town.