Lancaster (town), New York
Encyclopedia
- For other places and things with this name, see Lancaster (disambiguation).
Lancaster is a town
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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the town population has 39,019 residents.
The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster
Lancaster (village), New York
Lancaster is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 11,188. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east 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...
.
The town contains the western part of the Village of Depew
Depew
Depew may refer to:* Depew, New York* Depew, OklahomaIt may also refer to the former United States Senator Chauncey Depew....
. The eastern part of Depew lies in Cheektowaga.
History
In 1803, the Holland Land CompanyHolland Land Company
The Holland Land Company was a purchaser of the western two-thirds of the western New York land tract known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. This tract was known thereafter as The Holland Purchase...
sold its first plot of land in the future town. The Town of Lancaster was formed from 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...
, 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...
in 1833. The town was named after Lancaster
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
, 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...
, but the reason for applying this name is not known. Lancaster, however, was originally called Cayuga Creek. Later it incorporated and renamed itself to become what we now know as Lancaster.
Lancaster contains the oldest stone structure in Erie County
Erie County
Erie County is the name of three counties in the United States:* Erie County, New York* Erie County, Ohio* Erie County, Pennsylvania...
, The Hull House. The town also contains the oldest wooden structure in Erie County, known as the Gipple cabin. The cabin is located on private land in Southeast corner of the intersection of Wehrle Dr. and Harris Hill Rd.
In 1857, part of the town was taken to form the Town of Elma
Elma, New York
Elma is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 11,304 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a type of tree.The Town of Elma is located in the north-central part of the county, east of Buffalo, New York. Because of its location, Elma likes to refer to itself as the...
.
Beginning in early 1990s, the town entered a period of rapid growth. In 2003, the town and village police departments merged. Additions to the middle school and the William Street School were finished in 2005.
Lancaster High School
Lancaster High School (Lancaster, New York)
Lancaster High School is a high school in Lancaster, New York that serves grades 9-12. It is operated by the Lancaster Central School District.-Academics:...
is the largest school in both school population and square feet in Erie County. With over 2,000 students, the building was expanded twice. In 2000, a field house was added. In 2003, the high school opened up a new wing.
Some of the biggest events Lancaster has to offer are held in the Village of Lancaster. They are the Fourth of July Parade, and the Taste of Lancaster, a restaurant festival and charity fundraiser. The Lancaster/Depew high school football game is held in October. The game dates back to 1919.
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 37.9 square miles (98.2 km²), of which 37.8 square miles (98.0 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (0.16%) is water.
The town is located on the northern and eastern side of 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...
and is east of the city 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...
.
Cayuga Creek
Cayuga Creek
Cayuga Creek is a small stream in western New York, USA. The creek enters Buffalo Creek in the northwest corner of the Town of West Seneca just upstream from the New York State Thruway crossing...
and 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:...
flow across the town to the west, Ellicott Creek being the more northerly stream.
The west town line is marked by New York State Route 78
New York State Route 78
New 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...
. The New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The 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...
(Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 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...
) crosses the northern part of the town. New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
, Genesee Street, crosses the town immediately south of the Thruway, and U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
, Broadway, crosses the central part of the town.
Adjacent towns and areas
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...
is to the north, and the Town of Elma
Elma, New York
Elma is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 11,304 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a type of tree.The Town of Elma is located in the north-central part of the county, east of Buffalo, New York. Because of its location, Elma likes to refer to itself as the...
is on the south. The Town of Alden
Alden (town), New York
Alden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 10,470 at the 2000 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers....
is on the east, and the Town of Cheektowaga is on the west.
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 39,019 people, 15,053 households, and 10,506 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 1,031.1 people per square mile (398.1/km²). There were 15,627 housing units at an average density of 413.0 per square mile (159.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.00% White, 0.81% Black or African American
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...
, 0.18% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% 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 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 15,053 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,990, and the median income for a family was $59,712. Males had a median income of $41,501 versus $28,049 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 $21,723. About 2.5% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Lancaster
- BowmansvilleBowmansville, New YorkBowmansville is a hamlet located in the Town of Lancaster in Erie County, New York, United States. The hamlet is named after Benjamin Bowman, the owner of sawmills on Ellicott Creek in the center of the hamlet.-Geography:...
– A small 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 northwest corner of the town, located near Genesee Street (NY-33) and Transit Road (NY-78). Ellicott Creek flows through the hamlet, which took its name from early settler Benjamin Bowman. - DellwoodDellwood, New YorkDellwood, New York is a small, unincorporated hamlet in the town of Alden in southern Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet at the east town line, north of Town Line Station. - East Lancaster – A location east of Lancaster village on Broadway (US-20).
- Town LineTown Line, New YorkTown Line is a census-designated place in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 2,521 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
– A hamlet on Lancaster's eastern town line. - Town Line StationTown Line Station, New YorkTown Line Station, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Lancaster in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet on the eastern town line, north of Town Line. - Cayuga CreekCayuga CreekCayuga Creek is a small stream in western New York, USA. The creek enters Buffalo Creek in the northwest corner of the Town of West Seneca just upstream from the New York State Thruway crossing...
– A stream flowing westward through the town and village, flowing through Como Lake Park. - Ellicott CreekEllicott CreekEllicott 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:...
– A stream flowing westward through the northern part of the town, including the Hamlet of Bowmansville. Named after Joseph EllicottJoseph EllicottJoseph Ellicott was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Ellicott ....
. - Como Lake Park – A county park in the southwest part of the town and in the village, south of US-20.
- LancasterLancaster (village), New YorkLancaster is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 11,188. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
– The Village of Lancaster is in the west part of the town, located on US-20. - DepewDepew, New YorkDepew is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,629 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
– The eastern part of the Village of Depew is in the western part of the town.
Parks and Recreation
The Town and Village of Lancaster contain the following parks:Walden Pond Park, located on the corner of Walden Ave. and Ransom Rd. in the town. Contains baseball diamonds, volley ball courts, and a pond for fishing. The Lancaster-Depew Ponytails Softball Leauge call this park their home.
Westwood Park, located between Pavement Rd. and Schwartz Rd. in the town. Contains baseball, softball, and soccer fields.
Education
The town is home to Lancaster High SchoolLancaster High School (Lancaster, New York)
Lancaster High School is a high school in Lancaster, New York that serves grades 9-12. It is operated by the Lancaster Central School District.-Academics:...
, four elementary schools (Como Park, John A. Sciole, Court Street, Hillview), the William Street Intermediate School (4th, 5th and 6th grades), and the historic Lancaster Middle School (formerly named Aurora Middle School), which was the town's high school prior to the construction of the current one in 1953. They are all part of the Lancaster Central School District
Lancaster Central School District
The Lancaster Central School District is a New York school district including the area surrounding Lancaster, New York. The district consists of 8 schools and for the 2006-2007 school year has a total enrolment of 6,243 students.-Secondary schools:...
. There are also a number of private schools, including St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's High School (Lancaster, New York)
St. Mary's High School is a co-educational, Roman Catholic high school located in Lancaster, New York, 4.5 miles South East of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and 14.5 East of downtown Buffalo. St. Mary's enrollment includes students in grades 9-12 from four counties and approximately 30...
, St. Mary's on the Hill Elementary, and Our Lady of Pompeii Elementary.
Major Highways
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...
), runs East- West through the town, traveling from the Cheetowaga town line in the West, to the Clarence town line in the East. There is an exit to Transit Road (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...
)in Cheektowaga that also sereves Lancaster.
U.S. Route 20U.S. Route 20U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
(Transit Road), North-South roadway that runs concurrently with NY 78 along Lancaster's West border with Cheektowaga, south of Depew. Route 20 is known as Broadway in the Town and Village of Lancaster
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...
(Transit Road), North-South roadway that provides the east border of Cheektowaga with Lancaster, north and south of DepewDepewDepew may refer to:* Depew, New York* Depew, OklahomaIt may also refer to the former United States Senator Chauncey Depew....
.
New York State Route 33New York State Route 33New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
(Genesee St.), East-West Route that runs from Transit Road 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...
to Townline Road where it enters the Town of AldenAldenAs a placename, Alden can refer to 'the Alder', the tree of the birch family, such as the Alden Valley, Rossendale, England, UK.-Place names:United States*Alden, California, a former settlement*Alden, Illinois, an unincorporated hamlet...
.