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Tonawanda (town), New York
Encyclopedia
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
. It is sometimes referred to, along with its constituent village of Kenmore
, as "Ken-Ton." The town was established in 1836 and up to 1903 it included what is now the city of Tonawanda
.
It is the first town in America to exceed a population of 100,000 people.
.
The first settlers arrived around 1805.
Rapid growth began after the construction of the Erie Canal
, completed in 1825.
Tonawanda occupies the northwest corner of Erie County and is bounded on the north by the Erie Canal, which here follows Tonawanda Creek
.
The town of Tonawanda was established in 1836, by separation from the Town of Buffalo (now part of the City of Buffalo). At that time it included land that later became part of Town of Grand Island
(established 1852) and the entire City of Tonawanda (established 1903).
In 1899, Kenmore incorporated as a village of the town.
In 2009, citizen environmental monitoring of air quality problems resulted in "civil and criminal enforcement actions" by the EPA against Tonawanda Coke.
, the town has a total area of 20.4 square miles (52.7 km²), of which 18.8 square miles (48.7 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.0 km²) (7.66%) is water.
The north border of the town is the City of Tonawanda and Tonawanda Creek
, which is part of the Erie Canal, and the west border is the Niagara River
. Ellicott Creek
flows parallel to Tonawanda Creek in the northern part of the town, with a confluence just east of the Niagara River. The east border, marked by U.S. Route 62
(Niagara Falls Boulevard), is the Town of Amherst
. Forming the southern border is the Village of Kenmore
and the City of Buffalo.
of 2000, there were 78,155 people, 33,278 households, and 21,164 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,156.3 people per square mile (1,605.1/km²). There were 34,634 housing units at an average density of 1,841.8 per square mile (711.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 1.41% Black or African American
, 0.27% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
Most residents are of European descent. As of 2000, the major ancestry groups of the town was: German 37.7%, Irish 23.3%, Italian 21.9%, Polish 14.2%, English 13.2%, French 4.5%, Scottish 3.0%, Hungarian 1.8%, Dutch 1.6%, and Native American 1.5%.
There were 33,278 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,453, and the median income for a family was $51,416. Males had a median income of $39,273 versus $27,022 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,947. About 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
-era Grumman F9F-6P Cougar Naval airframe
found in Walter M. Kenney Field at the northwest corner of Brighton Road and Colvin Boulevard. The "blue jet," as it is often called, has been on loan to the town from the U.S. government since May 1959. Immediately behind the F9F-6P airframe is the Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial
, dedicated on August 18, 2009. Retired U.S. Army General and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
delivered the keynote address during the memorial's dedication ceremony before a crowd of more than 1,500.
The Town of Tonawanda Historical Society operates a museum out of a former German Evangelical Church constructed in 1849. This facility, located at 100 Knoche Road, is the oldest building in the town.
and Kenmore East High School
.
The town is also home to St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
and Cardinal O'Hara High School.
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 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
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
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...
. It is sometimes referred to, along with its constituent village of Kenmore
Kenmore, New York
Village of Kenmore is a village in Erie County, New York, in the United States. The population was 16,426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area....
, as "Ken-Ton." The town was established in 1836 and up to 1903 it included what is now the city of Tonawanda
Tonawanda (city), New York
Tonawanda is a city in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,136 at the 2000 census. It is located at the northern edge of Erie County, south across the Erie Canal from North Tonawanda, and north of Buffalo, New York...
.
It is the first town in America to exceed a population of 100,000 people.
History
This area was under French control from the 17th Century until ceded to the British after the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
The first settlers arrived around 1805.
Rapid growth began after the construction 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...
, completed in 1825.
Tonawanda occupies the northwest corner of Erie County and is bounded on the north by the Erie Canal, which here follows 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:...
.
The town of Tonawanda was established in 1836, by separation from the Town of Buffalo (now part of the City of Buffalo). At that time it included land that later became part of Town of Grand Island
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
(established 1852) and the entire City of Tonawanda (established 1903).
In 1899, Kenmore incorporated as a village of the town.
In 2009, citizen environmental monitoring of air quality problems resulted in "civil and criminal enforcement actions" by the EPA against Tonawanda Coke.
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 20.4 square miles (52.7 km²), of which 18.8 square miles (48.7 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.0 km²) (7.66%) is water.
The north border of the town is the City of Tonawanda and 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:...
, which is part of the Erie Canal, and the west border is the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. 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 parallel to Tonawanda Creek in the northern part of the town, with a confluence just east of the Niagara River. The east border, marked by 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...
(Niagara Falls Boulevard), is the Town of Amherst
Amherst, New York
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...
. Forming the southern border is the Village of Kenmore
Kenmore, New York
Village of Kenmore is a village in Erie County, New York, in the United States. The population was 16,426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area....
and the City of Buffalo.
Adjacent cities & towns
- Fort ErieFort Erie, OntarioFort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
- 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...
- south - Town of AmherstAmherst, New YorkAmherst 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...
- east - City of Tonawanda - north
- 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...
- north - Town of Grand IslandGrand Island, New YorkGrand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
- northwest
Major Highways in the Town of Tonawanda
-
Interstate 190Interstate 190 (New York)Interstate 190 runs 28.34 miles from Interstate 90 near Buffalo, New York to Lewiston, New York via Niagara Falls. Parts of this highway were built on the former rights-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Erie Canal. It is referred to by locals as The One-Ninety...
(Niagara Section), passes through the western part of town from the Buffalo city line to the South Grand Island Bridges onto Grand Island north to Niagara Falls,NY and Niagara Falls,ON.
-
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 from I-190 to US 62 and beyond to Amherst, NY.Amherst, New YorkAmherst 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...
-
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...
, North-South highway that marks the east town line as Niagara Falls Blvd.
-
New York State Route 265New York State Route 265New York State Route 265 is a state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. NY 265 is a north–south route that roughly parallels the western parts of the Niagara River in Erie County and Niagara County...
(Military Rd.), North-South Highway through western part of town from the Buffalo city line to the city of Tonawanda line.
-
New York State Route 266New York State Route 266New York State Route 266 is a state highway in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It runs along the Niagara River from the city of Buffalo to the city of North Tonawanda. The southern terminus of the route is at the ramps leading to Interstate 190 exit 8 in Buffalo...
(River Rd.), North-South roadway paralleling the Niagara River in the town from the Buffalo city line to the city of Tonawanda line.
-
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., Grand Island Blvd.), East-West Highway through the town from Niagara Falls Blvd. (US 62) to River Rd. (NY 266) where it crosses the South Grand Island Bridge onto Grand IslandGrand Island, New YorkGrand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
.
-
New York State Route 325 (Sheridan Dr.), North-South Road from Sheridan Dr./Grand Island Blvd. (NY 324) to River Rd (NY 266). It is the only part of Sheridan Dr. not signed as NY 324 and continues Sheridan westward from where it NY 324 becomes Grand Island Blvd.
-
New York State Route 384New York State Route 384New York State Route 384 is a state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is a north–south route extending from the city of Buffalo, Erie County to the city of Niagara Falls, Niagara County, and is one of several routes directly connecting the two cities. The southern terminus...
(Delaware Ave.), North-South Highway in the town from the Kenmore village line to the city of Tonawanda line.
-
New York State Route 425New York State Route 425New York State Route 425 is a New York state highway that runs from NY 18 in Wilson, New York on the shore of Lake Ontario to a connection with Interstate 290 in the Town of Tonawanda...
(Twin Cities Memorial Hwy.), North-South Highway in the northern part of town beginning at the I-290 and Colvin Blvd interchange that heads north into the city of Tonawanda by way of the Twin Cities Memorial Hwy.
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 78,155 people, 33,278 households, and 21,164 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 4,156.3 people per square mile (1,605.1/km²). There were 34,634 housing units at an average density of 1,841.8 per square mile (711.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 1.41% 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...
, 0.27% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
Most residents are of European descent. As of 2000, the major ancestry groups of the town was: German 37.7%, Irish 23.3%, Italian 21.9%, Polish 14.2%, English 13.2%, French 4.5%, Scottish 3.0%, Hungarian 1.8%, Dutch 1.6%, and Native American 1.5%.
There were 33,278 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,453, and the median income for a family was $51,416. Males had a median income of $39,273 versus $27,022 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 $20,947. About 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Landmarks
One of the Town of Tonawanda's best known landmarks is the blue Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
-era Grumman F9F-6P Cougar Naval airframe
Airframe
The airframe of an aircraft is its mechanical structure. It is typically considered to include fuselage, wings and undercarriage and exclude the propulsion system...
found in Walter M. Kenney Field at the northwest corner of Brighton Road and Colvin Boulevard. The "blue jet," as it is often called, has been on loan to the town from the U.S. government since May 1959. Immediately behind the F9F-6P airframe is the Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial
Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial
The Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial is a public memorial in the Town of Tonawanda, New York. It is located in Walter M. Kenney Field at the northwest corner of Brighton Road and Colvin Boulevard. The memorial stands to honor the service of all veterans of the United States Armed Forces.Initial...
, dedicated on August 18, 2009. Retired U.S. Army General and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
delivered the keynote address during the memorial's dedication ceremony before a crowd of more than 1,500.
The Town of Tonawanda Historical Society operates a museum out of a former German Evangelical Church constructed in 1849. This facility, located at 100 Knoche Road, is the oldest building in the town.
Notable natives and residents
- Wolf BlitzerWolf BlitzerWolf Isaac Blitzer is an American journalist who has been a CNN reporter since 1990. Blitzer is currently the host of the newscast The Situation Room and was the host of the Sunday talk show Late Edition until it was discontinued on January 11, 2009...
, journalist and author, graduated from Kenmore West High School - Nick Mendola, radio host at WECKWECKWECK is a radio station located in the Buffalo, New York, area. Founded in 1956 as WNIA, the station currently is owned by Culver Communications...
, owner of soccer team, FC BuffaloFC BuffaloFC Buffalo is an American soccer team based in Buffalo, New York, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Keystone Division.The team plays its home games at... - Joe MesiJoe Mesi"Baby" Joe Mesi is an American boxer and politician from Tonawanda, New York. He is a registered member of the Democratic Party.- Early life :...
, former professional boxer - Bill ScherrerBill ScherrerWilliam Joseph Scherrer , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1982-1988...
, former MLB pitcher, current assistant GM for Chicago White Sox
Education
Tonawanda has two public high schools, Kenmore West Senior High SchoolKenmore West Senior High School
Kenmore West Senior High School is one of two public high schools in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District. The other is Kenmore East Senior High School...
and Kenmore East High School
Kenmore East High School
Kenmore East High School is a high school in the Town of Tonawanda, New York. Its name refers to the Village of Kenmore, which it serves. The school's mascot is a bulldog. The school was founded in 1959 and is the sister school to Kenmore West Senior High School...
.
The town is also home to St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, founded in 1861, is an independent Roman Catholic college preparatory school for young men. Established by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, SJCI is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges...
and Cardinal O'Hara High School.
Communities and locations
- BrightonBrighton, Erie County, New YorkBrighton, New York is an unincorporated area in the town of Tonawanda in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A neighborhood by the east town line. - Brighton Park – A park and golf course in the northeast part of the town.
- Green Acres – A neighborhood in the northeast corner of the town.
- KenilworthKenilworth, Erie County, New YorkKenilworth, New York is an unincorporated area in the town of Tonawanda in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A neighborhood in the southeast corner of the town. - KenmoreKenmore, New YorkVillage of Kenmore is a village in Erie County, New York, in the United States. The population was 16,426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area....
– A village completely within the borders of the town. It is one of the largest incorporated villages in the state. - Lincoln Park – A park in the southeast corner of the town.
- Old Town – A neighborhood on the western edge of the town, between the industrial area and Niagara RiverNiagara RiverThe Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. - Parkview – A neighborhood in the northeast corner of the town, bordering Ellicott Creek Park.
- Sheridan Park – A park and golf course in the western part of the town.
- Sheridan Parkside – A neighborhood on the western part of the town, just east of Sheridan Park.
- TonawandaTonawanda (CDP), New York----Tonawanda is a census-designated place in Erie County, New York, United States. The CDP comprises the Town of Tonawanda minus its subsidiary Village of Kenmore.-Geography:Tonawanda is located at ....
– A census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
within the town.