Attica (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Attica is a town
in Wyoming County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,028 at the 2000 census .The town is named after a region
in Greece
.
The Town of Attica is on the north border of the county and contains part of a village also named Attica
.
. In 1816, part of Attica was used to make the new Town of Orangeville
.
Attica is the location of New York
's Attica Correctional Facility
, which was the location of the infamous Attica Prison riots
that occurred on September 13, 1971. That prison
and the New York Wyoming Correctional Facility are located south of the Village of Attica.
, New York.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.83%) is water. Tonawanda Creek
passes through the northwest part of the town.
NY-98
intersects NY-238
and NY-354
at Attica village.
of 2000, there were 6,028 people, 1,497 households, and 1,053 families residing in the town. The population density
was 168.8 people per square mile (65.2/km²). There were 1,603 housing units at an average density of 44.9 per square mile (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.79% White, 21.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 5.18% from other races
, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.16% of the population.
There were 1,497 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 44.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 209.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 240.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,877, and the median income for a family was $49,375. Males had a median income of $32,060 versus $22,220 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,817. About 3.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% 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 Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
, 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 6,028 at the 2000 census .The town is named after a region
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
The Town of Attica is on the north border of the county and contains part of a village also named Attica
Attica (village), New York
Attica is a village in Wyoming County, New York in the USA. The population was 2,597 at the 2000 census. It is named after a region in Greece.The Village of Attica is on the northern border of Wyoming County...
.
History
The Town of Attica was established in 1811 from a part of the Town of SheldonSheldon, New York
Sheldon is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 2,561 at the 2000 census.The Town of Sheldon is on the west border of Wyoming County. The town is southeast of Buffalo, New York.- History :...
. In 1816, part of Attica was used to make the new Town of Orangeville
Orangeville, New York
Orangeville is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2000 census.The Town of Orangeville is centrally located in the county. U.S. Route 20A passes across the town.- History :...
.
Attica is the location of 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...
's Attica Correctional Facility
Attica Correctional Facility
The Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum penitentiary in the town of Attica, New York, operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. After it was constructed in the 1930s, it held many of the most dangerous criminals of the time. A tear gas system is installed in the mess...
, which was the location of the infamous Attica Prison riots
Attica Prison riots
The Attica Prison riot occurred at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York, United States in 1971. The riot was based in part upon prisoners' demands for better living conditions...
that occurred on September 13, 1971. That prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and the New York Wyoming Correctional Facility are located south of the Village of Attica.
Geography
The north town line is the border of Genesee CountyGenesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, New York.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 36 square miles (93.2 km²), of which, 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.83%) is water. 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:...
passes through the northwest part of the town.
NY-98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
intersects NY-238
New York State Route 238
New York State Route 238 is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It runs in a northwest–southeast direction roughly centered on the village of Attica. In the former direction, it connects to U.S. Route 20 in Darien and serves as a more direct route into...
and NY-354
New York State Route 354
New York State Route 354 is a state highway in New York, USA. NY 354 is one of several highways radiating eastward from its western terminus in downtown Buffalo, New York. The east terminus of NY 354 is in the Village of Attica, where it ends at NY 98 and NY 238 as West...
at Attica village.
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 6,028 people, 1,497 households, and 1,053 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 168.8 people per square mile (65.2/km²). There were 1,603 housing units at an average density of 44.9 per square mile (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.79% White, 21.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 5.18% 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 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.16% of the population.
There were 1,497 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 44.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 209.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 240.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,877, and the median income for a family was $49,375. Males had a median income of $32,060 versus $22,220 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 $17,817. About 3.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Attica
- AtticaAttica (village), New YorkAttica is a village in Wyoming County, New York in the USA. The population was 2,597 at the 2000 census. It is named after a region in Greece.The Village of Attica is on the northern border of Wyoming County...
– Part of the Village of Attica is in the north part of the town. The remainder is inside Genesee County. - Attica-Wyoming County Correctional Facility complex – A New York state prison complex, south of Attica Village.
- Attica Center – 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...
southeast of Attica Village on Route 238. - Vernal Corners – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town.