Lancaster (village), New York
Encyclopedia
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 Village of Lancaster is in the west part of the Town of Lancaster
and is east of Buffalo, New York
.
The Lancaster Opera House is locally famous for its musicals and stage plays. The current mayor is William Cansdale.
with historic districts.
The oldest house in the village is the Carpenter- Draper House, built in 1831. The Lancaster Presbyterian Church is the Second oldest religious structure in Erie County, built in 1832.
Churches in the Village of Lancaster include Lancaster Presbyterian Church, St. John's Lutheran, Trinity Episcopal, and Faith United Methodist. Catholic churches include St. Mary of the Assumption, and Our Lady of Pompeii.
In 1894 The Lancaster Opera House was built. This building is still the main focus of the downtown Lancaster area. Town of Lancaster offices are also located in the building. This leads people to call the building both The Opera House and Town Hall.
The Central Ave./ Broadway area is the downtown business area in the village. The former W. Main St. was also at one time another major business street in the downtown area. However, today very few businesses are located on the street due to its demolition in the early 70's. In the near future, West Main will be re-extended all the way to Aurora/N. Aurora/St. Mary's St. as it had before the demolition.
Four Railroads (Erie RR, Lehigh Valley RR, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RR, and New York Central RR once traversed the village, however only two remain. The fifth railroad in the town, the West Shore RR did not go through the village, but did have a station in Bowmansville, which is a hamlet the northwestern part of the town. Each railroad had a station on Central Ave.
A trolley once went through the village, down Como Park Blvd., to Lake Ave., to Church St., to East Main St. (now Broadway), to Central Ave., and then finally to Sawyer Ave. The Trolly then continued into the connecting Village of Depew.
Several fires have caused much damage over the years to the downtown area. The Great Fire of 1894 destroyed much of the west side of Central Ave., and The Grimes-Davis Mansion, which stood at the corner of Broadway and Central Ave.
The Village includes part of Como Lake Park, an Erie County
Park. The rest of the park lies in the town.
Church Street, a street off Broadway, contains many architectually significant homes.
Lancaster's first emmigrants were Dutch. Then Germans came in the mid-1800's who then founded St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Italian immagrants were the last to populate the village area. They then founded Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.10%) is water.
The village is located on Cayuga Creek
and U.S. Highway 20 (Broadway).
Como Lake Park in the village is a place to congregate. The lighthouse in Como Lake Park on Cayuga Creek is a place for people of many ages to gather.
Broadway has many large houses and mansions that are architectually significant. Many of these houses have been changed into bussineses and offices. Broadway also contains many historical Protestant churches.
St. Mary's Cemetery is a historical cemetary located behind St. Mary of the Assumption Church.
Lancaster Town Hall, also known as the Opera House, is located on Central Ave.
the Lancaster Municipal Building is located on Broadway. It contains all of the village offices, including one of the two village fire halls. The other is located on W. Drullard Ave.
Keysa Park contains a public swimming pool. It is locasted on Vandenburg Ave.
The Lancaster Farmers Market opperates in the Save-A-Lot parking lot on Sundays.
Most of Central Ave. north of Sawyer Ave. and south of Hinchey Ave. is below grade level. The reason for this is that 3 of the 4 bridges that carry railroads are very close together. All of the streets coming into Central Ave. must slant downwards toward Central Ave. The houses on Central Ave. are above street level. Central Ave. is also very wide.
Many of Lancaster's streets still contain original brick underneath the pavement.
of 2000, there were 11,188 people, 4,726 households, and 2,958 families residing in the village. The population density
was 4,155.0 people per square mile (5.8/km²). There were 4,908 housing units at an average density of 1,822.7 per square mile (704.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.62% White, 0.32% Black or African American
, 0.26% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 4,726 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,149, and the median income for a family was $53,514. Males had a median income of $39,772 versus $25,839 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,308. About 3.1% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. Route 20
(Broadway)
New York State Route 952Q
(Walden Ave.)
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
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...
. 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 village population was 11,188. It is part of the 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...
–Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area, designated by the United States Census Bureau, encompassing two counties – Erie and Niagara – in Western New York, with a population, as of the 2010 census, of 1,135,509 inhabitants...
.
The Village of Lancaster is in the west part of the Town of Lancaster
Lancaster (town), New York
Lancaster 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...
and is east 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 Lancaster Opera House is locally famous for its musicals and stage plays. The current mayor is William Cansdale.
History
The Village of Lancaster was incorporated in 1849 from part of the Town of Lancaster. The village is proud of its historic past and emphasizes preservation of its historic buildings. Lancaster was formerly known as "Cayuga Creek." The Village of Lancaster's north boundry is Walden Ave, The eastern edge is Walter Winter Drive, the southern edge of the Village is the northernly boundry of the former Buffalo Creek Indian Reservation. The Western boundry is a former farm-lot line which is now Brunswick Road. The Village of Lancaster is one of about 30 communities in New YorkNew 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...
with historic districts.
The oldest house in the village is the Carpenter- Draper House, built in 1831. The Lancaster Presbyterian Church is the Second oldest religious structure in Erie County, built in 1832.
Churches in the Village of Lancaster include Lancaster Presbyterian Church, St. John's Lutheran, Trinity Episcopal, and Faith United Methodist. Catholic churches include St. Mary of the Assumption, and Our Lady of Pompeii.
In 1894 The Lancaster Opera House was built. This building is still the main focus of the downtown Lancaster area. Town of Lancaster offices are also located in the building. This leads people to call the building both The Opera House and Town Hall.
The Central Ave./ Broadway area is the downtown business area in the village. The former W. Main St. was also at one time another major business street in the downtown area. However, today very few businesses are located on the street due to its demolition in the early 70's. In the near future, West Main will be re-extended all the way to Aurora/N. Aurora/St. Mary's St. as it had before the demolition.
Four Railroads (Erie RR, Lehigh Valley RR, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western RR, and New York Central RR once traversed the village, however only two remain. The fifth railroad in the town, the West Shore RR did not go through the village, but did have a station in Bowmansville, which is a hamlet the northwestern part of the town. Each railroad had a station on Central Ave.
A trolley once went through the village, down Como Park Blvd., to Lake Ave., to Church St., to East Main St. (now Broadway), to Central Ave., and then finally to Sawyer Ave. The Trolly then continued into the connecting Village of Depew.
Several fires have caused much damage over the years to the downtown area. The Great Fire of 1894 destroyed much of the west side of Central Ave., and The Grimes-Davis Mansion, which stood at the corner of Broadway and Central Ave.
The Village includes part of Como Lake Park, an 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...
Park. The rest of the park lies in the town.
Church Street, a street off Broadway, contains many architectually significant homes.
Lancaster's first emmigrants were Dutch. Then Germans came in the mid-1800's who then founded St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Italian immagrants were the last to populate the village area. They then founded Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church.
Geography
Lancaster is located at 42°54′1"N 78°40′22"W (42.900408, −78.67303).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 village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.10%) is water.
The village is located on 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 U.S. Highway 20 (Broadway).
Points of Interest
Central Ave. in the downtown area is the busiest street in the village, along with Broadway. The downtown area contains shops and boutiques.Como Lake Park in the village is a place to congregate. The lighthouse in Como Lake Park on Cayuga Creek is a place for people of many ages to gather.
Broadway has many large houses and mansions that are architectually significant. Many of these houses have been changed into bussineses and offices. Broadway also contains many historical Protestant churches.
St. Mary's Cemetery is a historical cemetary located behind St. Mary of the Assumption Church.
Lancaster Town Hall, also known as the Opera House, is located on Central Ave.
the Lancaster Municipal Building is located on Broadway. It contains all of the village offices, including one of the two village fire halls. The other is located on W. Drullard Ave.
Keysa Park contains a public swimming pool. It is locasted on Vandenburg Ave.
The Lancaster Farmers Market opperates in the Save-A-Lot parking lot on Sundays.
Streets in Lancaster
Many of the streets in Lancaster are very large and wide, complimented with large, old trees. Broadway has the oldest trees, while Burwell Ave. and Sawyer Ave. are the widest residential streets.Most of Central Ave. north of Sawyer Ave. and south of Hinchey Ave. is below grade level. The reason for this is that 3 of the 4 bridges that carry railroads are very close together. All of the streets coming into Central Ave. must slant downwards toward Central Ave. The houses on Central Ave. are above street level. Central Ave. is also very wide.
Many of Lancaster's streets still contain original brick underneath the pavement.
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 11,188 people, 4,726 households, and 2,958 families residing in the village. 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 4,155.0 people per square mile (5.8/km²). There were 4,908 housing units at an average density of 1,822.7 per square mile (704.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.62% White, 0.32% 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...
, 0.26% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 4,726 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,149, and the median income for a family was $53,514. Males had a median income of $39,772 versus $25,839 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 village was $20,308. About 3.1% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Major Highways
U.S. Route 20U.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)
New York State Route 952Q
New York State Route 952Q
New York State Route 952Q is an unsigned reference route designation for the portion of Walden Avenue outside of the Buffalo city limits in Erie County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at the Buffalo city line in Cheektowaga, where Walden Avenue continues...
(Walden Ave.)