Newfane, New York
Encyclopedia
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 Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, 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. The population was 9,666 at the 2010 census. The name was suggested by an early settler.
The Town of Newfane is in the north-central part of the county, north of the City of Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
.
History
The Town of Newfane was established in 1824 by Dr.Reale and Dr.Guerriera and from parts of the Towns of HartlandHartland, New York
Hartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
, Somerset
Somerset, New York
Somerset is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 2,662 at the 2010 census. The town is believed to be named after Somerset, New Jersey, the source of some early settlers....
, and Wilson
Wilson, New York
Wilson is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,213 at the 2000 census. The village is said to be named after Luther Wilson. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The first town meeting was held at the Van Horn Mansion
Van Horn Mansion
The Van Horn Mansion was built by Judge James Van Horn in 1823. It is the site of the Town of Newfane's first town meeting, April 6, 1824. The name for the Town of Newfane is believed to be chosen by the town Postmaster. The Mansion includes 16 rooms and five bathrooms. It is located on...
in 1824. At one time, the community was known as "Charlotte" and "Charlottesville," but then was renamed Newfane ("New Fane" = "New Church").
Its school district includes an Early Childhood Center, Elementary school, Intermediate School, Middle School, and one High School. The school's mascot is a panther.
In Olcott
Olcott, New York
Olcott is a hamlet located in the Town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, United States 14126. As of the 2000 census, this community population was 1,156. Most locals refer to it as Olcott Beach...
, there is a monument with a handful of names of soldiers who fought for the Union cause in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In total, 252 Union soldiers came from Newfane. Olcott is also home to an original Herschell Carousel. The Carousel was built in 1928 and recently celebrated its 80th anniversary.
The town has two properties on the National Register of Historic Places: the First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church (Newfane, New York)
First Baptist Church is a historic Baptist church located at Newfane in Niagara County, New York. It is a Greek Revival style cobblestone church constructed in 1843. It is one of approximately 47 cobblestone buildings in Niagara County....
and Van Horn Mansion
Van Horn Mansion
The Van Horn Mansion was built by Judge James Van Horn in 1823. It is the site of the Town of Newfane's first town meeting, April 6, 1824. The name for the Town of Newfane is believed to be chosen by the town Postmaster. The Mansion includes 16 rooms and five bathrooms. It is located on...
.
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 53.5 square miles (138.5 km²), of which, 51.8 square miles (134.3 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it (3.05%) is water.
It also includes Wright's Corners.
Newfane's northern border is Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. The town's south border is shared with the Town of Lockport
Lockport (town), New York
Lockport is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 20,529 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the series of canal locks on the Erie Canal...
.
Adjacent Cities & Towns
- Town of LockportLockport (town), New YorkLockport is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 20,529 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the series of canal locks on the Erie Canal...
- south - City of LockportLockport (city), New YorkLockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
- south - Town of WilsonWilson (town), New YorkWilson is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 5,993 at the 2010 census. The town is said to be named after an early settler....
- west - Town of SomersetSomerset, New YorkSomerset is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 2,662 at the 2010 census. The town is believed to be named after Somerset, New Jersey, the source of some early settlers....
- east - Town of HartlandHartland, New YorkHartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
- east - Lake OntarioLake OntarioLake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
- north
Major Highways in the Town of Newfane
New York State Route 18New York State Route 18New York State Route 18 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County...
(Lake Rd.), East-West Highway across the north part of town roughly paralleling Lake Ontario.
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...
(Lockport-Olcott Rd.), North-South roadway through the town from the Lockport town line to its northern terminus at Lake Rd. (NY 18) in Olcott, NY.
New York State Route 104New York State Route 104New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
(Ridge Rd.), East-West roadway through the town from the Cambria town line to the Hartland town line. (Runs concurrent with NY 78 a short distance in Wrights Corners.)
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 9,657 people, 3,597 households, and 2,633 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 186.3 people per square mile (71.9/km²). There were 3,854 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile (28.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.76% White, 7.15% 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...
, 0.54% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.51% 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 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 3,597 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% 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 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,438, and the median income for a family was $50,095. Males had a median income of $38,037 versus $25,279 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 $18,311. About 5.2% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Newfane
- AppletonAppleton, New YorkAppleton, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.Appleton is also home to many acres of scenic farmland. In addition, Appleton has its own post office and a number of thriving businesses....
– A hamlet in the northeast part of Newfane. - BurtBurt, New YorkBurt, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet south of Olcott on Route 78, named after Burt van Horn, an early settler in the region. - CorwinCorwin, New YorkCorwin, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet between Newfane and Wrights Corners on Route 78. - Eighteen Mile CreekEighteen Mile Creek (Niagara County)Eighteen Mile Creek in Niagara County, New York, USA, is a tributary of Lake Ontario and is located entirely in Niagara County. The name "Eighteen Mile" creek refers not to the length of the creek, but to its distance from the Niagara River to the west....
– A stream flowing northward through the town to Lake Ontario. - Hess RoadHess Road, New YorkHess Road, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A location on the east border of the town, east of Newfane. - RidgewoodRidgewood, Niagara County, New YorkRidgewood, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet southeast of Newfane on Route 104 (Ridge Road). - NewfaneNewfane (CDP), New YorkNewfane is a census-designated place in the town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, United States, along State Route 78. The population was 3,129 at the 2000 census...
– The hamlet of Newfane is on Route 78, centrally located in the town and on the east bank of Eighteen Mile Creek. - OlcottOlcott, New YorkOlcott is a hamlet located in the Town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, United States 14126. As of the 2000 census, this community population was 1,156. Most locals refer to it as Olcott Beach...
– A hamlet with a small boat harbor on Lake Ontario. - Olcott-Newfane Airport (D80) – A small general aviation airport on the west side of Eighteen Mile Creek and southwest of Olcott.
- Woodland Heights – a lakeside hamlet on Lake Ontario.
- Wrights CornersWrights Corners, New YorkWrights Corners, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the towns of Lockport and Newfane in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet on the south town line, partly in the Town of LockportLockport (town), New YorkLockport is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 20,529 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the series of canal locks on the Erie Canal...
. The community is located by the fork in Routes 78 and 104. It extends to Wicks Road.