West Seneca, New York
Encyclopedia
West Seneca is a town 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...

. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally-located interior town of the county, and a suburb 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...

. West Seneca, Orchard Park
Orchard Park (town), New York
Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York, a suburb southeast of Buffalo, New York. According to the 2010 census, the population is 29,054. This represents an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure. The town contains a village also named Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the...

 and Hamburg
Hamburg (town), New York
Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,259.The Town of Hamburg is on the western border of the county and is south of Buffalo, New York. Hamburg is one of the "Southtowns" in Erie County...

 form the inner "Southtowns", a cluster of middle-class suburban towns.

History

Because the town is on land of the former Buffalo Creek Reservation
Buffalo Creek Reservation
The Buffalo Creek Reservation was a tract of land surrounding Buffalo Creek in the central portion of Erie County, New York. It contained approximately of land and was set aside for the Native Americans of the region...

, it was not open to white settlement until the mid-19th century.

In 1851, the town of Seneca was formed from parts of the towns of Cheektowaga and Hamburg
Hamburg (town), New York
Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,259.The Town of Hamburg is on the western border of the county and is south of Buffalo, New York. Hamburg is one of the "Southtowns" in Erie County...

. The town changed the name to West Seneca in 1852 to avoid confusion with another location in the state (Seneca
Seneca, New York
Seneca is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a group of local natives....

, New York in Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...

). In 1909 the area immediately south 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...

 split from West Seneca, becoming the city of Lackawanna
Lackawanna, New York
Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...

.

Quality of Life

West Seneca offers a community rich suburban lifestyle. The town and local businesses sponsor a large number of family oriented community events and festivals. The town has an extensive system of recreational facilities including 15 town parks, an indoor skating rink, swimming center, youth community center and a large soccer complex. The town is home to the Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center. West Seneca is also the location of the 7.2 million dollar state of the art Southtowns Family YMCA Facility that opened in 2003. A recreational bicycle and pedestrian trail tentatively named the Seneca Creek Pathway is planned.

West Seneca is home to a large number of organized recreational leagues and clubs including;
West Seneca Youth Baseball, West Seneca Little Loop Football and Cheerleading,West Seneca Girls Softball Association, West Seneca Youth Hockey Association, West Seneca Soccer Club, West Seneca Competitive Swim and RGC All Star Cheerleading.

West Seneca was named "The best place in New York State to raise kids" by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2010.

Places of interest

Downtown Buffalo and its cultural offerings are only 20 minutes away, while both the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls are about a 40 minute drive.

West Seneca is home to a variety of shopping centers, with one of the most popular being the Southgate Plaza. The McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall
McKinley Mall, which opened in 1985, is a shopping mall south of Buffalo, New York, USA. The mall is located in the Town of Hamburg at the intersection of McKinley Parkway and Milestrip Road immediately east of the New York State Thruway. McKinley Mall services the Southtowns of Erie County...

 and Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria
Walden Galleria is an enclosed shopping mall located in the town of Cheektowaga, New York. Walden Galleria comprises more than of retail space, with 250 stores on two levels, including a food court and a movie theater. Anchor stores include Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW Shoe Warehouse,...

 are both within a 15 minute drive. The town was once home to one of the largest malls in the area, the Seneca Mall
Seneca Mall
Seneca Mall, which opened in 1969, was a shopping mall south of Buffalo, New York, USA. The mall was located in the Town of West Seneca at the intersection of Ridge Road and Slade Avenue immediately east of the New York State Thruway .The William Hengerer Company originally sought to develop a...

.

An 18 hole championship course was built just outside of West Seneca in Orchard Park by the West Seneca Rotary Foundation on a 250 acres (1 km²) site, part of which was donated by Buffalo businessman Carl Lambein. The public golf course opened in August 2007. Other amenities include a driving range, three hole golf teaching facility and a short game center. The First Tee
The First Tee
The First Tee, a youth development organization, impacts the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf...

 chapter of Western NY is headquartered at the golf course.

Education

There are three separate public school districts within the town. The West Seneca Central School District is the largest and serves the majority of the town. The Orchard Park Central School District occupies the south eastern portion of the town. The Cheektowaga-Sloan Union Free School District serves a small portion of the northwest part of town.

West Seneca is home to the following private primary and secondary schools:

Houghton College
Houghton College
Houghton College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. The college is a member of both the Christian College Consortium and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities...

 has a campus within the town.

Geography

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 21.4 square miles (55.4 km²), of which 21.4 square miles (55.3 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.09%) is water.

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...

) passes through the town and intersects New York State Route 400
New York State Route 400
New York State Route 400 is a state highway located within Erie County, New York, in the United States. The northwest end is connected to the New York State Thruway and the southeast end terminates at NY 16 in the town of Aurora. NY 400, a limited-access highway, roughly parallels...

 (Aurora Expressway) in the northwest part of the town and US Route 219 in the southwest part. The east 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...

 (Transit Road). New York State Route 240
New York State Route 240
New York State Route 240 is a state highway in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 242 in the Ellicottville community of Ashford in northern Cattaraugus County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 324...

 (Harlem Road/Orchard Park Road) and New York State Route 277
New York State Route 277
New York State Route 277 is a state highway in New York, USA. This highway is also called Union Road, along with other names. NY 277 is a major north–south road east of Buffalo, New York, through the middle of Erie County...

 (Union Road) are other major north-south roads, while New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...

 (Seneca Street/Center Road) and New York State Route 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...

 (Clinton Street) are major east-west highways.

Adjacent cities & towns

  • Town of Cheektowaga - North
  • 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...

     - North West
  • City of Lackawanna
    Lackawanna, New York
    Lackawanna is a city in Erie County, New York, U.S., located just south of the city of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. The population was 18,141 at the 2010 census. The name derives from the Lackawanna Steel Company...

     - West
  • Town of Hamburg
    Hamburg (town), New York
    Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,259.The Town of Hamburg is on the western border of the county and is south of Buffalo, New York. Hamburg is one of the "Southtowns" in Erie County...

     - Southwest
  • Town of Orchard Park
    Orchard Park (town), New York
    Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York, a suburb southeast of Buffalo, New York. According to the 2010 census, the population is 29,054. This represents an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure. The town contains a village also named Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the...

     - South
  • 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...

     - East
  • 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...

     - Northeast

Major highways in the Town of West Seneca

  • 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...

     (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...

    ), passes through the western part of town in North-South direction. (Thruway is in actuality East-West)

  • U.S. Route 219
    U.S. Route 219
    U.S. Route 219 is a spur of U.S. Route 19. It runs for from West Seneca, New York at an interchange with Interstate 90, to Rich Creek, Virginia, intersecting at U.S. Route 460. U.S. 219 is found in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia...

     (Southern Expressway), North-South route that travels through the extreme southwestern corner of town and ends at I-90. It is a major traffic artery for 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...

    Springville
    Springville, New York
    Springville is a village in the southeast part of the town of Concord in Erie County, New York, United States. Springville is the principal community in the town and a major business location in south Erie County. The population was 4,252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara...

     traffic and other points south.

  • 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...

     (Transit Rd., Southwestern Blvd.), North-South route that forms the east town boundary as Transit Road, with NY 78 north of Seneca St. (NY 16) and without NY 78 north of the Orchard Park Border. US 20 then turns west along the Orchard Park border and forms the southern town border for a short while.

  • New York State Route 16
    New York State Route 16
    New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...

     (Seneca St., Center Rd.) passes through the town East-West from the City of Buffalo into Elma. (NY 16 is in actuality North-South)

  • 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...

     (Transit Road), North-South route that marks the east town line with US 20 north of Seneca St. (NY 16).

  • New York State Route 240
    New York State Route 240
    New York State Route 240 is a state highway in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 242 in the Ellicottville community of Ashford in northern Cattaraugus County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 324...

     (Harlem Rd., Orchard Park Rd.), North-South route through town from Cheektowaga to Orchard Park.

  • New York State Route 277
    New York State Route 277
    New York State Route 277 is a state highway in New York, USA. This highway is also called Union Road, along with other names. NY 277 is a major north–south road east of Buffalo, New York, through the middle of Erie County...

     (Union Rd.), North-South Highway through town from Cheektowaga to Orchard Park.

  • New York State Route 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...

     (Clinton St.), East-West Roadway through north part of town from Buffalo to Elma.

  • New York State Route 400
    New York State Route 400
    New York State Route 400 is a state highway located within Erie County, New York, in the United States. The northwest end is connected to the New York State Thruway and the southeast end terminates at NY 16 in the town of Aurora. NY 400, a limited-access highway, roughly parallels...

     (Aurora Expwy.), North-South Highway through the town from its west end at I-90, east into Elma that roughly parallels NY 16. (NY 400 is in actuality East-West)

Demographics

As of the census
Census
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 2010, there were 44,711 people, 19,151 households, and 12,223 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 2,148.8 people per square mile (829.7/km²). There were 18,982 housing units at an average density of 888.2 per square mile (343.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96% White, 0.85% 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...

, 0.21% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% 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 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.

There were 19,151 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

As of the census
Census
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 the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,278, and the median income for a family was $54,179. Males had a median income of $39,003 versus $26,846 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 $20,529. About 3.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in West Seneca

  • Buffalo Airfield
    Buffalo Airfield
    Buffalo Airfield , formerly known as Buffalo Airpark and Gardenville Airport , is an airport located in the town of West Seneca in Erie County, New York...

     (9G0) – A general aviation airport
    Airport
    An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...

     on the north town line.
  • Buffalo Creek
    Buffalo River (New York)
    The Buffalo River is a river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, by the City of Buffalo in the United States of America. This stream is called the Buffalo River only in the vicinity of the city and is known as Buffalo Creek as it flows through other parts of...

     – A stream flowing westward through the town. The name 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...

    , New York is derived from the stream. The creek is called the Buffalo River as it departs the western edge of the town.
  • East Seneca
    East Seneca, New York
    East Seneca, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of West Seneca in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...

     – A location on Route 16 in the east part of the town.
  • Ebenezer
    Ebenezer, New York
    Ebenezer, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of West Seneca in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...

     – Centrally located, a hamlet named after the "Eric Croston Ebenezers" (also called the Inspirationalists
    Inspirationalists
    The Inspirationalists were a group of Germans, Swiss and Austrians from a number of backgrounds and soci-economic areas who settled in West Seneca, New York, after purchasing land from an Indian reservation...

    ), a group of German Lutherans who purchased land and settled this area around 1843. Later, many of this communal group moved to Amana, Iowa
    Iowa
    Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

     and had abandoned their four settlements in West Seneca by 1863.
  • French Quarters – A location in the northwest part of the town.
  • Gardenville
    Gardenville, New York
    Gardenville, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of West Seneca in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...

     – A hamlet on the northern border of the town shared with the town of Cheektowaga
    Cheektowaga (town), New York
    Cheektowaga is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree...

    .
  • New Ebenezer
    New Ebenezer, New York
    New Ebenezer, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of West Seneca in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...

     – A hamlet east of Gardenville.
  • Tim Russert Park – A park named after NBC
    NBC
    The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

     journalist Tim Russert
    Tim Russert
    Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...

    , who attended elementary school in West Seneca.
  • West Seneca
    West Seneca (CDP), New York
    West Seneca is a hamlet in Erie County, New York in the United States. The population was 45,943 at the 2000 census...

     – A cdp within the town.
  • West Seneca Developmental Center – A facility for disabled children in the southeast part of the town.

Related links

  • West Seneca Central School District
    West Seneca Central School District
    -About the District:The West Seneca Central School District was centralized in 1946, is the third largest central school district in Western New York, and one of the largest school districts in New York State...

     serves West Seneca and parts of Cheektowaga, Orchard Park and Hamburg.
  • Orchard Park Central School District
    Orchard Park Central School District
    Orchard Park Central School District is a public school district that serves Orchard Park, New York. The school district consists of 5,157 students in grades K-12...

    http://www.opschools.org/ serves the southern part of West Seneca that borders Orchard Park

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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