Tonawanda (town), New York

:"For other places with a similar name, see Tonawanda, New York".

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Tonawanda, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Erie
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 52.7
area_land_km2 = 48.7
area_water_km2 = 4.0
area_total_sq_mi = 20.4
area_land_sq_mi = 18.8
area_water_sq_mi = 1.6

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 78155
population_density_km2 = 1604.7
population_density_sq_mi = 4156.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 188
elevation_ft = 617
latd = 42 |latm = 58 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 78 |longm = 51 |longs = 19 |longEW = W

area_code = 716
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-75000
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979551
website =
footnotes =

Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 78,155. The name is derived from a creek on the northern border. The name "tonawanda" means "swift waters" in the Iroquois language.

The Town of Tonawanda is at the north border of the county. It is a northern suburb to the City of Buffalo.

It is often referred to, along with its neighbor, Kenmore, as Ken-Ton.

History

This area was under French control from the 17th Century until ceded to the British after the French and Indian War.

The first settlers arrived around 1805.

Rapid growth began after the construction of the Erie Canal, completed in 1825.

The Town of Tonawanda was set apart in 1836 from the "Town of Buffalo" (now part of the City of Buffalo) and lies in the northwest corner of Erie County. At that time it included Grand Island and land that became the City of Tonawanda.

The town lost territory to the new Town of Grand Island in 1852 and in 1899 the new Village of Kenmore set itself off from the town by incorporation.

The Tonawanda Sports Center was home to the minor league hockey (NAHL) team, The Buffalo Norsemen in the 1975-1976 season.

Notable residents of the Town of Tonawanda

* Wolf Blitzer, journalist and author, graduated from Kenmore West High School

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.4 square miles (52.7 km²), of which, 18.8 square miles (48.7 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.0 km²) of it (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 US Route 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard), is the Town of Amherst. Forming the southern border is the Village of Kenmore and the City of Buffalo.

Adjacent Cities & Towns

*Fort Erie, Ontario - west
*City of Buffalo - south
*Village of Kenmore - south
*Town of Amherst - east
*City of Tonawanda - north
*City of North Tonawanda - north
*Town of Grand Island - northwest

Major Highways in the Town of Tonawanda

*), 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.

*

*, North-South highway that marks the east town line as Niagara Falls Blvd.

* (Military Rd.), North-South Highway through western part of town from the Buffalo City line to the City of Tonawanda line.

* (River Rd.), North-South roadway paralleling the Niagara River in the town from the Buffalo City line to the City of Tonawanda line.

*.

* (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.

* (Delaware Ave.), North-South Highway in the town from the Kenmore village line to the City of Tonawanda line.

* (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 censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

Education

Tonawanda has two high schools, Kenmore West Senior High School and Kenmore East Senior High School.

Communities and locations in the Town of Tonawanda

*Brighton -- 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.
*Kenilworth -- A neighborhood in the southeast corner of the town.
*Kenmore -- The Village of Kenmore is one of the largest incorporated villages in the state and is completely within the borders of the town.
*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 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.tonawanda.ny.us Ken-Ton website]
*
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/tonawanda-ny.htm Early Tonawanda history]