Cheektowaga (town), New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cheektowaga | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Erie County |
| Area | 29.5 sq mi (76.4 km²) |
| - land | 29.5 sq mi (76.4 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0% |
| Center | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 662 ft (201.8 m) |
| Population | 94,019 (2000) |
| Density | 3,187 /sq mi (1,230.5 /km²) |
| Incorporated | 1829 |
| Supervisor | Mary Holtz (2008) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 14225/14227 |
| Area code | 716 |
 Location of Cheektowaga in Erie County
|
|
  Location of Cheektowaga in New York
|
|
 Location of New York in the United States
|
|
| Website : http://www.tocny.org | |
Cheektowaga is a town (also a Census-designated Place, see below) 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. Cheektowaga has a large Polish-American community, about 39.9% of population is of Polish heritage.
The Town of Cheektowaga is in the north-central part of the county. Its western border is the City of Buffalo. Cheektowaga contains the site of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the principal airport of Erie County.
Villa Maria College and the Walden Galleria are located in Cheektowaga.
Contents |
[edit] History
"Land of the Crabapples" ( JI-IK-WAH-GAH ), named by the Seneca Indians referring to the apple-like fruit of the Hawthorn trees abundantly growing in the area. Cheektowaga was formed from Amherst on March 20, 1829, and on the formation of West Seneca on October 16, 1851, was reduced to its present limits—about thirty-three square miles, or 18,710 acres.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.5 km²), all of it land.
The town borders Lancaster on the east, West Seneca on the south, the city of Buffalo on the west, and on the north by Amherst. The town includes the waterways of Scajaquada Creek, Cayuga Creek and Ellicott Creek.
The east town line is marked by New York State Route 78 (Transit Road). New York State Route 240 (Harlem Road) and New York State Route 277 (Union Road) are major north-south routes through the town. New York State Route 33 (Kensington Expressway) and New York State Route 130 (Broadway) access the New York State Thruway, which is also a north-to-south highway through the town (although officially an east-west road, it travels north-south in the Cheektowaga section).
[edit] Adjacent Cities & Towns
- City of Buffalo - west
- Town of West Seneca - south
- Village of Depew - east
- Town of Lancaster - east
- Town of Amherst - north
[edit] Major Highways in the Town of Cheektowaga
Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway), runs North-South through the town, traveling from the Amherst town line in the north, south to the West Seneca town line in the southwest corner of town.
Interstate 190 (Niagara Section), travels in the town from I-90 to Buffalo City Line and beyond into Downtown Buffalo and north to Niagara Falls.
U.S. Route 20 (Transit Road), North-South roadway that runs concurrently with NY 78 along Cheektowaga's east border with Lancaster, south of Depew.
New York State Route 78 (Transit Road), North-South roadway that provides the east border of Cheektowaga with Lancaster, north of Depew.
New York State Route 33 (Kensington Expwy.,Genesee St.), East-West Route that runs through the town from the Buffalo city line as the Kensington Expressway to the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, which lies within the town. Genesee Street then takes over NY 33 east out of the town into Lancaster.
New York State Route 130 (Broadway), East-West roadway from the Buffalo city line to the Depew village line.
New York State Route 240 (Harlem Rd.), North-South roadway from the West Seneca town line, runs along the western town line with Buffalo, and heads north into the Town of Amherst.
New York State Route 277 (Union Rd.), North-South highway through the town from West Seneca north to Amherst.
New York State Route 354 (Clinton St.), East-West roadway through the extreme southwest corner of town, and provides the southern border with West Seneca.
- New York State Route 952Q (Walden Ave.), East-West highway through the town from Buffalo to Depew. Walden is the longest non-parkway New York State Reference Route. Walden's reference route number is not signed, but still has reference markers, and is maintained by New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as other signed routes are.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 94,019 people, 40,045 households, and 25,869 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,183.8 people per square mile (1,229.3/km²). There were 41,901 housing units at an average density of 1,418.9/sq mi (547.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.94% White, 2.93% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 40,045 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.4% 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 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,121, and the median income for a family was $46,646. Males had a median income of $34,538 versus $25,434 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,627. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Ancestries: Polish (39.9%), German (29.9%), Italian (16.0%), Irish (14.1%), English (5.8%), French (2.7%).
[edit] Communities and locations in Cheektowaga
- Cleveland Hill - A neighborhood located on the north town line, this community has its own school district.
- Depew - The Village of Depew (shared with the Town of Lancaster) is in the eastern part of the town.
- Doyle - A neighborhood near the western town line.
- Forks - A location near Union Road (NY-277) and Broadway (NY-130).
- Maryvale - A neighborhood located just west of the airport, this community is also a school district.
- Pine Hill - A neighborhood on the border of Buffalo, the community features many cemeteries and Villa Maria College.
- Sloan - The Village of Sloan, near the Buffalo border.
- U-Crest - A neighborhood near Union Road (NY-277) and Genesee Street (NY-33).
- Williamsville - A small part of the Village of Williamsville (shared with the Town of Amherst).
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Town of Cheektowaga Official Website
- Cheektowaga Times
- Cheektowaga history
- Maryvale Flyers High School reunion page for classmates
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
