| Niagara Falls, New York | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| The City of Niagara Falls, New York | |
| Nickname(s): "Cataract City" "Honeymoon Capital of the World" | |
| Location within Niagara County | |
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Niagara Falls, New York
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Niagara |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Paul Dyster (D) |
| • City Administrator | Donna D. Owens |
| • City Council |
Members' List
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| Area | |
| • City | 16.8 sq mi (43.5 km2) |
| • Land | 14.1 sq mi (36.4 km2) |
| • Water | 2.8 sq mi (7.1 km2) 16.37% |
| • Urban | 366.7 sq mi (949.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population | |
| • City | 50,193 |
| • Density | 3,955.7/sq mi (1,527.3/km2) |
| • Urban | 976,703 (Ranked 38th) |
| • Urban density | 2,663.5/sq mi (1,028.37/km2) |
| • Metro | 1,254,066 |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 14301-14305 |
| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-51055 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0970406 |
| Demonym | Niagarian, Niagara Fallsite |
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 (also a city), both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. It is part of both the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Western New York region.
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The European migration into the area began in the 17th century with missionaries and explorers. The first recorded European to visit the area was Frenchman Robert de la Salle, accompanied by Belgian priest Louis Hennepin, who was the first known European to see the falls. This influx of newcomers may have been a catalyst for already hostile native tribes to turn to open warfare in competition for the fur trade.
The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated on March 17, 1892 from the villages of Manchester and Suspension Bridge, which were parts of the Town of Niagara. New York State Governor Roswell P. Flower signed a bill into law forming the city. Thomas Vincent Welch who was a member of the charter committee and then a New York state assemblyman, but more importantly a second-generation Irishman, was there when the bill was signed, and responsible for asking Governor Flower to sign the bill on St. Patrick's Day. George W. Wright was elected the first mayor of Niagara Falls.[1]
Historically, the city was built around factories that utilized the power of the falling water for energy. Now the downtown area borders a park (Niagara Falls State Park) affording a close-up view of the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls.
By the end of the 19th century, the city was a heavy industrial area, due in no small part to the huge power potential offered by the swiftly flowing Niagara River. There were many industries in Niagara Falls that used the power of the mighty Niagara River. Tourism was considered a secondary niche, while industry was the main producer of jobs and economic backbone.
In 1927, the city annexed the village of La Salle from the Town of Niagara. The village was named for Robert de la Salle.
Ever since the early 1900s, the center of the tourist district was Falls Street, a vibrant and carnival-like street that ran into the main part of the city. Although Falls Street no longer exists in the capacity that it once did, efforts are currently being made by the government and private companies to revitalize and restore what is left of the historic thoroughfare.
The 1950s and early 1960s witnessed an economic boom, as several industries moved into the city to take advantage of the hydroelectric power offered, due to a higher demand for household and industrial products. Paper, rubber, plastics, petrochemicals and abrasives were among the major industries located in the city. This brief period of prosperity would end by the mid-1960s, as the locally owned Schoellkopf Power Project later collapsed into the Niagara River, ending an industrial era.
To take advantage of the hydroelectric power offered, New York City urban planner Robert Moses built a new power plant in nearby Lewiston, New York. However, Niagara Falls did not get much of the power created; Most of it went downstate to fuel growing demands for New York City.
The neighborhood of Love Canal gained national media attention in 1978 when United States President Jimmy Carter declared a federal emergency there, and hundreds of residents were relocated.[2] Starting in 1920, the area had been used as a landfill for chemical waste disposal (and later, industrial toxic waste) before its development as a residential area. The Superfund law, which protects people, families, communities and others from heavily contaminated toxic waste sites, was enacted in 1980 in response to the Love Canal situation.
The post-Love Canal Niagara Falls witnessed a reversal of fortunes, as what was once cheap to produce in Niagara Falls was now far cheaper to outsource to other countries. Several factories closed, and the population has since dropped by half, as blue-collar workers fled the city in search of jobs elsewhere. The city's economy plummeted downward when a failed Urban Renewal project took place resulting in the destruction of Falls Street and the tourist district.
In 1995, the city government was the defendent in NAACP v. City of Niagara Falls, which named, among others, then-Mayor Jacob Palillo; City Council Members, G. Tom Sottile, Barbara A. Geracitano, Andrew Walker, Henry Buchalski, Michael Gawel, Anthony Quaranto, John G. Accardo; and City Clerk, Elsie Paradise. NAACP charged that the city was violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At the time, Niagara Falls' government consisted of a mayor, who acted as chief executive, and seven city council members elected at-large. The NAACP further argued that the city had not given enough representation to African Americans living in the city, which at that time comprised 15.58% of the city's population. The court ruled in favor of the city, which kept its system of government.
Currently, the city's main industry is tourism. In 2004, the Seneca Nation of Indians opened the Seneca Niagara Casino in the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, thereby establishing sovereign Native American territory in the midst of the city. The city, however, continues to struggle economically.
In 2001, the entire corrupt leadership of Laborers Local 91 plead of were found guilty of extortion, racketeering and other crimes following an exposé by Mike Hudson of the Niagara Falls Reporter. However, union boss Michael "Butch" Quarcini died before trial began, although the rest of the union leadership was sentenced.
In early 2010, former Niagara Falls Mayor Vincent Anello was indicted on federal charges of corruption. Although not related to his political career, Anello, a master electrician by trade, was also sentenced to 13 months in jail for pension fraud regarding a pension from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, of which he is a member.
The decline of the city was given national exposure by Bloomberg Businessweek magazine in a cover story.
On November 30, 2010, the New York State Attorney General entered into an agreement with the city and its police department to create new policies to govern police practices in response to claims of excessive force and police misconduct. The city will create policies and procedures to prevent and respond to allegations of excessive force, and to ensure that police are properly trained and complaints are properly investigated. Prior claims filed by residents will be evaluated by an independent panel.[3]
The city has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[4] It also has three national historic districts including: Chilton Avenue-Orchard Parkway Historic District, Deveaux School Historic District, and the Park Place Historic District.
The economy for the city was originally based around the Falls itself, or at least the power generated by the massive waterfall. This cheap and abundant source of power was the driving force behind the rapid rise of area industry. Around the turn of the 20th century, thousands of immigrants from predominantly European nations such as Italy and Poland came to the area to work the chemical, steel, and manufacturing plants owned by present-day companies such as Occidental.
The area is subject to the migration of manufacturing jobs to developing countries common to the rust belt. Another major toll was suburban migration, a national trend. The city, which once boasted well over 100,000 people at its peak, has seen its population decline by some 50%, as industries shut down and people left for the employment opportunities of the South and West. The unemployment rate in the City of Niagara Falls was around 10 percent as of October 2010.[5] Approximately 60 percent of residents in Niagara Falls receive public assistance such as food stamps, welfare, unemployment insurance and Medicaid.
Also blamed for the economic decline is the presence of the New York Power Authority, whom politicians, reporters and residents have blamed for charging the city high electric bills, rendering the draw of cheap power obsolete. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and especially the Niagara Frontier Parks Commission (a division of the department), has also been blamed for placing souvenir stands, parking lots and restaurants within Niagara Falls State Park, which may have resulted in tourists not patronizing businesses in the city. Recently, state officials have been negotiating with state park and NYPA officials, such as Assemblyman John Ceretto of Lewiston asking the NYPA if they would nominate a resident of Niagara County to the Board of Directors, since the Robert Moses Niagara Power Project in Lewiston is the most profitable project undertaken by NYPA and generates the most power.
Local and state government officials have vowed to embrace the physical and cultural advantages that the Niagara region naturally possesses — whether speaking of the Niagara Gorge, burgeoning wine trail, historical landmarks, Little Italy Niagara or Niagara Falls itself. This move away from the city's industrial past to embrace a tourism-based economy has led the city to reinvent itself in marketing in recent years. In late 2001, the State of New York established the USA Niagara Development Corporation, a subsidiary to the State's economic development agency, to focus specifically on facilitating development in downtown Niagara Falls, NY. However, the organization has been strongly criticized for doing little to improve Niagara Falls' economy and generating no significant progress since it was founded.[6][7]
The Falls' current development strategy is focused on a pragmatic approach to revitalizing vacant and underutilized buildings in the downtown area as high profile catalyst projects with real economic impact. But the cost to demolish the city's many abandoned buildings may make it impossible to address all the eyesores, according to officials,[8] but some have criticized the city of wasting funds elsewhere.[9] The opening of the new Conference Center Niagara Falls in 2005; the redevelopment of the historic United Office Building and the Hotel Niagara; the restoration of Old Falls Street, once the primary tourist thoroughfare downtown, which is now a promenade; the redevelopment of the former Holiday Inn Select as a new Crowne Plaza Resort with several restaurants including the city's first Starbucks Coffee; and other attractions such as the planned Niagara Experience Center; and of course, the Seneca Niagara Casino, attempt to reposition Niagara Falls as a premiere destination.
The arrival of the Seneca Niagara Casino in 2004 was major undertaking designed to renew in the city's downtown area. However as of late 2011 the anticipated economic renewal the casino was supposed to bring has not been felt in the local area.
Niagara Falls is currently visited by almost ten million people each year and is considered one of the United States' top ten tourist destinations. The official tourism promotion agency, Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation ( NTCC), was adopted in 2005.[10] "The Mission of the NTCC is quite simple: to enhance the economic prosperity of Niagara County by promoting, selling and marketing the County as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and leisure tourism. While everyone agrees that Niagara Falls is the region’s main attraction, there are a plethora of other attractions that make Niagara USA such a special place to visit." The NTCC has launched several campaigns, domestically and internationally,to promote Niagara Falls Hotels, Niagara Attractions, and various events and festivals in Niagara County.[11] The NTCC's efforts have also been criticized as the city continues to struggle financially and marketing efforts have not generated a significant turnaround.[12] A recent audit also found millions of dollars of tax dollars spent by high-ranking NTCC officials on tuxedo rentals, trips to Europe and Asia, expensive meals and backrubs.[13]
Despite all its efforts, Niagara Falls, NY struggles to keep up with its Canadian neighbor, Niagara Falls, Ontario which has a much more vibrant tourism industry and stronger economy.[14]
From 1982 to 2000, a shopping mall called Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet operated downtown on city land leased to Cordish Companies. The mall was built in a failed effort to revitalize the downtown. The owner, David Cordish, was criticized for not maintaining the building. Cordish eventually shuttered the building and stopped paying rent in anticipation that the company would be bought out of the lease. In October 2010, Cordish announced that he would give the facility to Niagara County Community College for free to develop a hospitality school, culinary school, restaurant and bookstore. NCCC recently announced that they would develop 75,000 square feet (7,000 m2) of the vacant mall, giving the rest of it to the City of Niagara Falls to further develop it. NCCC began construction work in 2011.
There is also an outlet mall called Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, formerly "Prime Outlets Niagara", which is not actually part of the city, but of the town of Niagara, New York, which shares a post office with the city.
The Wintergarden was an all-glass indoor arboretum designed by Cesar Pelli adjacent to the Rainbow Centre. It operated as an arboretum from its 1977 opening until 2003, and as Smokin Joe's Family Fun Center from 2003 to 2005, after the city sold it to local developer Joseph Anderson. It sat adjacent to the derelict Rainbow Centre until its being demolished demolished in 2009 to make way for Old Falls Street, plus the fact that it cost too much to heat during the typically harsh winters in the area.
Although statistically lower in crime than cities in Upstate New York such as Buffalo and Rochester, unfortunately Niagara Falls still suffers from a higher than average crime rate.[15] In wake of recent gun violence, volunteer groups such as the "SNUG" movement have been mobilized to stop violence in Niagara Falls, and promote positive community involvement in Niagara Falls poorest and highest crime areas.[16]
Niagara Falls is located at (43.094305, -79.017339)[17].
The city is located at the international boundary between the United States of America and Canada.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.8 square miles (44 km2), of that, 14.1 square miles (37 km2) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) of it (16.37%) is water.
The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge which is located on next to the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Niagara Falls experiences cold winters and warm summers. The coldest temperature recorded in Niagara Falls is −11° in 2003, 2005, and 2011.[18] The hottest temperature recorded in Niagara Falls was 97° in 2005. The city is also one of the snowiest.[19]
| Climate data for Niagara Falls, New York | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
45 (7) |
61 (16) |
67 (19) |
78 (26) |
79 (26) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
41 (5) |
31 (−1) |
55 (13) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 16 (−9) |
20 (−7) |
30 (−1) |
39 (4) |
47 (8) |
58 (14) |
59 (15) |
56 (13) |
44 (7) |
35 (2) |
28 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
38 (3) |
| Source: [20] | |||||||||||||
The City of Niagara Falls functions under a strong mayor-council form of government. The government consists of a mayor, a professional city administrator, and a city council. The current mayor is Paul Dyster (D). The City Administrator is Donna D. Owens.
The city has had four one-term mayors since 1992. Those mayors were Jacob A. Palillo, James C. Galie, Irene J. Elia, and Vincenzo V. Anello. As of 2011, Paul Dyster is the first mayor of the city to be re-elected since 1987.
The city council serves four-year, staggered terms, except in the case of a special election. It is headed by a Council Chairperson, who votes in all items for council action.
The council members are:
On a state level, Niagara Falls is part of the 138th Assembly District of New York State. The current assemblyman is John Ceretto (R-Lewiston). Niagara Falls is also part of the 60th Senate District of New York State. The state senator is Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo).
On a national level, the city is part of New York's 28th congressional district and is represented by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. This district will become obsolete in the 113th Congress in 2013 because of redistricting and redrawing of district lines because of the results of the 2010 census. In the United States Senate, the city and the state are represented by Senior Senator Charles Schumer and Junior Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
The city is home to the Niagara Falls State Park. The park has several attractions, including
Several attractions also abut the river, including
Attractions in the downtown include
Little Italy is an area full of restaurants, bakeries, and pizzerias extending along Pine Avenue and surrounding areas from Portage Rd. to Hyde Park Boulevard. It historically was the home to a large Italian-American population. Italian Americans built such institutions as St. Joseph's Church, the Cristoforo Colombo Society (1903) and Colombus Square Park. The park serves as the center of Italian culture with its bocce courts, summer concerts and the Italian Festival. Currently Council Chairman Sam Fruscione produces a weekly Public-access television cable TV show promoting Little Italy Niagara. While Pine Avenue continues to thrive, areas around it have gone through an economic decline.
The North End, like Little Italy, has declined significantly over the years. Originally a booming industrial district, especially along Highland and College Avenues, several of the industries have closed and the area has become neglected. It is a dangerous area typefied by poverty, crime and drug dealing. Recently, "green" industry has begun to move into the North End, bringing back some jobs. The relocation of the Niagara Falls Train Station is expected to help the area, as well as new development on nearby Main Street. It is mainly considered to be anything located north of the primary railroad tracks within the city, with the exception of west of Ninth Street. Several housing projects have been built within the area, including Center Court, Harry S. Jordan Gardens, the proposed HOPE VI houses, and the infamous Unity Park projects. Originally an Italian neighborhood, it has become increasingly African-American.
A small, upper-mie area, and it is very close to Niagara Falls! This neighborhood has managed to stay well kept and crime free. Beautiful brick and all stone homes from the early to mid 20th century right on the beautiful Niagara Escarpment.
LaSalle is a large, vaguely defined middle class neighborhood considered to be anything east of 56th Street. It is the site of Love Canal, an infamous toxic waste landfill that was sold to the city for purposes of building a school in the early 1950s. It is named for Robert de la Salle, a French explorer who launches his boat, the Griffon from the approximate location of Griffon Park on Buffalo Avenue. In recent years, the main retail area of downtown Niagara Falls has moved from the South End near the falls to Military Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard, giving a significant economic boost to the area.
the Downtown, also known as the South End is the area of the city that adjoins Niagara Falls State Park. It is the main tourist district in the city, especially so in locations south of Niagara Street. However, it has declined significantly since a failed Urban renewal project took place in the 1960s resulting in the demolition of the historic Falls Street tourist district. Recently, efforts have been made to restore Falls Street and the downtown to its original grandeur, including the resurrection of Third Street as the entertainment district, and the arrival of the Seneca Niagara Casino.
Niagara Street is the main thoroughfare in the area known as the East Side. It is the historic home to a significant Eastern European population, especially Polish and German immigrants. It has been and continues to be a diverse working-class neighborhood. Students in the area are served by the new Niagara Street School in between Niagara Street and Welch Avenue.
After the decline of several industrial areas in the city, Buffalo Avenue has remained the primary industrial section of the city for a century, although today the heavy manufacturing, mainly of petrochemicals and electrochemicals, occurs at a significantly diminished rate from a half-century ago when the city was at its peak. Several chemical factories are located along Buffalo Avenue between John B. Daly Boulevard and 56th Street.
Hyde Park is a neighborhood surrounding Hyde Park, the largest city park in New York State other than Manhattan's Central Park. Other than Hyde Park, Niagara Falls has 24 other parks. It is primarily a working class neighborhood.
Air
Rail
Ground
NFTA replaced two local bus operators in the 1950s: Lockport Bus Lines and Niagara Falls Municipal Transit System.
Major highways in the City of Niagara Falls
As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 50,193 people, 22,603 households, and 12,495 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,987.7 people per square mile (1,153.5 per square km). There were 26,220 housing units at an average density of 1,560.7 per square mile (622.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.5% White, 21.6% African American, 1.9% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.
There were 22,603 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 4.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 22% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,800, and the median income for a family was $34,377. Males had a median income of $31,672 versus $22,124 for females. 23% of the population was below the poverty line.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 3,006 |
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| 1880 | 3,320 | 10.4% | |
| 1890 | 5,502 | 65.7% | |
| 1900 | 19,457 | 253.6% | |
| 1910 | 30,445 | 56.5% | |
| 1920 | 50,760 | 66.7% | |
| 1930 | 74,460 | 46.7% | |
| 1940 | 78,020 | 4.8% | |
| 1950 | 90,872 | 16.5% | |
| 1960 | 102,394 | 12.7% | |
| 1970 | 85,615 | −16.4% | |
| 1980 | 71,384 | −16.6% | |
| 1990 | 61,840 | −13.4% | |
| 2000 | 55,593 | −10.1% | |
| 2010 | 50,193 | −9.7% | |
Newspapers
The city has two newspapers, the Niagara Gazette, which is published daily, and the Niagara Falls Reporter, which is published weekly. With a circulation of 22,500, the Reporter has managed to become the dominant newspaper compared to an average circulation of 14,228 for the Gazette.[22][23] The Buffalo News is the closest major newspaper in the area and once had a Niagara County, NY bureau that extensively covered Niagara Falls and its surrounding communities. It still covers the community with a variety of reporters on a part-time basis.
Radio
Television
The Our Schools Channel 21 (OCS-21) is a High School run Television Station that broadcasts on the Educational Public Access Station (Channel 21) throughout Niagara County. All work is done by Niagara Falls High School Media Production Students under the direct supervision of Media Education Director; Mr. Rich Meranto. The station broadcasts programming both LIVE and Pre-Taped featuring school performances, Community events, school video announcements, sports programming and shows with many community leaders.
Residents are zoned to the Niagara Falls City School District. When LaSalle High School closed in June, 2000, a new Niagara Falls High School was built at 4455 Porter Road. The new school merged LaSalle and the former Niagara Falls High School. The old Niagara Falls High School building at Pine Avenue and Portage Road became an Art and Cultural Center.
Niagara University is the closest post-secondary/college in the city.
Niagara Falls has a number of places of worship, including the First Unitarian Universalist Church, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church and the Conservative Jewish Temple Beth Israel.
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