| Town of Tonawanda | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Location of Tonawanda within Erie County | |
|
Town of Tonawanda
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Erie |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| • Town Supervisor | Anthony F. Caruana (NPA) |
| • Town Council |
Members' List
|
| • Town Clerk | Melissa M. Brinson (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.4 sq mi (52.7 km2) |
| • Land | 18.8 sq mi (48.7 km2) |
| • Water | 1.6 sq mi (4.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 78,155 |
| • Density | 4,156.3/sq mi (1,604.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-75000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979551 |
Tonawanda (formally, the Town of Tonawanda) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155.[1] The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo. It is sometimes referred to, along with its constituent village of Kenmore, as "Ken-Ton." The town was established in 1836 and up to 1903 it included what is now the city of Tonawanda.
It is the first town in America to exceed a population of 100,000 people.
Contents |
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.
Tonawanda occupies the northwest corner of Erie County and is bounded on the north by the Erie Canal, which here follows Tonawanda Creek.
The town of Tonawanda was established in 1836, by separation from the Town of Buffalo (now part of the City of Buffalo). At that time it included land that later became part of Town of Grand Island (established 1852) and the entire City of Tonawanda (established 1903).
In 1899, Kenmore incorporated as a village of the town.
In 2009, citizen environmental monitoring of air quality problems resulted in "civil and criminal enforcement actions" by the EPA against Tonawanda Coke.[2]
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) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.0 km²) (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 U.S. Route 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard), is the Town of Amherst. Forming the southern border is the Village of Kenmore and the City of Buffalo.
As of the census[1] 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 per square mile (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.
One of the Town of Tonawanda's best known landmarks is the blue Korean War-era Grumman F9F-6P Cougar Naval airframe found in Walter M. Kenney Field at the northwest corner of Brighton Road and Colvin Boulevard.[3] The "blue jet," as it is often called, has been on loan to the town from the U.S. government since May 1959.[3] Immediately behind the F9F-6P airframe is the Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial, dedicated on August 18, 2009. Retired U.S. Army General and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell delivered the keynote address during the memorial's dedication ceremony before a crowd of more than 1,500.[4][5]
The Town of Tonawanda Historical Society operates a museum out of a former German Evangelical Church constructed in 1849.[6] This facility, located at 100 Knoche Road, is the oldest building in the town.[6]
Tonawanda has two public high schools, Kenmore West Senior High School and Kenmore East High School.
The town is also home to St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute and Cardinal O'Hara High School.[7]