Dunkirk, New York

Dunkirk, New York
Chadwicks Bay, Ganadawao[1]
City

Aerial view of Dunkirk, facing north over Lake Erie
Dunkirk
Dunkirk

Location of Dunkirk in New York

Coordinates: 42°28′46″N 79°20′02″W / 42.47944°N 79.33389°W / 42.47944; -79.33389Coordinates: 42°28′46″N 79°20′02″W / 42.47944°N 79.33389°W / 42.47944; -79.33389[1]
Country United States
State New York
County Chautauqua
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Wilfred Rosas (D)
 • Common Council
Area[2]
 • Total 4.55 sq mi (11.79 km2)
 • Land 4.50 sq mi (11.66 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation[1] 617 ft (188 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 12,563
 • Estimate (2016)[3] 11,940
 • Density 2,652.15/sq mi (1,024.04/km2)
ZIP Code 14048
Area code(s) 716
FIPS code 36-013-21105
Website www.dunkirktoday.com

Dunkirk is a city in Chautauqua County, New York, in the United States. It was officially incorporated in 1880, though it was first settled around 1805.[4] The population was 12,563 as of the 2010 census,[5] with an estimated population of 12,328 in 2013.[6] Dunkirk is bordered on the north by Lake Erie. It shares a border with the village of Fredonia to the south, and with the town of Dunkirk to the east and west. Dunkirk is the westernmost city in the state of New York.[7]

History

The Iroquoian languages-speaking Erie people occupied this area of the forested, lakefront along the southern shore of Lake Erie well into the 1600s, when Europeans, mostly French, started trading around the Great Lakes. They were pushed out by the Seneca people, one of the Five Nations of the powerful Iroquois League, based here and further east in New York.[8][9] The European-American demarcation and settlement of Chadwick Bay and subsequent naming of Dunkirk - after Dunkirk in France[10] - began in earnest in 1826.[11]

Point Gratiot Lighthouse
NRG Energy Power plant along Lake Erie in Dunkirk

The Dunkirk Lighthouse at Point Gratiot was built soon after and still stands. Dunkirk served as a minor railroad hub and steamship port on Lake Erie into the early 1900s. Both freight and passenger ships traveled the lakes.[9]

The city thrived as a steel town for Roebling and others through the 1950s. In addition, it was a manufacturing leader with Plymouth Tube and Ralston Purina. Its coal-burning Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation plant provided power for the region.The plant was mothballed in 2016, negatively impacting Dunkirk's tax base. NRG Energy acquired the plant and proceeded with plans to convert it from coal-burning to run on natural gas.[12] Since the 1970s, population has declined following a regional drop in manufacturing as the steel industry and other restructured. Overall employment has declined in the area.

Beginning in the 1980s, the city refocused its economic efforts on revitalizing its pier[13] and fishing, to improve the quality of life for residents and attract more tourists. In addition, in 2016 it attracted a high-tech drug manufacturing project as part of business related to the state project of area investment called the "Buffalo Billion."[14]

Geography

Dunkirk lies on the southeastern shore of Lake Erie and is 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Buffalo.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2), of which 4.5 square miles (11.7 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 1.10%, is water.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18705,231—
18807,24838.6%
18909,41629.9%
190011,61623.4%
191017,22148.3%
192019,33612.3%
193017,802−7.9%
194017,713−0.5%
195018,0071.7%
196018,2051.1%
197016,855−7.4%
198015,310−9.2%
199013,989−8.6%
200013,131−6.1%
201012,563−4.3%
Est. 201611,940[3]−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 12,563 people, 5,477 households, and 3,690 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,774.6 people per square mile (1,119.2/km²). There were 6,071 housing units at an average density of 1,340.6 per square mile (517.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.70% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.50 Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 9.14% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.40% of the population.

There were 5,477 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,313, and the median income for a family was $35,058. Males had a median income of $29,462 versus $21,682 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,482. About 18.5% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Law enforcement and fire/EMS

The city of Dunkirk has its own police force under the leadership of Police Chief David Ortolano. It employs full-time officers and part-time dispatchers for the police department only.

Dunkirk has a split paid and volunteer fire department under the leadership of Fire Chief Mike Edwards. There are three stations located throughout the city. The paid firefighters belong to Local 616, the union for the city's paid firefighters. The rest of the membership is volunteer.

As of 2011, Dunkirk Fire started handling 90 percent of EMS transports and billing accordingly. Alstar Ambulance still has a reduced contract with the city for advanced life support when needed. In recent years, Dunkirk Fire's dispatching merged with the county dispatch center in Mayville but still maintains its FCC ID of KED 653.

Alstar Ambulance has its north county satellite station on Monroe Street in Dunkirk just southwest of NY 60. Dispatching is still controlled by the main station in Jamestown via MEDCOM. Several transportable units as well as wheelchair transport vans and one medic fly car are housed here. There is a fenced-in and pre-lit landing pad located on the property for Starflight or any other medevac needing to use the landing pad.

Education

Transportation

Union Depot, Dunkirk, between c. 1890 and c. 1900

The Chautauqua County-Dunkirk Airport (DKK), located in the town of Dunkirk, provides both training facilities and charter services.[17]

Railroad service in Dunkirk is provided by CSX Transportation (via the Buffalo-Cleveland-Willard (Ohio)-Chicago Main Line) and Norfolk Southern Railway (Buffalo-Cleveland-Fort Wayne-Chicago Main Line). The Lake Shore Limited daily Amtrak train passes through the city, but it does not stop in it. In the late 1990s the rail carrier considered adding the city as a stop between Buffalo and Erie. Dunkirk was listed as a stop with service "to commence on a date to be announced" on several timetables, but the stop was never added.[18]

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) passes through the southern end of the city, with access from Exit 59 (NY Route 60) just east of the city limits. The Thruway leads northeast 42 miles (68 km) to the outskirts of Buffalo and southwest 28 miles (45 km) to the Pennsylvania border. New York State Route 5 runs through the center of the city, leading northeast 9 miles (14 km) to Silver Creek and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Westfield.

Media

Climate

Climate data for Dunkirk, New York (Dunkirk Chautauqua Airport) 1981–2010, extremes 1945–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 72
(22)		 71
(22)		 81
(27)		 86
(30)		 88
(31)		 94
(34)		 99
(37)		 96
(36)		 96
(36)		 87
(31)		 80
(27)		 71
(22)		 99
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 33.6
(0.9)		 35.1
(1.7)		 43.1
(6.2)		 55.4
(13)		 66.3
(19.1)		 75.9
(24.4)		 79.9
(26.6)		 78.7
(25.9)		 71.7
(22.1)		 60.3
(15.7)		 49.7
(9.8)		 38.4
(3.6)		 57.5
(14.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.7
(−2.9)		 27.2
(−2.7)		 34.4
(1.3)		 45.7
(7.6)		 56.2
(13.4)		 66.3
(19.1)		 70.9
(21.6)		 69.5
(20.8)		 62.9
(17.2)		 52.0
(11.1)		 42.4
(5.8)		 32.0
(0)		 49.0
(9.4)
Average low °F (°C) 19.9
(−6.7)		 19.3
(−7.1)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 36.0
(2.2)		 46.1
(7.8)		 56.8
(13.8)		 62.0
(16.7)		 60.4
(15.8)		 54.0
(12.2)		 43.7
(6.5)		 35.2
(1.8)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 40.5
(4.7)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)		 −28
(−33)		 −11
(−24)		 18
(−8)		 27
(−3)		 39
(4)		 45
(7)		 43
(6)		 32
(0)		 22
(−6)		 3
(−16)		 −12
(−24)		 −28
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.93
(49)		 1.30
(33)		 1.94
(49.3)		 3.12
(79.2)		 3.70
(94)		 3.39
(86.1)		 4.08
(103.6)		 3.79
(96.3)		 4.11
(104.4)		 3.86
(98)		 3.90
(99.1)		 2.83
(71.9)		 37.95
(963.9)
Source #1: NOAA[20][21]
Source #2: The Weather Channel[22]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dunkirk". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 4, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/535594.html?nav=42
  5. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dunkirk city, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 (PEPANNRES): Incorporated Places in New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "2013 ACS Vintage TIGERweb". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Dunkirk: Between 1626 to 1798". Dunkirk Historical Society. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "History of Dunkirk Lighthouse". Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 110.
  11. ↑ Bush, Gladys A. Dunkirk: A Chronology and Index of Historical Facts. Dunkirk Historical Society.
  12. ↑ http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/21/nrg-ready-revive-dunkirk-power-plant-project/
  13. ↑ "Dunkirk Boardwalk Market". Chautauqua Art Trail. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Giant drug factory planned for Dunkirk will extend the reach of the Buffalo Billion". The Buffalo News. February 4, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  17. ↑ http://www.dkk.com/
  18. ↑ "DUNKIRK MAY OPEN AMTRAK STATION". Buffalo News  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . January 5, 1996. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  19. ↑ http://www.observertoday.com/
  20. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  21. ↑ "NY Dunkirk Chautauqua AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Climate Statistics for Dunkirk, New York". The Weather Channel. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  23. ↑ Samuel Hopkins Adams, Encyclopædia Britannica
  24. ↑ "Dunkirk Native Toby Holicki Returns For Eastern Premiere Of His Movie Wednesday," Dunkirk Evening Observer, 01 October 1974, Dunkirk-Fredonia, New York.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/644/horan-thomas.php
  27. ↑ Van Miller, Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
  28. ↑ , Dunkirk High School Yearbook
  29. ↑ "Former Kraft Inc. President, Ceo Arthur W. "Bud" Woelfle, 77". Chicago Tribune. December 17, 1997.
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