Amherst, New York Explained

Amherst
Official Name:Town of Amherst
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:260px
Image Map1:New York in United States (US48).svg
Map Caption1:Location of New York in the United States
Pushpin Map:New York#USA#North America
Coordinates:42.9783°N -78.8°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name1: New York
Subdivision Name2:Erie
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:April 10, 1818
Named For:Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
Government Type:Town council
Leader Title:Supervisor
Leader Name:Brian Kulpa (D)
Leader Title1:Deputy Supervisor
Leader Name1:Deborah Bruch Bucki (D)
Leader Title2:Councilmembers
Leader Title3:Clerk
Leader Name3:Francina J. Spoth
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:138.78
Area Total Sq Mi:53.58
Area Land Km2:137.78
Area Land Sq Mi:53.20
Area Water Km2:1.00
Area Water Sq Mi:0.39
Area Water Percent:0.73
Elevation Ft:594
Population Total:129,595
Population As Of:2020
Population Density Km2:912.96
Population Density Sq Mi:2364.58
Population Est:126082
Pop Est As Of:2019
Pop Est Footnotes:[2]
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:14068, 14221, 14226, 14228, 14231, 14260, 14261
Area Code:716
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:36-029-02000
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons

Amherst ([3]) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, the town had a total population of 129,595.[4] This represents an increase from 122,366 as reported in the 2010 census.[5] It is the 14th most populated municipality in New York.

The second-largest in area and the most populous suburb of Buffalo, the town of Amherst encompasses the village of Williamsville as well as the hamlets of Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, Swormville, and East Amherst. The town is in the northern part of Erie County and borders a section of the Erie Canal.

Amherst is home to the north campus of the University at Buffalo, a campus of Erie Community College, a satellite campus of Bryant & Stratton College, and Daemen University.

History

Amherst was created by the State of New York on April 10, 1818, from part of the town of Buffalo (later the city of Buffalo), which itself had previously been created from the town of Clarence. Amherst was named after Lord Jeffrey Amherst, commander-in-chief of the British army in North America from 1758 to 1763. Timothy S. Hopkins was elected the first supervisor of the town in 1819. Part of Amherst was later separated to form the town of Cheektowaga on March 22, 1839.[6]

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 spurred Amherst's growth, bringing with it with new settlers and increased commerce. German immigrants settled in the northern part of the town as farmers, attracted by the fertile land in the area. The town's water resources encouraged the development of grist mills, saw mills, and other factories along Ellicott Creek.[7] Several communities and hamlets started to develop around this time, such as Williamsville (1810s), Eggertsville and Snyder (1830s), East Amherst and Swormville (1850s), and Getzville (1860s).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 138.8km2, of which 137.8km2 is land and 1km2, or 0.73%, is water.[8]

Much of Amherst was originally floodplain and marshland, portions of which have been drained in recent years to facilitate development of new homes and businesses. The central and southern parts of the town are heavily suburbanized. Despite this development, the hamlets of Eggertsville and Snyder and the village of Williamsville have managed to retain much of their original character. The northern part of the town is still relatively undeveloped, with the prominent exception of the portions along Niagara Falls Boulevard (U.S. Route 62) bordering the towns of Tonawanda and Wheatfield. Some sections of northern and eastern Amherst have experienced problems with collapsing residential foundations as a result of unstable soil conditions. A few active farms may still be found in the northern part of the town.

Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek and Niagara County. Ellicott Creek flows through the town.

Adjacent cities and towns

Neighborhoods

Areas within Amherst are referred to by the former post office station names and are not legally incorporated. During the 1990s, many of these regional post offices were closed and consolidated into the central Amherst 14226 post office on Bailey Avenue, leaving only a Williamsville (14221) post office on Sheridan Drive, a Getzville (14068) post office on Millersport Highway, and an East Amherst (14051) post office on Transit Road. Mailing addresses to areas within the town are Amherst, East Amherst, Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, and Williamsville. These postal districts are still recognized by the post office and widely referred to by citizens.

Some of these mailing addresses overlap: some areas of Clarence directly east of Transit Road have Williamsville addresses, although for the purposes of taxes, schools and community resources, these people are residents of the Town of Clarence.

The areas listed below are governed and run by the Town of Amherst except for the Village of Williamsville, an independent political entity.

Climate

Average high temperatures from May through October range from 60 to 81 degrees. Average high temperatures from November through March range from 31 to 47 degrees.[9]

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 122,366 people, 48,894 households, and 29,840 families residing in the town. There were 51,179 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 83.8% White, 5.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 7.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.[10]

There were 48,894 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 31.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,427, and the median income for a family was $68,951. Males had a median income of $51,667 versus $32,030 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,647. About 4.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

51.7% of residents (aged 25 and over) have obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher, including 26.7% with a Graduate or professional degree.[11]

Economy

In July 2010, CNNMoney ranked Amherst 42nd in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.[12] In 2012, CNNMoney.com ranked Amherst 50th.[13] In 2011 and 2012, Amherst was selected as one of America's 100 Best Communities for Young People by America's Promise Alliance.[14]

National Fuel and Life Storage are headquartered in Williamsville.

Arts and culture

Many festivals are celebrated in Amherst throughout the year. The town is home to the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village.

The Town of Amherst Archival Research Center is located in the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst NY 14226 (previously housed in the Former Reformed Mennonite Church[15] which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.)

Sports

Amherst is home to the University at Buffalo Stadium, Alumni Arena, and Amherst Audubon Field, all utilized by the University at Buffalo Buffalo Bulls.

The Northtown Center is the town's ice hockey arena. The arena is the home of the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League, the University at Buffalo Bulls men's ice hockey team, and the Buffalo Wings, a professional inline hockey team competing in Major League Roller Hockey.

Government

Crime and public safety

As of 2014, the Amherst Police Department employed 154 officers and 35 full and part-time civilian employees including the Chief, Assistant Chief, and eight captains.[16]

Amherst has been ranked as the "Safest City in America" 1996–1998, 2000–2003, and 2010. In many other years it ranked in the top 5. The ranking is based on annual reports by the FBI, including crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.

In 2006, Amherst was ranked the second safest city in the United States, after Brick Township, New Jersey.[17] In 2011, it ranked 6th safest out of 400 cities.[18] Most recently in 2014, Amherst was ranked the #1 Safest City in America with a population between 100,000 and 500,000.[19]

Education

Higher education

There are five separate higher educational institutions with campuses in the town.

All university programs apart from architecture, planning, nursing, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and public health reside here.

Public schools

There are three separate public school districts within the town.

The largest district and comprises the eastern half of the town along with portions of the Town of Clarence. The district is ranked #1 out of 97 public school systems in Western New York.[20] Williamsville high schools were awarded Silver rankings according to 2013 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools, and rank among the top 2-3% out of over 21,000 high schools nationally.[21]

Covering the southwestern portion of the town with its core in the Eggertsville and Snyder areas.

Covering the northwestern portion of the town along with portions of the Town of Tonawanda with its core in West Amherst and Getzville.[22]

Media

Amherst is served by the Amherst Bee newspaper. In 1969 Paul Kurtz founded the publishing house Prometheus Books in Amherst.

Infrastructure

Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital is located in the center of town on Maple Road.[23]

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 4, 2017.
  2. Web site: Population and Housing Unit Estimates. June 9, 2017.
  3. Web site: Amherst. Dictionary.com. November 9, 2014.
  4. United States Census Bureau, 2020 Census Report, Amherst, Erie County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?q=Amherst%2C+New+York&page=1&stateGeo=none&searchtype=web&cssp=SERP&_charset_=UTF-8
  5. Web site: US Census Bureau 2010 . December 17, 2012.
  6. Web site: A brief history of the Town of Amherst. Town of Amherst. May 15, 2015. 1997. Amherst Museum. Amherst Museum.
  7. Web site: "History of the town of Amherst" (1818 - 1965).
  8. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Amherst town, Erie County, New York. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. February 22, 2016.
  9. Web site: Weatherbase Weather Data. December 17, 2012.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  11. Web site: U.S. Census website . U.S. Census . May 23, 2013 .
  12. News: Best Places to Live 2010. August 2010. CNNMoney. May 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020142237/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/CS3602000.html. October 20, 2012.
  13. Web site: CNN Money Best Places to Live 2012. December 17, 2012.
  14. Web site: America's Promise Alliance 100 Best Communities for Young people. December 17, 2012.
  15. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: Former Reformed Mennonite Church. November 2002. July 17, 2009. Claire L. Ross. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. https://web.archive.org/web/20120610045246/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=11408. June 10, 2012. dead. See also: Web site: Accompanying four photos. October 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120610045257/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=11418. June 10, 2012. dead.
  16. Web site: Town of Amherst, NY Official Website . November 23, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151124151836/http://www.amherst.ny.us/govt/govt_dept.asp?dept_id=dept_16&menu_id=menu_00 . November 24, 2015 . dead .
  17. http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25 City Crime Rankings by Population Group
  18. Web site: CQ Press City Crime Rankings: 2010-2011. December 17, 2012.
  19. Web site: Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2014.
  20. Web site: Thomas. Scott. 2012 school district rankings for Western New York. December 17, 2012.
  21. Web site: 2013 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools. April 30, 2013.
  22. Web site: Town of Amherst Schools and Education. December 17, 2012.
  23. Web site: Town of Amherst website. December 17, 2012.
  24. Web site: Anita Alvarez . Tokyo 2020 . June 30, 2022 . July 30, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210730153238/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/artistic-swimming/athlete-profile-n1302215-alvarez-anita.htm . dead .