Amherst, New York

Amherst, named the safest town in America, located in Erie County, New York, directly northeast of the City of Buffalo. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 116,510. This represents an increase from the 1990 census figure of 111,711. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst.

The Town of Amherst encompasses the Village of Williamsville. The town is by the northern part of the county and borders a small section of the Erie Canal.

Contents

1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Communities and locations in Amherst 5 Amherst facts 6 External links

History

Amherst was formed in 1818 from part of the Town of Buffalo (later the City of Buffalo), which had previously been created from the Town of Clarence. Part of the town was used to form the Town of Cheektowaga in 1839.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 138.6 km² (53.5 mi²). 137.9 km² (53.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.50% water.

Much of Amherst was originally swampland, most of which has been drained in recent years to facilitate rampant urban sprawl. The central and southern parts of the town are heavily suburbanized, however the southernmost hamlets (Eggertsville, Snyder) and the Village of Williamsville have managed to retain some of their original character. The northern part of the town is still relatively undeveloped.

Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek and Niagara County, New York.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 116,510 people, 45,076 households, and 29,885 families residing in the town. The population density is 844.8/km² (2,188.1/mi²). There are 46,803 housing units at an average density of 339.4/km² (879.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.28% White, 3.90% African American, 0.13% Native American, 5.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.36% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 45,076 households out of which 29.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% are married couples living together, 8.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% are non-families. 28.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.01.

In the town the population is spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $55,427, and the median income for a family is $68,951. Males have a median income of $51,667 versus $32,030 for females. The per capita income for the town is $27,647. 6.4% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Communities and locations in Amherst

• Eggertsville A suburban community in the southwest part of the town, bordering on The City of Buffalo. Daemen College is located on Main Street (Route 5). The community is named after early postmaster Christian Eggert.
• Getzville -- A location near the center of the town by Campbell Boulevard (Route 270) and Dodge Road. The name comes from early resident Joseph Getz.
• Audubon - A location in the center of the town and location of part of the town government, as well as the town's only housing project.
• East Amherst (formerly Transit Station) -- A community in the eastern part of the town, shared with the Town of Clarence.
• Grover Cleveland Terrace -- A neighborhood in the southwest corner of the town.
• North Bailey -- A location by the junction of Bailey Avenue and Maple Road.
• Snyder (originally Snyderville after postmaster Michael Snyder} -- A suburban community located between Eggertsville and the Village of Williamsville.
• Swormville - A hamlet in the eastern part of the town, shared with the Town of Clarence.
• Williamsville - Most of the Village of Williamsville is within Amherst, located in the south part of the town.

Amherst facts

The Town of Amherst is the most populous town in Erie County and has its own economic base of business and industry.

Home to American Idol finalist John Stevens.

There are four institutions of higher education located in Amherst. The North Campus of the University at Buffalo (housing all of the University programs apart from architecture, planning, and medicine), Daemen College, and one of the three campuses of Erie Community College is located there. Bryant and Stratton, offers two year programs.

External links

• Town of Amherst webpage (http://www.amherst.ny.us)
• Amherst History (http://history.rays-place.com/ny/amherst-ny.htm)
• Amherst history (http://www.amherstmuseum.org/history.htm)