Alden is a
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in
Erie County,
New York, United States. The population was 10,865 at the 2010 census.
The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers.
Alden is in the northeast part of Erie County, east of
Buffalo. It contains a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
also called
Alden.
History
The town of Alden, which had previously been part of
Clarence, was established on March 27, 1823, and codified in the Laws of the State of New York, Sess.46, ch. 89 (1823). Part of Alden was later given up to form the town of
Marilla in 1853.
In 1856, the community of Alden in the town set itself off by incorporating as a village. The town was made more popular by the discovery of the black water baths in 1891. People would travel from Buffalo and from areas far east of the town to experience the healing powers of the black water baths.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.58%, is water.
, a tributary of
Tonawanda Creek and thence the
Niagara River
The Niagara River ( ) flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, forming part of the border between Ontario, Canada, to the west, and New York, United States, to the east. The origin of the river's name is debated. Iroquoian scholar Bruce T ...
, flows westward through the north-central part of the town.
Cayuga Creek, a tributary of the
Buffalo River, flows westward through the southern part of the town.
The east town line is the border of
Genesee County (town of
Darien), while part of the south town line forms the border of
Wyoming County (town of
Bennington). Alden is also bordered by the town of
Newstead (north), the town of
Lancaster (west), and the town of
Marilla (south).
U.S. Route 20 (Broadway) is an east–west highway across the south part of the town, and
New York State Route 33 is a highway across the northern part.
Climate
This
climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Alden has a
humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...
, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Climate Summary for Alden, New York
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Demographics
U.S. Census Bureau quickfacts: Alden town, Erie County, New York. (n.d.). https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/aldentowneriecountynewyork/IPE120221#IPE120221
As of the census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 10.1% Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.6% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, and 0.06% from two or more races. Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 3,3043 households, out of which 86.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together. The average household size was 2.69.
In the town the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% under the age of 5, 18.5% over the age of 65 and the female population making up 45.6%
The median income for a household in the town was $75,028. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $26,235. About 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
.
For education, 87.9% of the population over 25 was a high school graduate or higher with 21.9% ages 25 and over had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Household with a computer were 93.0% and households with broad band Internet were 88.6%.
Notable people
* Lyman K. Bass, born in Alden, United States congressman
Communities and locations in Alden
* Alden - the Village of Alden in the east part of the town on US-20.
* Alden Center – located by Westwood Road and Sandridge Road.
*Alden Station – A location between Alden village and Crittenden.
* Crittenden – A hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
at Genesee Street (NY-33) and Crittenden Road. Many businesses are located around this important intersection.
* Dellwood – A location on the western town line.
*Looneyville - A hamlet located on Townline Road at Walden Avenue, north of the hamlet of Dellwood.
* Millgrove – A small hamlet of several businesses and many residences around the intersection of Genesee Street (NY-33) and N. Millgrove Road. Many of the original businesses have been closed or converted to others uses.
* Peters Corners – A location at the intersection of Genesee Street (NY-33) and South Newstead Road, composed of a few scattered residences.
* Town Line – a location on the western town line.
* Town Line Station – A location at the western town line, bordering the town of Lancaster. It is north of Town Line.
* Wende – A region in the northwest corner of the town, where several public institutions are located.
* West Alden – A location at the intersection of Broadway and Sandridge Road, west of the village of Alden.
Additional information about Alden
The Erie County Correctional Facility, and Wende Correctional Facility are located in the northwest part of the town.
The Alden Advertiser is a local newspaper servicing the community.
References
External links
Town of Alden official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alden (Town), New York
Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area
Towns in Erie County, New York
Towns in New York (state)