Grand Island is an island

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an o ...

in Erie County,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 21,389 representing an increase of 5.00% from the 2010 census figure. The town's name derives from the French name ''La Grande Île'', as Grand Island is the largest island in the

Niagara River The Niagara River () is a river that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the province of Ontario in Canada (on the west) and the state of New York in the United States (on the east). There are diffe ...

and third largest in New York state. The phrase ''La Grande Île'' appears on the town seal. Grand Island has been home to the

Attawandaron The Neutral Confederacy (also Neutral Nation, Neutral people, or ''Attawandaron'' by neighbouring tribes) were an Iroquoian people who lived in what is now southwestern and south-central Ontario in Canada, North America. They lived throughout t ...

Nation and an acquisition of both

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

colonial pursuits. In 1945, Grand Island was part of a plan to make a new World Peace Capital on the international border between

Southern Ontario Southern Ontario is a primary region of the province of Ontario, Canada, the other primary region being Northern Ontario. It is the most densely populated and southernmost region in Canada. The exact northern boundary of Southern Ontario is disp ...

, Canada, and

Western New York Western New York (WNY) is the westernmost region of the U.S. state of New York. The eastern boundary of the region is not consistently defined by state agencies or those who call themselves "Western New Yorkers". Almost all sources agree WNY i ...

. The plan proposed placing the United Nations headquarters on adjacent

Navy Island Navy Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Niagara River in the province of Ontario, managed by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is located about upstream from Horseshoe Falls, and has an area of roughly . It is acr ...

(Ontario), which was considered an ideal location because it lay on the boundary between two peaceful countries. An artist's rendering of the World Peace Capital showed the property with bridges spanning both countries (between Grand Island in the United States and the Canadian mainland). The proposal was turned down in favor of the current U.N. headquarters in New York City. The town of Grand Island is in the northwestern corner of Erie County, and on the Canada–US border, although there is no river crossing to Canada. It is northwest of Buffalo, south of

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the U.S. state, state ...

, and is traversed by Interstate 190 and New York State Route 324.

History

Period before the American Revolution

In the early historical period of the island, French explorers found members of the

Neutral Nation The Neutral Confederacy (also Neutral Nation, Neutral people, or ''Attawandaron'' by neighbouring tribes) were an Iroquoian people who lived in what is now southwestern and south-central Ontario in Canada, North America. They lived throughout ...

of Native Americans, also known as the Attawandaron, living on the island. By 1651, the nearby

Seneca Nation The Seneca Nation of Indians is a federally recognized Seneca tribe based in western New York. They are one of three federally recognized Seneca entities in the United States, the others being the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (also in western Ne ...

had chased off or killed the Neutrals, having also absorbed some of the survivors. The Seneca then used the island for hunting and fishing. In 1764, as part of the Treaty of Cession after the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...

, the island became part of the British colonies in North America.

Period after the American Revolution

In 1815,

New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. sta ...

purchased Grand Island and other small islands in the

from the

Iroquois The Iroquois ( or ), officially the Haudenosaunee ( meaning "people of the longhouse"), are an Iroquoian Peoples, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Indigenous confederations in North America, confederacy of First Nations in Canada, First Natio ...

nation for $1,000 in hand, and annually, a perpetuity of $500 every June. The treaty was signed by Governor

Daniel D. Tompkins Daniel D. Tompkins (June 21, 1774 – June 11, 1825) was an American politician. He was the fifth governor of New York from 1807 to 1817, and the sixth vice president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. Born in Scarsdale, New York, Tompkins ...

Peter B. Porter Peter Buell Porter (August 14, 1773 – March 20, 1844) was an American lawyer, soldier and politician who served as United States Secretary of War from 1828 to 1829. Early life Porter was born on August 14, 1773, one of six children born to Dr ...

, Chief

Red Jacket Red Jacket (known as ''Otetiani'' in his youth and ''Sagoyewatha'' eeper Awake''Sa-go-ye-wa-tha'' as an adult because of his oratorical skills) (c. 1750–January 20, 1830) was a Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan, based in Western New York ...

, Falling Boards, Twenty Canoes, Sharp Shins, Man Killer, and others. The Senecas reserved the right to hunt fish and fowl on the islands. In 1824, in a precursor to modern

Zionism Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after '' Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...

, journalist and Utopian Mordecai Manuel Noah tried to found a " Jewish homeland on Grand Island." It would be called Ararat, after

Mount Ararat Mount Ararat or , ''Ararat''; or is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat and Little Ararat. Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and th ...

, the Biblical resting place of

Noah's Ark Noah's Ark ( he, תיבת נח; Biblical Hebrew: ''Tevat Noaḥ'')The word "ark" in modern English comes from Old English ''aerca'', meaning a chest or box. (See Cresswell 2010, p.22) The Hebrew word for the vessel, ''teva'', occurs twice in ...

. However, the idea failed to attract Noah's fellow Jews, and it never got further than a ceremonial laying of a cornerstone. MacArthur Award-winning cartoonist Ben Katchor fictionalized Noah's scheme for Grand Island in his graphic novel '' The Jew of New York''. The town of Grand Island was organized in 1852 from part of the town of Tonawanda. On August 25, 1993, the

commenced an action in the

United States District Court for the Western District of New York The United States District Court for the Western District of New York (in case citations, W.D.N.Y.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the western parts of Upstate New York. Appeals are taken to the Second Circuit (exce ...

to reclaim land that allegedly was taken from them without the approval of the United States. The Senecas argued the 1815 transaction with New York State violated the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790, which stated that no Native American lands were to be sold without the federal government's consent. The Senecas sought the ejection of more than 2,000 property owners on the island. By decision and order dated June 21, 2002, the trial court held the subject lands were ceded to Great Britain in the 1764 treaties of peace and the subject lands were not owned by the Seneca at the time of the 1794

Treaty of Canandaigua The Treaty of Canandaigua (or Konondaigua, as spelled in the treaty itself) also known as the Pickering Treaty and the Calico Treaty, is a treaty signed after the American Revolutionary War between the Iroquois#Government, Grand Council of the Si ...

. New York state's purchase of them in 1815 was intended to avoid conflict with the Senecas over land it already owned. This decision was appealed, and the

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (in case citations, 2d Cir.) is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals. Its territory comprises the states of Connecticut, New York and Vermont. The court has appellate ju ...

affirmed the trial court's decision on September 9, 2004. The Senecas then sought review of this decision by the

Supreme Court of the United States The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. Federal tribunals in the United States, federal court cases, and over Stat ...

, which was denied on June 5, 2006.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the town has an area of , of which is land and , or 15.08%, is water. The Niagara river splits into two parts at the south end of the island and rejoins at the northwest end, about upstream (east) of

. The town lies adjacent to the border between Canada and the United States. As there is no direct bridge or ferry connection from the island to Canada, there are no customs or immigration services. Paired bridges connect the south end of the island to the town of Tonawanda, and another pair of bridges connects the northern end to the city of

Niagara County Niagara County is in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 212,666. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word ''Onguiaahra''; meaning ''the strait'' or ''thunder of waters''. Niaga ...

. The two sets of bridges carry Interstate 190, a branch of the

New York State Thruway , direction_a = South , terminus_a = {{Jct, state=NY, I, 95 at the The Bronx, Bronx–Yonkers, New York City line , junction = {{plainlist, * {{jct, state=NY, I, 287, Parkway, Saw Mill, NY, 119 in Elmsford, New York, Elmsford * {{jct, state=NY, ...

(

Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Great Plains, Midwest, and ...

). In addition, New York State Route 324 (Grand Island Boulevard) is conjoined with I-190 at the southern bridges and reaches its western terminus in the northern part of Grand Island.

Adjacent cities and towns

Regional Municipality of Niagara The Regional Municipality of Niagara, also colloquially known as the Niagara Region or Region of Niagara, is a regional municipality comprising twelve municipalities of Southern Ontario, Canada. The regional seat is in Thorold. It is the souther ...

, Ontario, Canada – west *

Fort Erie Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is directly across the river from Buffalo, New York, and is the site of Old Fort Erie which played a prominent role in the War of 1812. Fort Erie is one of Ni ...

, Regional Niagara – southwest * Town of Tonawanda, Erie County – southeast * City of Tonawanda, Erie County - east * City of

North Tonawanda North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south bo ...

– east * Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County – northeast * City of

, Niagara County – northwest

Major highways

Interstate 190 (Niagara Thruway), crosses the island from north to southeast by the way of the North and South Grand Island Bridges. * NY-324

New York State Route 324 (Grand Island Blvd.), east-west highway from its northwest terminus at I-190 southeast through the central part of town, joining I-190 as the route travels east (south) to the town of Tonawanda by the South Grand Island Bridge. (This was the route across town between the single-span bridges that opened in 1935 until I-190 and the second spans were constructed in the 1960s.) *

Beaver Island Parkway Beaver Island State Park is a List of New York state parks, New York state park located on Grand Island, New York, Grand Island in northwestern Erie County, New York, Erie County, New York (state), New York in the United States. It is situated at t ...

(also referred to on maps as South Parkway), north-south parkway from I-190 to

Beaver Island State Park Beaver Island State Park is a New York state park located on Grand Island in northwestern Erie County, New York in the United States. It is situated at the southern end of the island on the bank of the Niagara River and served by the Beaver Isla ...

. (NYS Reference Route 957B) *West River Parkway (now closed), former north-south parkway along the western edge of town that parallels the

. It runs from Beaver Island Parkway in the south, north to Park Road in

Buckhorn Island State Park Buckhorn Island State Park is an state park located in Erie County, New York in the Town of Grand Island. The park is on the northern end of the island of Grand Island. The park is 1 of 80 New York State Parks that are in the path of totality ...

near I-190 and NY 324's northern terminus. The speed limit was 55 mph. (NYS Reference Route 957C). The West River Parkway was closed in the fall of 2017 and converted into a bike path and pedestrian trail in 2018.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,621 people, 6,898 households, and 5,221 families residing in the town. The population density was 653.1 people per square mile (252.2/km²). There were 7,355 housing units at an average density of 257.9 per square mile (99.6/km²). The town's racial makeup was 95.80%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 3.17%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.25% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.25% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.88% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population. There were 6,898 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.8% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males. The town's median household income was $60,432, and the median family income was $70,521. Males had a median income of $48,457 versus $30,157 for females. The town's per capita income was $25,816. About 2.4% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations on Grand Island

*Fairview Court – A

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

on the southwest shore of the island. *Falconwood – A hamlet on the southeast shore of the town, named after the

Falconwood Club The Falconwood Club was a club and resort in the 1800s for the wealthy families of Buffalo, New York, Buffalo on Grand Island, New York, Grand Island in New York (state), New York. History On June 19, 1858, the Falconwood Club, located near the h ...

. * Ferry Village – A hamlet on the border of Beaver Island State Park. * Grandyle Village – Neighborhood (and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, suc ...

) located near Beaver Island Parkway and the

South Grand Island Bridge The South Grand Island Bridge is a pair of twin two-lane truss arch bridges spanning the Niagara River between Tonawanda and Grand Island in New York, United States. Each bridge carries one direction of Interstate 190 (I-190) and New Yo ...

. *Hennepin Road – Road within Grandyle Village named after French explorer

Louis Hennepin Father Louis Hennepin, O.F.M. baptized Antoine, (; 12 May 1626 – 5 December 1704) was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollet order (French: ''Récollets'') and an explorer of the interior of North Ameri ...

, who observed and described

in 1677. *

North Grand Island Bridge The North Grand Island Bridge is a pair of twin two-lane truss arch bridges spanning the Niagara River between Grand Island and Niagara Falls in New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United ...

– Bridge north to the city of

. * Oakfield – A location north of Beaver Island State Park. * Sandy Beach – A hamlet in the northeast shore of the island. * Sheenwater – A location on the west shore of the island. *Edgewater – A location on the northeast shore of the island. *Sour Springs Grove – A location by the shore in the southeast part of the town. *

– Bridge southeast to Tonawanda, a suburb of Buffalo.

Points of interest

– a

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

located at the south end of the island. The park is fully developed for many recreational activities, including a golf course. *

– a state park at the north end of Grand Island, noted for its attempts to preserve the local environment. *Grand Island Nike Base – a town park and senior citizen center, originally a

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

missile site which was part of

Project Nike Project Nike (Greek: Νίκη, "Victory") was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft mi ...

from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s. *Grand Island Rod and Gun Club – an outdoor rifle range, trap and skeet range, and archery range. There is also a small pond on the land for fishing. * Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World – 85-acre amusement park that opened in 1961. *River Lea Farmhouse – an 1849 Victorian farmhouse once owned by

Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...

's uncle, who hired Cleveland to work on the farm, the future president's first job. * Spaulding-Sidway Boathouse – listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1998. *Veterans Park – a park in the north part of the town, home to many local children's sporting events. *Woods Creek – a small stream that enters the Niagara River at Buckhorn Island Park.

Notable people

Jimmy Arias James Arias (born August 16, 1964) is a retired tennis touring professional player from the United States. Biography Arias was born in Grand Island, near Buffalo, New York. A baseliner, Arias turned pro at age 16 in 1980. His peak year was 198 ...

, retired tennis player *

Carly Beth Carly Beth, (Chinese: 王韵藍）, is an American singer-songwriter from Grand Island, New York. She is known for her piano solos and viral success performing on multiple social media platforms. Early life and career Beth grew up in Grand Isl ...

, singer-songwriter. *

Dale Brown Dale Brown (born 2 November 1956) is an American writer and aviator known for aviation techno-thriller novels. At least thirteen of his novels have been ''New York Times'' Best Sellers. Early life Brown was born in Buffalo, New York, and was ...

, best-selling military techno-thriller novelist, graduated from Grand Island High School 1974 *

Stacy Clark Stacy Clark (born September 21, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter born in Buffalo, New York. Beginnings Clark was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Self-taught, Clark stood out in the Buffalo music scene and was often compared to th ...

, singer/songwriter; graduated from Grand Island High School 1998 *

, 22nd and 24th U.S. president, owned a home at Beaver Island * Charles N. DeGlopper, World War II

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

recipient, born and raised on Grand Island *

Carlin Hartman Carlin Hartman (born August 14, 1972) is a basketball coach who currently is the Associate head coach at Florida. He is a 1990 graduate of Grand Island Senior High School in Grand Island, NY. As a senior, he was an Honorable Mention McDonald' ...

, men's assistant coach with the

Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team represents the University of Oklahoma in men's NCAA Division I basketball. The Sooners play in the Big 12 Conference. History 1908–1980 The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this ...

program *

Thom Hatch Thom Hatch is an American author and novelist who specializes in the history of the American West, the American Civil War, and the Plains Indian Wars. Hatch was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and grew up on Grand Island, New York. He graduated from ...

, award-winning author and historian *

Brett Kern Brett Alan Kern (born February 17, 1986) is an American football punter for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Toledo and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in ...

, NFL player for the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their hom ...

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ( so, Maxaamed Cabdullaahii Maxaamed, ar, محمد عبدالله محمد; born 11 March 1962), also known as Farmaajo, is a Somali politician who served as president of Somalia from 2017 to 2022. He was prime minist ...

, current

President of Somalia The president of Somalia ( so, Madaxaweynaha Soomaaliya) is the head of state of Somalia. The president is also commander-in-chief of the Somali Armed Forces. The president represents the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the unity of the Som ...

* Mordecai Manuel Noah, American playwright, diplomat, journalist, and utopian who tried to found a Jewish homeland on Grand Island * Larry Playfair, retired NHL player *

Paul Schenck Paul Chaim Schenck (born 1958) is an ordained clergyman, author, and lecturer. Early life and work Schenck was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Henry P. Schenck and Marjorie M. Apgar. He has two sisters and an identical twin brother with w ...

, Episcopal priest * Rob Schenck, evangelical minister * Bill Scherrer, retired

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

player *

Marc Scibilia Marc Scibilia is an American singer-songwriter born and raised in Buffalo, New York, currently based in East Nashville, Tennessee. His self-titled EP released in 2012 included the song "How Bad We Need Each Other" which was featured in the hi ...

, singer/songwriter *

Ramblin' Lou Schriver Louis Albert "Ramblin' Lou" Schriver (July 19, 1929 – January 17, 2016) was an American country musician and radio broadcaster who lived in western New York State. Schriver began his radio career in 1947, performing live music at WJJL in Niagara ...

, country musician and radio broadcaster, retired owner of

WXRL WXRL (1300 AM) is a commercial radio station in Lancaster, New York, serving the Buffalo metropolitan area. It broadcasts a classic country radio format. WXRL is owned and operated by the family of Ramblin' Lou Schriver, a well known local co ...

Leonard F. Walentynowicz Leonard Frederick Walentynowicz (1932–2005) was United States Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs from 1975 to 1977; an Republican lawyer and the long-time executive director of the Polish American Congress. Biog ...

, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs

Schools on Grand Island

Public schools

Public schools are under the jurisdiction of the

Grand Island Central School District The Grand Island Central School District is a New York State public school district that serves the town of Grand Island in Erie County. The district consists of 5 schools–3 elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The middle an ...

. * Grand Island High School *Veronica E. Connor Middle School *William M. Kaegebein Elementary School *Huth Road Elementary School *Charlotte Sidway Elementary School

Parochial schools

* St. Stephen School

References

External links

Town of Grand Island official website
{{authority control Islands of Erie County, New York Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area Towns in Erie County, New York Islands of the Niagara River River islands of New York (state) Islands of New York (state) 1852 establishments in New York (state)