Newstead is the northeasternmost
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 ori ...
in
Erie County,
New York, United States. The population was 8,594 at the 2010 census.
The name is reportedly derived from
Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, was formerly an Augustinian priory. Converted to a domestic home following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, it is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron.
Monastic foundation
The prio ...
in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
Newstead is northeast of
Buffalo, and its principal community is the village of
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
.
History
The town was first settled ''circa'' 1801.
The town of Newstead was established in 1823 as the "Town of Erie" from the eastern part of the town of
Clarence Clarence may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Clarence County, New South Wales, a Cadastral division
* Clarence, New South Wales, a place near Lithgow
* Clarence River (New South Wales)
* Clarence Strait (Northern Territory)
* City of Clarence, a l ...
. In 1831, the town's name was changed to "Newstead", reportedly on the advice of
Abigail Fillmore
Abigail Fillmore ( née Powers; March 13, 1798 – March 30, 1853), wife of President Millard Fillmore, was the First Lady of the United States from 1850 to 1853. She began work as a schoolteacher at the age of 16, where she took on Millard Fillm ...
, who was fond of the poetry of
Lord Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824), known simply as Lord Byron, was an English romantic poet and Peerage of the United Kingdom, peer. He was one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement, and h ...
.
A fire in the 1870s destroyed town records, leaving little historical information about the town between 1823 and 1870.
The discovery of
gypsum
Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, blackboard or sidewalk chalk, and drywall. ...
and the growth of the related
cement
A cement is a binder, a chemical substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel ( aggregate) together. Cement mix ...
industry helped promote the area.
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 the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.56%, is water.
Newstead is in the northeast corner of the county, and
Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek is a small tributary of the Niagara River in Western New York, United States. After rising in Wyoming County, the stream flows through Genesee County before forming part of the boundary between Erie County and Niagara County. ...
defines the northern boundary.
Adjacent towns
*
Clarence Clarence may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Clarence County, New South Wales, a Cadastral division
* Clarence, New South Wales, a place near Lithgow
* Clarence River (New South Wales)
* Clarence Strait (Northern Territory)
* City of Clarence, a l ...
- west
*
Royalton in
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''.
Niag ...
- north
*
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
in
Genesee County - east
*
Pembroke in Genesee County - east
*
Darien in Genesee County - southeast
*
Alden
Alden may refer to:
Places United States
* Alden, California, a former settlement
* Alden, Colorado
* Alden, Illinois
*Alden, Iowa
* Alden, Kansas
* Alden, Michigan
*Alden, Minnesota
* Alden, Oklahoma
*Alden, Pennsylvania
*Alden, New York
** Alde ...
- south
*
Lancaster - southwest
The village of
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
lies within the town, east of the town's geographic center.
Major highways in the Town of Newstead
*
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 ...
(
New York State Thruway
{{Infobox road
, state = NY
, type = NYST
, alternate_name = Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway
, maint = NYSTA
, map = {{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, type=line, stroke-width=2, type2=line, from2=New Yor ...
) (east-west), passes through the southern part of town from Clarence to Pembroke.
*
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 (NY 5) is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syr ...
(Main St.), east–west highway that passes through the southern part of town from Clarence to Pembroke.
*
New York State Route 93
New York State Route 93 (NY 93) is a state highway in western New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 18F in the village of Youngstown and runs in a general northwest–southeast direction ...
(Maple Rd., Lewis Rd., Buell St. in Newstead; Cedar St., Buffalo St., Buell St. in Akron), north–south highway from
Youngstown
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County. At the 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area, which ...
that travels through Niagara County and into Newstead and has its southern terminus south of Akron at
NY 5
New York State Route 5 (NY 5) is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Sy ...
(Main Street).
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 8,404 people, 3,371 households, and 2,332 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 164.9 people per square mile (63.7/km
2). There were 3,623 housing units at an average density of 71.1 per square mile (27.4/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.20%
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 on ...
, 0.40%
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 ...
, 0.77%
Native American, 0.12%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.10% 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 0.40% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, 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 Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 3,371 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,580, and the median income for a family was $50,255. Males had a median income of $34,306 versus $24,011 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $18,447. About 2.9% of families and 4.2% 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 t ...
, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Newstead
*
Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
–
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...
located on NY-93, north of NY-5.
*Akron Airport (9G3) – A general aviation airport on the hilltop east of Akron village.
*
Akron Falls County Park – Located within the village of Akron, along the banks of Murder Creek. The park provides picnicking, walking trails, and some sports fields.
*
Akron Junction – A former location where a defunct railroad line branched. This location is on a hiking/bicycle trail north of Leisurewood Recreational Community.
*Falkirk – A previous community in Newstead, now absorbed into Akron village.
*Hawkins Corners – A location now of historical interest only, south of Akron.
*Leisurewood Recreational Community – A large seasonal community composed of trailers and recreational vehicles, occupied primarily during the summer months. It is southwest of Akron.
*Murder Creek – A tributary of
Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek is a small tributary of the Niagara River in Western New York, United States. After rising in Wyoming County, the stream flows through Genesee County before forming part of the boundary between Erie County and Niagara County. ...
that flows through the town. The name stems from when an Indian man was killed there.
*
Murrays Corner – A hamlet on NY-5 by the intersection of Crittenden Road, southeast of Akron village.
*
Sand Hill – A small
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 ...
in the northwest part of the town, consisting of a few residences and a church. The hamlet is by the intersection of Rapids and Crego roads.
*
South Newstead – A location near the border with the town of
Alden
Alden may refer to:
Places United States
* Alden, California, a former settlement
* Alden, Colorado
* Alden, Illinois
*Alden, Iowa
* Alden, Kansas
* Alden, Michigan
*Alden, Minnesota
* Alden, Oklahoma
*Alden, Pennsylvania
*Alden, New York
** Alde ...
at the junction of South Newstead and Buckwheat roads. Residences and farms are scattered through the area. Formerly, a post office was located in this area.
*
Swifts Mills – A location of historical interest in the north part of the town, located on Murder Creek.
*
Tonawanda Reservation
The Tonawanda Indian Reservation ( see, Ta:nöwöde') is an Indian reservation of the Tonawanda Seneca Nation located in western New York, United States. The band is a federally recognized tribe and, in the 2010 census, had 693 people living on t ...
– A small inhabited part of this
Indian reservation
An Indian reservation is an area of land held and governed by a federally recognized Native American tribal nation whose government is accountable to the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs and not to the state government in which it ...
is in the eastern part of the town. Several retail establishments sell discount cigarettes and untaxed gasoline.
Recreation
Newstead and the town of
Clarence Clarence may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Clarence County, New South Wales, a Cadastral division
* Clarence, New South Wales, a place near Lithgow
* Clarence River (New South Wales)
* Clarence Strait (Northern Territory)
* City of Clarence, a l ...
have constructed several miles of biking and jogging trails that link the towns on a former railroad right-of-way. The
Octagon House
Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s in the United States and Canada. They are characterised by an octagonal (eight-sided) plan, and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all round. Their unusual shape and app ...
in the village of Akron is open to visitors who wish to examine this architectural style.
Newstead, because of its vast expanses of open space, has become a popular place for golf course construction.
Notable people
*
Jack Davis, industrialist
*
Charles F. Tabor, former
New York State Attorney General
The attorney general of New York is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of New York and head of the Department of Law of the state government. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of ...
References
External links
Town of Newstead official website
{{authority control
Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area
Towns in Erie County, New York