Lewiston 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 ...

Niagara County Niagara County is in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 United States 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 ...

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

, United States. The population was 15,944 at the 2020 census. The town and its contained village are named after Morgan Lewis, a governor of New York. The Town of Lewiston is on the western border of the county. The Village of Lewiston is within the town.

History

The Town of Lewiston was formed in 1818 from the town of

Cambria Cambria is a name for Wales, being the Latinised form of the Welsh name for the country, . The term was not in use during the Roman period (when Wales had not come into existence as a distinct entity) or the early medieval period. After the ...

. Lewiston was the first European settlement in Western New York. A French explorer by the name of

Étienne Brûlé Étienne Brûlé (; – c. June 1633) was the first European colonization of the Americas, European explorer to journey beyond the St. Lawrence River into what is now known as Canada. He spent much of his early adult life among the Wyandot peop ...

arrived in 1615.

Government

The Town Supervisor is Steve Broderick and the Chief of Police is Frank Previte. The Town Supervisor is considered the "Chief Fiscal Officer" for the Town. In this capacity, the officeholder oversees all finances as well as presiding at Town Board meetings, representing the Town for the

Water District,

Sewer District, Niagara Greenway Commission and Niagara Power Coalition. The Supervisor also serves as an

ex-officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, or council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term ''List of Latin phrases (E)#ex officio, ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the off ...

board member A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulations ...

on various community organizations. Five volunteer fire companies protect the Town of Lewiston. The Lewiston #1 (established 1914) and #2 (established 1942) fire companies, the Pekin Volunteer Fire Company (established 1932), the Sanborn Volunteer Fire Company, and the Upper Mountain Fire Company (established 1959). Several federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies protect the town. The United States Border Patrol is the federal agency. The New York State agencies are the New York State Police and the New York State Parks Police. The Niagara County Sheriff's Department assists the Lewiston Police Department which is the local authority.

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 41.0 square miles (106.3 km²), of which 37.3 square miles (96.5 km²) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.7 km²) (9.16%) is water. 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 ...

forms the western boundary of the town, which is an international border with

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. The Town of Lewiston's southern border is with the City of Niagara Falls, NY, the Town of Niagara, NY, and the Town of Wheatfield, NY. The southern portion of the town also is on the top of the

Niagara Escarpment The Niagara Escarpment is an approximately discontinuous, arc-shaped but generally northward-facing escarpment, or cuesta, in Canada and the United States. The escarpment begins south of Lake Ontario and circumscribes the top of the Great Lake ...

. The eastern border of the town is at Townline Road which separates the Towns of Cambria and Lewiston. The northern border of the town is with the Towns of Porter and Wilson.

New York State Route 104 New York State Route 104 (NY 104) is a east–west state highway in Upstate New York in the United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it foll ...

passes across the town as Lewiston Road on top of the

and Ridge Road below the Escarpment. There are three exits of Interstate 190 in Lewiston: exit 24 at Witmer Road (

New York State Route 31 New York State Route 31 (NY 31) is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York (state), New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with New York State Route 104, NY ...

), exit 25A at Military Road ( New York State Route 265) and exit 25B for Route 104 and the Niagara Scenic Parkway.

Communities and locations within Lewiston

*Bonds Lake County Park – a park in the northeast corner of the town. * Colonial Village – 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 ...

by the south town line on Route 31 (Saunders Settlement Road). * Devil's Hole State Park – in the southwest corner of the town. * Dickersonville – a hamlet in the northeastern part of the town on Route 104 (Ridge Road). *

Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park (or Earl W. Brydges State Artpark) is a state park located in the Lewiston (village), New York, Village of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York, Niagara County, New York (state), New York. The park, which is of ...

– a New York State Park on the eastern edge of the town. *Falcon Manor – a location on the south town line, east of Colonial Village. * Joseph Davis State Park– a NY State Park *Lewiston Heights – an upscale neighborhood built atop the

. *Lewiston Reservoir – a human-made ,

reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...

which stores water before being released into the forebay of the Robert Moses Power Station (also known as the Robert Moses Power Plant Reservoir). * Model City – a hamlet on Route 104 (Lewiston Road). 23 Frontier House b

* Niagara University, New York – a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), 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 counte ...

. * Pekin – a hamlet on the eastern town line. * Reservoir State Park – a park on the south shore of the reservoir and Route 265 (Military Road). * Sanborn – a hamlet originally called South Pekin that was later renamed Sanborn, after Ebenezer Sanborn, in 1866. It is in the southeast corner of the town on Route 429 (Cambria-Lewiston Town Line Road) and Route 31 (Saunders Settlement Road). * Tuscarora Reservation – a 9.3 mi² (24.0 km²) reservation for the Tuscarora tribe (members of the

Iroquois The Iroquois ( ), also known as the Five Nations, and later as the Six Nations from 1722 onwards; alternatively referred to by the Endonym and exonym, endonym Haudenosaunee ( ; ) are an Iroquoian languages, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Ind ...

confederacy), east of the Reservoir, that lies entirely within the Town of Lewiston. *Village of Lewiston – a historic village in the western part of the town.

Adjacent cities and towns

* Town of Porter - north * Town of Cambria - east * Town of Wheatfield - southeast * Town of Niagara - south * City of Niagara Falls - southwest *

Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Niagara Peninsula at the point where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, across the river from New York (state), New York, United States. Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the R ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada - northwest *

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 state of New York (s ...

, Canada - west

Demographics

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 ...

of 2000, there were 16,257 people, 5,882 households, and 4,252 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 6,147 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.98%

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 ...

, 0.92%

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 ...

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 ...

, 0.67% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01%

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 ...

, 0.34% from other races, and 0.49% 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 0.91% of the population. There were 5,882 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98. In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $50,819, and the median income for a family was $58,620. Males had a median income of $46,748 versus $26,848 for females. 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 $23,275. About 4.3% of families and 5.8% 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 ...

, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Lewiston home to various business, sporting and entertainment venues, including: *

New York Power Authority The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is a public benefit corporation owned by the State of New York and is the largest state public power utility in the United States. It provides some of the lowest-cost electricity in the nation, operating 16 ge ...

Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant The Robert Moses Niagara Hydroelectric Power Station is a hydroelectric power station in Lewiston, New York, near Niagara Falls. Owned and operated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the plant diverts water from the Niagara River above Ni ...

. This complex contains a raised reservoir, a pump-generating plant, and the hydroelectric power plant *

Niagara Falls Country Club The Niagara Falls Country Club, located at 505 Mountain View Drive, is an exclusive country club and golf course located in the ''Lewiston Heights'' neighborhood of Lewiston (town), New York, Lewiston, New York, just outside Niagara Falls, New Yo ...

, a private

country club A country club is a privately-owned Club (organization), club, often with a membership quota and admittance by invitation or sponsorship, that generally offers both a variety of recreational sports and facilities for dining and entertaining. Ty ...

and

golf course A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, tee box, a #Fairway and rough, fairway, the #Fairway and rough, rough and other hazard (golf), hazards, and ...

, is located in the ''Lewiston Heights'' neighborhood of Lewiston, New York. *

, a 172-acre state park located in the Village of Lewiston that is a venue for summer musical entertainment, in addition to offering picnic tables and pavilions, fishing, hiking, nature trail, a performing arts theater, recreation programs and cross-country skiing. *

Edwin Mellen Press The Edwin Mellen Press, sometimes stylised as Mellen Press, is an academic publisher. It was founded in 1972 by theology professor Herbert Richardson (publisher), Herbert W. Richardson. It has been involved in a number of notable legal and acad ...

, a Lewiston-based publishing house founded by religion scholar Herbert Richardson Additionally, Lewiston has three museums: *The Lewiston Museum * Castellani Art Museum *Sanborn Historical Society Museum

Education

Universities

Niagara University Niagara University (NU) is a private Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition in the census-designated place Niagara University, New York, in the town of Lewiston near Niagara Falls. It is run by the Congregation of the Mission and ...

is located near the border of the City of Niagara Falls * SUNY Niagara is located near the village of Sanborn in the Town of Cambria.

Public schools

The Towns of Lewiston and

Youngstown Youngstown is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, 11th-most populous city in Ohio with a population of 60,068 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Mahoning ...

are predominantly served by the Lewiston-Porter Central School District, located on Creek Road. As of June 2015, Lewiston-Porter enrolled 2,077 students in K-12 and had district expenditures of $42,234,808. In 2014 Lewiston-Porter Central School District was the highest ranked school district (including both public and private high schools) in

, and 9th overall in

Western New York Western New York (WNY) is the westernmost region of the U.S. state of New York (state), 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 so ...

, in terms of overall academic performance. In 2015, Lewiston-Porter was rated 10th best in

and 2nd in Niagara Country, behind Starpoint Central School District. Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District also serves the Town of Lewiston with

Niagara-Wheatfield High School Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District is a public school district in New York State located in the Town of Lewiston, New York, about from Niagara Falls, New York. The district serves students from the towns of Niagara and Wheatfield. ...

, Edward Town Middle School, Colonial Village Elementary School, and West Street Elementary School all physically located in the Town of Lewiston.

Private schools

Within the Town of Lewiston, there are also several private schools: * Stella Niagara Education Park, a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

elementary school * Sacred Heart Villa School, a school * St. Peter's Roman Catholic School, a

elementary school

Infrastructure

Healthcare

There are several health-care facilities in the town. The Catholic Health-run Mount Saint Mary's Hospital (formed in 1907) is a six-floor facility that offers many differing kinds of high-level healthcare. It also includes the "EmStar" emergency health facility. Adjacent to Mt. St. Mary's is the Our Lady of Peace nursing home.

Transportation

Interstate 190 This interstate runs in the southwest part of town, from the Town of Niagara to its northern terminus in the Town of Lewiston at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge which marks the Canada–US border, the highway continues as

Ontario Highway 405 King's Highway 405, also known as Highway 405 and the General Brock Parkway, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) near St. Catharines with the Lewiston–Queenston B ...

. *

New York State Route 18 New York State Route 18 (NY 18) is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County, New York, Niagara County and ...

(Creek Road), East-West (North-South Direction) Highway across the town roughly paralleling the Niagara Scenic Pkwy. from the Porter town line to its southern terminus at Lewiston Rd. (NY 104) just outside the Village of Lewiston. * NY-18F

New York State Route 18F New York State Route 18F (NY 18F) is a long state highway in northwestern Niagara County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 104 and the Niagara Scenic Parkway just ...

(Lower River Road, Center Street (village)), North-South roadway through the town from the Porter town line through the Village of Lewiston to its southern terminus at NY 104/NY 18. This route roughly parallels the Lower Niagara River north of the Village of Lewiston north to the Town of Porter. * NY-31

(Saunders Settlement Road), East-West Highway across the southern part of town from the Cambria town line to the Niagara town line just before the routes junction with Military Rd. (NY 265). * NY-61

New York State Route 61 (Hyde Park Boulevard), North-South Roadway mostly in the City of Niagara Falls, but has a short distance in the southwest corner of town where the route has its northern end at Lewiston Rd. (NY 104). * NY-265

New York State Route 265 (Military Road), North-South roadway through the town from the Niagara town line past the New York Power Authority Generating Plant to its northern terminus at Lewiston Rd. (NY 104). * NY-429

New York State Route 429 (Townline Road, Buffalo Street), North-South roadway from the Wheatfield town line to its northern terminus in the town at Ridge Rd. (NY 429). * Niagara_Scenic_Pkwy_Shield

Niagara Scenic Parkway, North-South highway through the town from the Niagara Falls city line to the Porter town line.

In popular culture

Lewiston is the smallest city in the history of ''

The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality competition franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. ''The Amazing Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselv ...

'' to host the finish for an edition of this reality show; '' The Amazing Race: Family edition'' was completed there.

Notable people

References

External links

Town of Lewiston webpage

Historic Lewiston
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewiston (Town), New York Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area Towns in Niagara County, New York Towns in New York (state) Populated places established in 1818 1818 establishments in New York (state)