Niagara 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. At the time of the 2020

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 ...

, the town had a total

population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...

of 7,903. The town is named after the famous

waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...

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 ...

. The Town of Niagara is in the southwestern portion of Niagara County, borders the

City of Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a city in Ontario, Canada, adjacent to, and named after, Niagara Falls. As of the 2021 census, the city had a population of 94,415. The city is located on the Niagara Peninsula along the western bank of the Niagara River, whic ...

(which is next to the famed

). Also located partially within the town is Niagara Falls International Airport, which serves the Niagara County area. It is served by the LaSalle Post Office on Niagara Falls Boulevard (

U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) is an east–west United States Highway in the southern and northeastern United States. It runs from the Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canadian b ...

) in adjacent Niagara Falls, New York. Residents use a mailing address of "Niagara Falls, NY" because of this. Neither "Niagara, NY," nor "Town of Niagara, NY" are acceptable postal addresses, according to the

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

History

The Town of Niagara was founded in 1812 (originally as the "Town of Schlosser" after the local fortification

Fort Schlosser Fort Schlosser was a fortification built in Western New York in the United States around 1760 by British colonial forces, in order to guard the upper entrance to the portage around Niagara Falls, north of Porter-Barton Dock or Schlosser's Landin ...

and its first commander

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

Joseph Schlosser, a German officer in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

from the Town of Cambria. In 1836 eastern parts of the town were organized as the Town of

Wheatfield, New York Wheatfield is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 18,117 at the 2010 census. The name stems from the agricultural use of the town lands, the growing of wheat. The Town of Wheatfield is east of Niagara Falls In ...

. In 1892, the City of Niagara Falls was formed from the western end of town, taking about half of its land. In 1897, the Village of LaSalle was incorporated in what was then the southeast corner of the town. LaSalle was in turn annexed by the City of Niagara Falls in 1927, reducing the size of the Town of Niagara to . Its borders have remained the same since.

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 , all land.

Adjacent cities and towns

* Town of Lewiston - north * Town of Wheatfield - east *

- west, south

Major highways in the Town of Niagara

* Interstate 190 (Niagara Expressway), This interstate through the western part of town from the Niagara Falls city line to the Lewiston town line. In the town, there are exits at Porter Rd. (NY 182) and Witmer Rd. (NY 31). *

(Niagara Falls Blvd.), North-South highway that has a short distance in the town from the Wheatfield town line to the Niagara Falls city line. *

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 ...

(Witmer Rd., Saunders Settlement Rd.), East-West Highway across the northwestern part of town from the Lewiston town line to the Niagara Falls city line. * New York State Route 61 (Hyde Park Blvd.), 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). * New York State Route 182 (Porter Rd.), East-West roadway through the town from the Niagara Falls city line near its interchange with I-190 to its eastern terminus at Niagara Falls Blvd. (US 62). *

New York State Route 265 New York State Route 265 (NY 265) is a long state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. NY 265 is a north–south route that roughly parallels the western parts of the Niagara River in Erie C ...

(Military Rd.), North-South roadway through the town from the Niagara Falls city line to the Lewiston town line.

Notable persons

James Madison James Madison (June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison was popularly acclaimed as the ...

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient *William L. Ross, Politician

Demographics

As of the

of 2020, there were 7,903 people and 3,426 households residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 85.9%

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 ...

, 3.4%

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 ...

, 2.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3%

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 6.9% 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 6.4% of the population. The average household size is 2.3 persons per household. In the town, the population is shrinking and getting older, with 14.8% under the age of 18, a decrease from 23.4% in 2010. In 2020, 24.6% were 65 years of age or older, an increase from 14.6% in 2010. In 2020, only 2.8% of the population is 5 years of age or younger. The population has become more male dominant as well, with only 47.2% of the Town of Niagara population identifying as female, compared to the national average 50.5%. There are many military veterans in the Town of Niagara, which may be attributed to the close proximity of many military installations in the area. In 2020, 525 people, or roughly 6.5% of the population in the Town identified as a veteran. The median income for a household in the town was $57,696 (in 2022 dollars). 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 $32,853. About 17% of the population is 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 ...

, an increase from 9.3% in 2010.

Communities

* Pletchers Corners * Cayuga Village * Belden Center * Colonial village

Government

The Town is governed by the Town Supervisor form of government led by an elected Supervisor and four Town Council members. The Town Supervisor is currently Sylvia Virtuoso (D), who previously served as the Town Clerk since 1999. Supervisor Virtuoso assumed office in 2024 as the lone candidate in an uncontested election. She became the first woman elected as Town Supervisor in Niagara. The Town of Niagara is represented by two Legislators in the Niagara County Legislature. Christopher McKimmie (R) is the 3rd District Legislator, representing the southern portion of the town, which includes the shopping district along Military Road (NY 265) and Cayuga Village. Christopher Robbins (D), is the 5th District Legislator, who represents the remainder of the Town of Niagara. Legislator Robbins also serves as the minority leader of the Niagara County Legislature. In state government, the Town of Niagara is a part of the 145th Assembly District and the 62nd Senate District. Currently, Angelo Morinello (R) serves as the Town's representative in the New York State Assembly and

Robert Ortt Robert Gary Ortt II (born May 23, 1979) is an American military veteran, treasurer, and politician who is a member of the New York State Senate. Ortt represents the New York's 62nd State Senate district, 62nd district, which covers Niagara County ...

(R) serves as the Town's representative in the New York State Senate. Senator Ortt also serves as the Minority Leader in the New York State Senate.

Education

The Town of Niagara is served by the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District. More than 3900 students attend the district’s elementary, middle and senior high school programs. Niagara County has collegiate institutions that serve Town of Niagara residents including SUNY Niagara (formerly known as Niagara County Community College) and Niagara University.

Public Safety

The Town of Niagara Police Department serves and protects the Town community by enforcing local and state law. The department is currently led by Police Chief Craig Guiliani and the department headquarters is located at 7105 Lockport Road. Although town records made mention of constables working in the Town of Niagara as far back as the early eighteen hundreds, it was not until 1954 that the Town of Niagara Police Department was officially formed. The Town of Niagara Police Department is a separate agency from that of the Niagara Falls Police Department, which serves the City of

Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls is a City (New York), city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River, across from the city of Niagar ...

. However, both agencies work closely together. The Town is additionally served by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office which has a zone car assigned to the Town of Niagara. The New York State Police provide services also and have a station within the Town as well on Witmer Road. Niagara Active Hose Company is a 100% volunteer fire company and provides fire protection to the entire Town of Niagara. The Town is primarily served by Mercy EMS for ground ambulance services and Mercy Flight for air ambulance services. Mutual-aid agreements provide additional coverage from neighboring fire companies and EMS organizations.

Economy

Major employers in Niagara are retail stores along major routes in town, including: *

Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls is an outlet mall serving Niagara Falls, New York. History On July 19, 1982, the outlet mall opened in a former King's discount store. An extensive 1995 expansion added 50 stores, including a Saks Fifth Avenu ...

* Niagara Stone Corporation Redland Quarry - limestone quarry * Niagara Falls International Airport **

New York Air National Guard The New York Air National Guard (NY ANG) is the aerial militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is an element of the New York National Guard as part of the larger Air National Guard, a reservist force under the command of the United States Ai ...

** New York Air Force Reserves ** Air Force Reserve Center * Wegmans (Hills) Plaza * Mil-Pine Plaza * Witmer Industrial Estate

References

External links

Town of Niagara webpage
{{authority control Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area Towns in Niagara County, New York Towns in New York (state)