Attica (village), New York

Attica, New York
Village
Motto:  "Attica ... By Choice!" [1]
Attica Show map of New York Attica Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 42°51′54″N78°16′37″W / 42.86500°N 78.27694°W / 42.86500; -78.27694
Country	United States
State	New York
Counties	Wyoming, Genesee
Towns	Attica, Alexander
Settled	1802 (1802)
Incorporated	May 2, 1837 (1837-05-02)
Named for	Attica, Ancient Greece
Area [2]
• Total	1.69 sq mi (4.38 km2)
• Land	1.69 sq mi (4.38 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	981 ft (299 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,450
• Density	1,448.85/sq mi (559.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	14011
Area code	585
FIPS code	36-03001
GNIS feature ID	0942677
Website	www.attica.org

Attica is a village in Wyoming and Genesee counties, New York, United States. The population was 2,547 at the 2010 census. ^[3]

The village is on the northern border of Wyoming County. The village lies mostly within the town of Attica, but the northern part of the village is within the adjacent town of Alexander in Genesee County.

History

In 1802, Zerah Phelps became the first European-American landowner in the Attica area, which had for centuries been part of territory of the Seneca Nation, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. As allies of the British, they were mostly forced out of New York after the American Revolution, when the Crown ceded control of its territory to the new United States.

He built and owned a gristmill, and was also the first business owner in Attica. ^[4] By 1810 the settlement had grown into a town., ^[5] Malaria and plague drove the settlers to higher ground. During the War of 1812, many people fled to this area from Buffalo, which was vulnerable to British attack from the Great Lakes.

In 1837, Phelps' Settlement was incorporated, becoming the village of Attica. ^{[6] [7]} The village is named after a region in Greece. ^[8]

In 1854, Dr. Orin Davis established a health institute to which people from around the country traveled for treatment. ^[7]

Attica's former Erie Railroad station, now used by Norfolk Southern

In 1883, Eugene Norton created what became known as the Pineapple Cheese Factory. ^[9] In 1918 the company's molds and patents were sold to the Kraft Cheese Company. ^{[10] [11]} The Stevens family has bred and raised thoroughbred livestock. ^[12] One of their horses took first prize at the World's Fair.^{[ citation needed ]} Agriculture remains an important element of community culture and economy.

As New York State began to expand its penal system, a group of citizens worked to get a state prison in the town of Attica, as employment opportunities were limited in the rural area. In March 1929, roughly 700 acres (2.8 km²) south of the village were acquired for the prison, and construction began in October. After two years the first inmates were transferred to Attica. ^[5]

Geography

The village of Attica is located in the northern part of the town of Attica in Wyoming County at 42°51′54″N78°16′37″W / 42.86500°N 78.27694°W / 42.86500; -78.27694 (42.865138, -78.276885). ^[13] The village limits extend north into the town of Alexander in Genesee County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all land. ^[3]

Tonawanda Creek, a tributary of the Niagara River, flows northward through the center of the village. New York State Route 98 passes through the village along the west side of Tonawanda Creek, leading north 11 miles (18 km) to Batavia and south 27 miles (43 km) to Arcade. New York State Route 238 (Main Street) passes through the center of Attica, leading southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Warsaw and northwest 4 miles (6 km) to U.S. Route 20 in Darien. New York State Route 354 (West Main Street) leads west from Attica 33 miles (53 km) to Buffalo.

Climate

Attica, New York
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.1     32 17     1.9     35 18     2.3     44 26     3     57 37     3.3     69 47     3.6     78 57     3.4     81 61     3.2     80 60     3.7     73 53     3.2     61 42     2.8     49 33     2.4     37 23 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source:NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     52     0 −8     47     2 −8     58     7 −4     76     14 3     85     20 8     92     25 14     86     27 16     82     26 15     95     23 12     81     16 6     71     9 1     61     3 −5 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

The warmest temperatures in Attica typically occur in July and August. The highest temperature recorded near Attica is 103 °F in July 1936. The lowest ever recorded was -28 °F in February 1934. Snowfall is typically from November through March. The highest recorded snowfall amount is 23 inches in January 1966. In December 2012, the area experienced heavy snowfall as part of the late December 2012 North American storm complex. During this time, approximately 15 to 17 inches of snow was dropped in record time. ^[14]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	800		—
1850	600		−25.0%
1860	1,098		83.0%
1870	1,333		21.4%
1880	1,935		45.2%
1890	1,994		3.0%
1900	1,785		−10.5%
1910	1,869		4.7%
1920	2,015		7.8%
1930	2,212		9.8%
1940	2,379		7.5%
1950	2,676		12.5%
1960	2,758		3.1%
1970	2,911		5.5%
1980	2,659		−8.7%
1990	2,630		−1.1%
2000	2,597		−1.3%
2010	2,547		−1.9%
2020	2,450		−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [15]

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 2,597 people, 1,072 households, and 709 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,542.8 inhabitants per square mile (595.7/km²). There were 1,158 housing units at an average density of 687.9 per square mile (265.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.81% White, 0.15% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.

There were 1,072 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.8% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $40,234, and the median income for a family was $47,049. Males had a median income of $35,729 versus $22,007 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,732. About 6.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

In 1957, the Attica Rodeo and Show Association was formed. ^[17] Every year a rodeo is held at the grounds in Attica, and it has been voted best rodeo by the American Professional Rodeo Association. ^[18]

Tourism

The Exchange Street Historic District, Augustus A. Smith House and U.S. Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^{[19] [20]}

Education

The Attica Central School District (ACSD) serves the village. The physical campuses of the ACSD include Attica Senior High School, ^[21] Attica Junior High School, and Prospect Elementary, Sheldon Elementary is no longer in use. ^{[22] [23]}

Higher education in the area is available at Genesee Community College, with its main campus located just north of Attica in nearby Batavia. ^[24] Additional colleges and universities nearby include Monroe Community College, ^[25] State University of New York at Brockport, ^[26] University at Buffalo, ^[27] and University of Rochester. ^[28]

State institutions

Attica Correctional Facility and Wyoming Correctional Facility are located south of the village in the Town of Attica. ^[29]

Notable people

• Parmenio Adams (1776–1832), U.S. congressman from New York, lived here ^[30]
• Charles B. Benedict (1828-1901), congressman from New York, lived here ^[31]
• George Gilbert Hoskins (1824-1893), congressman from New York and lieutenant governor of New York, lived here ^[32]
• Harold C. Ostertag (1896-1985), congressman from New York, born here ^[33]
• James O. Putnam (1793-1855), U.S. congressman from New York and New York state senator, lived here ^[34]
• James Edward Quigley (1854-1915), Bishop of Buffalo and Archbishop of Chicago, lived here ^[35]
• Leo Richard Smith (1905-1963), Bishop of Ogdensburg, born here ^[36]
• Frederick C. Stevens (1856-1916), New York state senator, born here ^[37]
• Robert S. Stevens (1824-1893), congressman from New York, born here ^[38]

References

1. "Welcome to the Village of Attica". Village of Attica. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Attica village, New York". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2016.^{[ dead link ]}
4. "Historical Wyoming County October 1953" (PDF). Fulton History. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
5. "DRAFT Wyoming County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan" (PDF). Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
6. "Town of Attica". Town of Attica. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
7. "02 Town of Attica - History of Wyoming County". New York Genealogy Project. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
8. "About the Village of Attica - incorporated in 1837". Village of Attica. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
9. "Attica Historical Society Hulls Notes" (PDF). FultonHistory.com. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
10. "Attica Historical Society Hulls Notes" (PDF). FultonHistory.com. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
11. "The Story of Pineapple Cheese". Connecticut History.org. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
12. J.H. Sanders Publishing Company (1899). The Breeder's Gazette: A Weekly Publication Devoted ... to the Interests of Live-stock Breeders, Volume 35. J.H. Sanders Publishing Company. p. 75.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. NOWData "NOAA Weather", National Weather Service Forecast Office, Retrieved 2013-07-21
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "Castellani Art Museum's New Folk Arts Exhibition Focuses on the Attica Rodeo". NU News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
18. "JOIN IN OUR CELEBRATION OF 57 YEARS". The Attica Rodeo and Show Association. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
19. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
20. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/03/12 through 12/07/12. National Park Service. December 14, 2012.
21. "Attica Senior High School Overview". US News. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
22. "Schools" Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine , Attica Central School District, Retrieved 2013-05-17
23. "Attica Central School District". US News. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
24. "GCC", Genesee Community College, Retrieved 2013-07-21
25. "Monroe Community College", Monroe Community College, Retrieved 2013-07-28
26. "SUNY Brockport", State University of New York at Brockport, Retrieved 2013-07-28
27. "University of Buffalo" Archived 2019-05-18 at the Wayback Machine , The University of Buffalo, Retrieved 2013-07-28
28. "University of Rochester", The University of Rochester, Retrieved 2013-07-28
29. "Facility Listing". Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
30. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
31. "BENEDICT, Charles Brewster, (1828 - 1901)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
32. "HOSKINS, George Gilbert, (1824 - 1893)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
33. "OSTERTAG, Harold Charles, (1896 - 1985)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
34. "PUTNAM, Harvey, (1793 - 1855)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
35. "Archdiocese of Chicago". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
36. "Bishop Leo Richard Smith". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
37. "Frederick C. Stevens". The New York Red Book. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
38. "STEVENS, Robert Smith, (1824 - 1893)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2014.

External links

• Official website