West Seneca, New York

Last updated

West Seneca, New York
Seneca
Town
Town Hall, West Seneca, New York - 20220704.jpg
West Seneca town hall, July 2022
West Seneca seal.gif
Seal
Motto(s): 

"Proud Past — Unlimited Future"
Erie County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas West Seneca highlighted.svg
Location in Erie County and the state of New York
Coordinates: 42°50′21″N78°45′39″W / 42.83917°N 78.76083°W / 42.83917; -78.76083
Country United States
State New York
County Erie
Founded as the Village of Ebenezer1842
As Seneca1851
As West Seneca1852
Named for Seneca Nation
Government
 • Type Town Council
 •  Town Supervisor Gary Dickson (R)
 •  Town Council
Members
  • Robert Bridenstein (R)
  • Susan K. Kims (R)
  • Joseph J. Cantafio (D)
  • Jeffrey A. Piekarec (R)
 •  Town Justice
Members
  • Jeffrey M. Harrington (D)
  • Shannon E. Filbert (D)
 •  Town Clerk Amy Kobler (D)
Area
[1]
 • Total21.41 sq mi (55.46 km2)
 • Land21.36 sq mi (55.31 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation
643 ft (196 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total45,500 Increase2.svg
 • Density2,128.72/sq mi (821.89/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code 716
FIPS code 36-029-80918
GNIS feature ID0979626 [2]
Website www.westseneca.net

West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 45,500 at the 2020 census. West Seneca is a centrally located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo. West Seneca, Orchard Park and Hamburg form the inner "Southtowns", a cluster of middle-class suburban towns.

Contents

History

Because the town is on land of the former Buffalo Creek Reservation, it was not open to white settlement until the mid-19th century.

In 1851, the town of Seneca was formed from parts of the towns of Cheektowaga and Hamburg. The town changed the name to "West Seneca" in 1852 to avoid confusion with the town of Seneca in Ontario County, New York. In 1909 the area immediately south of Buffalo split from West Seneca, becoming the city of Lackawanna. [3]

Following election day in 2019, the town elected a Republican Town Supervisor for the first time in 50 years and first town board member in 13 years, despite having a two to one Democrat to Republican ratio among registered voters (a Democrat running as an Independent also ran in the Supervisorial race).[ citation needed ]

The Eaton Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. [4] The Community of True Inspiration Residence was listed in 2013. [5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.41 square miles (55.46 km2), of which 21.36 square miles (55.32 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km2), or 0.27%, is water. [6]

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) passes through the town and intersects New York State Route 400 (Aurora Expressway) in the northwestern part of the town and U.S. Route 219 in the southwestern section. The east town line is marked by New York State Route 78 (Transit Road). New York State Route 240 (Harlem Road/Orchard Park Road) and New York State Route 277 (Union Road) are other major north-south roads, while New York State Route 16 (Seneca Street/Center Road) and New York State Route 354 (Clinton Street) are major east-west highways.

Adjacent cities and towns

Major highways in the Town of West Seneca

Communities and locations

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 2,523—
1860 2,78410.3%
1870 3,19614.8%
1880 3,4638.4%
1890 3,4850.6%
1900 5,36353.9%
1910 4,605−14.1%
1920 7,06253.4%
1930 10,40147.3%
1940 12,69422.0%
1950 17,41737.2%
1960 33,64493.2%
1970 48,40443.9%
1980 51,2105.8%
1990 47,830−6.6%
2000 45,920−4.0%
2010 44,711−2.6%
2020 45,5001.8%
Historical Population Figures [7] [8]

As of the census [9] of 2010, there were 44,711 people, 19,151 households, and 12,223 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,148.8 inhabitants per square mile (829.7/km2). There were 18,982 housing units at an average density of 888.2 per square mile (342.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.

There were 19,151 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

As of the census [9] of 2000 the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,278, and the median income for a family was $54,179. Males had a median income of $39,003 versus $26,846 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,529. About 3.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

The Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center is located in West Seneca. Developed in 1999, the 29-acre (12 ha) art and nature center complex also contains wild and cultivated gardens, a large playground, nature trails, playgrounds, and an outdoor amphitheater alongside the banks of Buffalo Creek. [10]

Burchfield Nature Center garden.JPG
Burchfield Nature Center path.JPG
Garden and nature path within the Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center

The town was once home to one of the largest malls in the area, the Seneca Mall.

Schwabl's, a restaurant staple, has been located in West Seneca since 1837, known for their beef on weck, the restaurant was featured in a 2009 episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations . [11]

XGen Elite Sports Complex is home to the Buffalo eXtreme of the American Basketball Association. [12]

Education

There are three separate public school districts within the town. The West Seneca Central School District is the largest and serves the entirety of the town. It also serves small portions of the southern parts of Cheektowaga and South Buffalo, the northern portion of Orchard Park, and the eastern area of Lackawanna.

West Seneca is home to the following private primary and secondary schools:

Houghton College used to have a branch campus in the town that also served as the central office for its Extension Studies program.[ citation needed ]

Notable people

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References

  1. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ City of Lackawanna – History
  4. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/24/13 through 6/28/13. National Park Service. July 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): West Seneca town, Erie County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved March 2, 2016.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Population Trends, 1960-2000" (PDF). Town of West Seneca. page 13
  8. ↑ " Thirteenth census of the United States, 1890, 1900, 1910" Department of Commerce and Labor. (1910), page 350. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  9. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ↑ "History of the Burchfield Property". The Charles E. Burchfield Nature & Art Center. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  11. ↑ Travel Channel. "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations: Rust Belt". Scripps Networks, LLC. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  12. ↑ "ABA Basketball: "The Buffalo eXtreme"". Buffalo Rising. May 26, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.

42°51′00″N78°47′59″W / 42.85000°N 78.79972°W / 42.85000; -78.79972

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