Cheektowaga (town), New York
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Cheektowaga is a town (also a Census-designated Place, see below) in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 94,019. The name comes from the Iroquoian word Ji-ik-do-wa-gah, meaning the place of the crab apple tree. Cheektowaga has a large Polish-American community, about 39.9% of population is of Polish heritage.
The Town of Cheektowaga is in the north-central part of the county. Its western border is the City of Buffalo. Cheektowaga contains the site of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the principal airport of Erie County.
Villa Maria College and the Walden Galleria are also located in Cheektowaga.
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[edit] History
The first European-American settler is said to have established himself in 1808.
The Town of Cheektowaga (affectionately known by many Buffalonians as "Cheekta-Vegas," for its high concentration of homes with garish lawn ornaments, or "Chick-o-to-Warsaw" because of the large numbers of people of Polish-descent resident there)[citation needed] was organized in 1839 by a division of the Town of Amherst. The town area was reduced in 1851 by the formation of the Towns of Orchard Park, West Seneca, and Hamburg. The name referring to Crabapple trees may actually be referencing locally abundant Hawthorn trees.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 76.5 km² (29.5 mi²), all land.
The east town line is marked by New York State Route 78 (Transit Road). New York State Route 240 (Harlem Road) and New York State Route 277 (Union Road) are major north-south routes through the town. New York State Route 33 (Kensington Expressway) and New York State Route 130 (Broadway) access the New York State Thruway, which is also a north-to-south highway through the town (although officially an east-west road, it travels north-south in the Cheektowaga section).
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 94,019 people, 40,045 households, and 25,869 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,229.3/km² (3,183.8/mi²). There were 41,901 housing units at an average density of 547.9/km² (1,418.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.94% White, 2.93% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 40,045 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,121, and the median income for a family was $46,646. Males had a median income of $34,538 versus $25,434 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,627. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Ancestries: Polish (39.9%), German (29.9%), Italian (16.0%), Irish (14.1%), English (5.8%), French (2.7%).
[edit] Communities and locations in Cheektowaga
- Cleveland Hill - A neighborhood located on the north town line, this community has its own school district.
- Depew - The Village of Depew (shared with the Town of Lancaster) is in the eastern part of the town.
- Doyle -- A neighborhood near the western town line.
- Forks -- A location near Union Road (NY-277) and Broadway (NY-130).
- Maryvale -- A neighborhood located just west of the airport, this community is also a school district.
- Pine Hill -- A neighborhood on the border of Buffalo, the community features many cemeteries and Villa Maria College.
- Sloan - The Village of Sloan, near the Buffalo border.
- U-Crest -- A neighborhood near Union Road (NY-277) and Genesee Street (NY-33).
- Williamsville - A small part of the Village of Williamsville (shared with the Town of Amherst).
[edit] External links
- Town of Cheektowaga Official Website
- Cheektowaga at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)
- Cheektowaga Times
- Cheektowaga history
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County Seat: Buffalo |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Towns |
Alden | Amherst | Aurora | Boston | Brant | Cheektowaga | Clarence | Collins | Concord | Eden | Elma | Evans | Grand Island | Hamburg | Holland | Lancaster | Marilla | Newstead | North Collins | Orchard Park | Sardinia | Tonawanda | Wales | West Seneca |
| Villages |
Alden | Angola | Blasdell | Depew | East Aurora | Farham | Gowanda | Hamburg | Kenmore | Lancaster | North Collins | Orchard Park | Sloan | Springville | Williamsville |
| CDPs |
Angola on the Lake | Billington Heights | Cheektowaga | Clarence Center | Eden | Elma Center | Harris Hill | Holland | Lake Erie Beach | North Boston | Tonawanda | Town Line | West Seneca |
| Reservations |
