Niagara, Ont.: see Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Niagara, river, 34 mi (55 km) long, issuing from Lake Erie between Buffalo, N.Y., and Fort Erie, Ont., Canada. It flows north around Grand Island and over Niagara Falls to Lake Ontario; the river forms part of the U.S.-Canadian border. The upper section of the river is navigable for c.20 mi (30 km) to a series of rapids above the falls; in its last 7 mi (11 km) it is again navigable, from Lewiston, N.Y., to Lake Ontario. The Erie Canal (part of the New York State Canal System enters the river at Tonawanda, N.Y.; the Welland Canal, several miles W on the Ontario side, is a lake-freighter route around the falls. Hydroelectric power is generated by diverting water from the river above Niagara Falls to generating plants. Many bridges cross the Niagara River, notably Peace Bridge (1927); bridges linking Grand Island with both shores (1935); Rainbow Bridge (1941) below the falls; and American Rapids Bridge (1960), linking Goat Island with the mainland.

Niagara, Fort: see Fort Niagara.

Great falls of the Niagara River, on the U.S.-Canadian border. They are divided by Goat Island into the Horseshoe (or Canadian) Falls and the American Falls. At the foot of the American Falls is the Cave of the Winds, a large rocky chamber formed by erosion. The river below the falls flows between high cliffs, forming Whirlpool Rapids. Bridges spanning the river include Rainbow Bridge between the U.S. and Canadian cities of Niagara Falls. French missionary Louis Hennepin visited in 1678. Tourism is a major industry, and the falls are a hydroelectric centre.

Learn more about Niagara Falls with a free trial on Britannica.com.

See also: Niagara Falls (disambiguation).

Niagara is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 8,978. The town is named after the famous, local waterfall.

The Town of Niagara is the neighbor to the City of Niagara Falls, which actually adjoins the famed Niagara Falls cataract. The town is located in the southwest corner of the county and is famed for its factory outlet mall (formerly Prime Outlet Niagara Falls), frequently visited by nearby Canadians based on the favorable currency exchange.

There is no separate post office, so the mailing address is still "Niagara Falls, NY" NOT "Niagara, NY".

History

The Town of Niagara was founded in 1812 (originally as the "Town of Schlosser") from the Town of Cambria.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), all of it land.

Adjacent Cities & Towns

• Town of Lewiston - north
• Town of Wheatfield - east
• City of Niagara Falls - 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).
• U.S. Route 62 (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 (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 (Military Rd.), North-South roadway through the town from the Niagara Falls city line to the Lewiston town line.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,978 people, 3,611 households, and 2,480 families residing in the town. The population density was 955.8 people per square mile (369.2/km²). There were 3,879 housing units at an average density of 412.9/sq mi (159.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.99% White, 3.02% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 3,611 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,327, and the median income for a family was $43,689. Males had a median income of $35,657 versus $25,358 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,500. About 7.1% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

• Town of Niagara webpage