Lockport (town), New York

Lockport is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 19,653 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the series of canal locks on the Erie Canal that lift boats from the lowland of Lake Ontario past the Niagara Escarpment.

The Town of Lockport is in the south-central part of the county and surrounds the City of Lockport.

History
Many early settlers were Quakers and helped make the area a bastion of anti-slavery. The Town of Lockport was established in 1824, the same year the canal was completed up to the City of Lockport.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²), of which, 44.6 square miles (115.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.18%) is water.

The south border of the town is formed by Tonawanda Creek. The Erie Canal passes through the north part of the town and the City of Lockport. New York State Route 78 marks the west town line of Lockport.

Adjacent Cities & Towns

 * Town of Cambria - west
 * Erie County, Town of Clarence - south
 * Town of Pendleton - southwest
 * Town of Royalton - east
 * Town of Newfane - north
 * Town of Hartland - northeast
 * City of Lockport - Town surrounds the City of Lockport.

Major Highways in the Town of Lockport

 * [[Image:NY-31.svg|20px]] New York State Route 31 (Saunders Settlement Rd., Chesnut Ridge Rd., Rochester Rd.), East-West Highway through the town from the Cambria town line through the City of Lockport to the Royalton town line.


 * [[Image:NY-77.svg|20px]] New York State Route 77 (Chesnut Ridge Rd.), North-South roadway that begins at Chesnut Ridge Rd./Rochester Rd. intersection just outside of the City of Lockport and continues through the town for a short distance before entering the Town of Royalton.


 * [[Image:NY-78.svg|20px]] New York State Route 78 (Transit Rd., Lake Ave.), North-South Highway through the town from the Amherst town line through the City of Lockport north to the Newfane town line.


 * [[Image:NY-93.svg|20px]] New York State Route 93 (Dysinger Rd., Robinson Rd., Lockport Bypass, Saunders Settlement Rd., Town Line Rd.), East-West roadway from the Royalton town line, through the town south of the city. The route then travels north on the western outskirts of the City of Lockport by the way of the Lockport Bypass onto Saunders Settlement Rd. (NY 31). The route then runs concurrent with NY 31 until NY 31's intersection with NY 270 where that route has its northern terminus. NY 93 then travels north at that intersection and onward into the Town of Cambria when NY 93 reaches NY 104.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,653 people, 7,537 households, and 5,253 families residing in the town. The population density was 440.3 people per square mile (170.0/km²). There were 8,059 housing units at an average density of 180.6/sq mi (69.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.86% White, 4.08% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 7,537 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,977, and the median income for a family was $55,414. Males had a median income of $41,166 versus $25,810 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,194. About 6.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

 * See City of Lockport

Communities and locations in the Town of Lockport

 * Carlisle Gardens – A community bordering the east side of the City of Lockport.
 * County Fair Grounds – The fair grounds are north of the City of Lockport.
 * Highland Park – A location north of the City of Lockport, next to the fair grounds.
 * Nottingham Estates – A location east if the City of Lockport, and north of Route 31.
 * Rapids – A hamlet on the south border of the town.
 * Raymond – A location northwest of Rapids.
 * Ridge Lea – A location north of the City of Lockport.
 * Shooktown – A location east of the City of Lockport.
 * South Lockport – A community bordering the south side of the City of Lockport.
 * Wrights Corners – A hamlet on the north town line, located on Route 78, partly in the Town of Newfane.
 * City of Lockport – The City of Lockport is in the north-central part of the town.
 * Lockport Mall – A shopping mall located on Transit Road in South Lockport. As of 2007 the mall is all but vacant.