Lockport (city), New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 22,279 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from several Erie canal locks within the city.
The City of Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the Town of Lockport.
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[edit] History
Lockport became a village in 1829. The City of Lockport was incorporated in 1865.
Many early settlers were Quakers, encouraged to move to the area by the promise of the new canal. The community was built around a series of locks on the Erie Canal. The canal reached Lockport in 1824, but the locks were not completed until 1825. Many Irish canal workers remained in Lockport after the completion of the locks, giving the city a heavy Irish influence still discernable today, especially in the neighborhoods of Lowertown and North Lockport.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.4 km² (8.6 mi²). 22.1 km² (8.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.39%) is water.
The Erie Canal passes through the center of the city, turning south toward Tonawanda Creek. It climbs the Niagara Escarpment through a series of two locks. Originally, five smaller locks were used.
Lockport is at the junction of several major trunk roads, including NY Route 78 (North Transit Road), New York State Route 31, and New York State Route 77.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 22,279 people, 9,459 households, and 5,609 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,008.4/km² (2,612.4/mi²). There were 10,341 housing units at an average density of 468.1/km² (1,212.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.04% White, 5.78% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.06% of the population.
There were 9,459 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,222, and the median income for a family was $44,614. Males had a median income of $35,197 versus $23,944 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,620. About 11.7% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Local Politics
In the year 2004, Michael Tucker was elected mayor of the city of Lockport. He is currently serving a 4 year term.
[edit] See also
- Erie canal with illustration of the original five step lock structure located here
- Lift bridge illustrating bridges crossing the canal here
- Lockport Cave
- Lockport Community Television
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| Municipalities and Communities of Niagara County, New York (County Seat: Lockport) |
|
|---|---|
| Cities | Lockport | Niagara Falls | North Tonawanda |
| Towns | Cambria | Hartland | Lewiston | Lockport | Newfane | Niagara | Pendleton | Porter | Royalton | Somerset | Wilson | Wheatfield |
| Villages | Lewiston | Middleport | Wilson | Youngstown |
| CDPs | Gasport | Olcott | Ransomville | Rapids | South Lockport |
| Reservations | Tonawanda Reservation | Tuscarora Reservation |
