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Alexander, New York
Town hall, the former Alexander Classical School
Town hall, the former Alexander Classical School
Location in Genesee County and the state of New York.
Location in Genesee County and the state of New York.
Location of New York in the United States
Location of New York in the United States
Country United States
State New York
County Genesee County
Incorporated 1812
Named for Alexander Rea
Area
 • Total 35.56 sq mi (92.11 km2)
 • Land 35.47 sq mi (91.86 km2)
 • Water 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation
932 ft (284 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,491
 • Density 70.23/sq mi (27.12/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14005
Area code(s) 585
FIPS code {{{1}}}-{{{2}}}

Alexander is a small town in Genesee County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,491 people lived there. The town is named after Alexander Rea, who was one of the first people to settle in the area.

Alexander is located on the southern edge of Genesee County. It also includes a village that is also called Alexander.

History of Alexander

The story of Alexander began in 1802. A man named Alexander Rea bought a piece of land, about 28 acres, for a small amount of money. He then started the village of Alexander.

The very next year, he helped create a road. This road is now known as Walnut Street and Route 98. In 1812, the town of Alexander was officially formed. It was created from a part of the nearby town of Batavia.

A special building in the town is the Alexander Classical School. This school is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography of Alexander

The town of Alexander covers an area of about 35.5 square miles (92.0 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.

A stream called Tonawanda Creek flows through the town. This creek moves northward and eventually joins the Niagara River. The southern border of Alexander is also the border of Wyoming County.

Who Lives in Alexander?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,496
1830 2,331 55.8%
1840 2,242 −3.8%
1850 1,927 −14.0%
1860 1,801 −6.5%
1870 1,605 −10.9%
1880 1,608 0.2%
1890 1,587 −1.3%
1900 1,503 −5.3%
1910 1,362 −9.4%
1920 1,287 −5.5%
1930 1,378 7.1%
1940 1,423 3.3%
1950 1,591 11.8%
1960 1,987 24.9%
1970 2,351 18.3%
1980 2,367 0.7%
1990 2,233 −5.7%
2000 2,451 9.8%
2010 2,534 3.4%
2020 2,491 −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the census from 2000, there were 2,451 people living in Alexander. This means there were about 69 people for every square mile. There were 860 households, which are groups of people living together.

Many households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.85 people. The median age of people in the town was 36 years old.

Places in Alexander

The town of Alexander has several smaller communities and locations within it:

  • Alexander – This is the main village, located in the south-central part of the town.
  • Attica – A small part of the village of Attica extends into the southern part of Alexander town.
  • Brookville – This is a small community, or hamlet, found near the eastern border of the town.
  • East Alexander – Another hamlet located near the eastern town line. It's close to where Brookville and West Bethany roads meet.
  • Little Tonawanda Creek – This is a stream that flows past Brookville, East Alexander, and West Bethany. It eventually joins the larger Tonawanda Creek north of the town.
  • North Alexander – A place located north of Alexander village, along Alexander Road (Route 98).
  • Ray – A hamlet situated in the northeast corner of the town.
  • West Bethany – This community is east of Alexander Village, on Bethany Road. It's right on the border with the town of Bethany.

Famous People from Alexander

Many interesting people have connections to Alexander, New York:

  • Daniel Burling – He used to be a state assemblyman for New York.
  • Barber Conable – He was a U.S. congressman and later became the president of the World Bank.
  • Alvarus E. Gilbert – He served as a state assemblyman in Wisconsin.
  • Henry Hawkins (1790–1845) – A successful businessman and state assemblyman. He also founded the Alexander Classical School.
  • Horace E. Houghton (1835-1897) – A state legislator in both Washington and Wisconsin.
  • Al Keller – A professional race car driver who competed in NASCAR and Champ Car races.
  • Allen Manvel – He was the eleventh president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
  • John M. Stowell – He was a state assemblyman in Wisconsin and also served as the mayor of Milwaukee.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alexander (Nueva York) para niños

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