Amherst, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amherst
Town
Town of Amherst
Amherst Municipal Building
Flag
Location of Amherst in Erie County, New York (left) and of Erie County in New York state (right)
Location of New York in the United States
Amherst Location in New York Show map of New York Amherst Location in the United States Show map of the United States Amherst Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Erie
Incorporated	April 10, 1818
Named for	Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
Government
• Type	Town council
Area
• Total	53.58 sq mi (138.78 km2)
• Land	53.20 sq mi (137.78 km2)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)  0.73%
Elevation	594 ft (181 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	129,595
• Estimate  (2019)	126,082
• Density	2,364.58/sq mi (912.96/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	14068, 14221, 14226, 14228, 14231, 14260, 14261
Area code(s)	716
FIPS code	36-029-02000

Amherst (ⁱ/ˈæmhərst/) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, Amherst had a population of 129,595 people. This makes it the 14th most populated town in New York State.

Amherst is the second-largest town in its area and the most populated suburb of Buffalo. It includes the village of Williamsville. It also has several smaller communities called hamlets. These include Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, Swormville, and East Amherst. The town is in the northern part of Erie County. It is also next to a part of the famous Erie Canal.

Amherst is an important place for education. It is home to the north campus of the University at Buffalo. You can also find a campus of Erie Community College here. Other colleges like Bryant & Stratton College and Daemen University also have campuses in Amherst.

History of Amherst

Amherst was officially created by New York State on April 10, 1818. It was formed from a part of the town of Buffalo. The town was named after Lord Jeffrey Amherst. He was a British army commander from 1758 to 1763. Timothy S. Hopkins was chosen as the first leader of the town in 1819. Later, a part of Amherst became the town of Cheektowaga in 1839.

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 helped Amherst grow a lot. It brought new people and more business. German immigrants came to the northern part of the town. They became farmers because the land was good for growing crops. The town's rivers and streams helped build mills and factories. Many communities started to form around this time. These included Williamsville (around 1810), Eggertsville and Snyder (around 1830). Later came East Amherst and Swormville (around 1850). Finally, Getzville developed around 1860.

Geography and Landscape

Amherst covers a total area of about 138.8 square kilometers (53.6 square miles). Most of this area, about 137.8 square kilometers (53.2 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.0 square kilometer (0.39 square miles), is water.

Much of Amherst was once floodplains and wet marshlands. Some of these areas have been drained to build new homes and businesses. The middle and southern parts of the town have many suburban neighborhoods. Even with this growth, some areas like Eggertsville, Snyder, and Williamsville still feel like older, traditional communities. The northern part of the town is still mostly undeveloped. However, areas along Niagara Falls Boulevard are more developed. Some parts of northern and eastern Amherst have had issues with house foundations. This is because the soil can be unstable. You can still find a few active farms in the northern part of the town.

Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek and Niagara County. The Ellicott Creek also flows through the town.

Neighboring Areas

Amherst is surrounded by several other towns and cities:

• Town of Pendleton in Niagara County to the north.
• City of North Tonawanda in Niagara County to the northwest.
• Town of Tonawanda to the west.
• City of Buffalo to the southwest.
• Town of Lancaster to the southeast.
• Town of Cheektowaga to the south.
• Town of Clarence to the east.

Communities within Amherst

The areas within Amherst are often called by their old post office names. They are not separate towns or villages, except for Williamsville.

• Eggertsville -- This is a hamlet in the southwest part of town. It is near Buffalo and centered around Eggert Road. Daemen College is located here.
• Getzville -- This area is near the center of town. It is close to Campbell Boulevard and Dodge Road.
• Audubon -- This area is in the center of town, around John James Audubon Parkway. The town's police station, courthouse, and main library are located here.
• East Amherst -- This is a hamlet in the eastern part of the town. It is also partly in the Town of Clarence.
• Snyder -- This is a suburban community located between Eggertsville and the village of Williamsville.
• Swormville -- This hamlet is in the eastern part of the town. It is also partly in the Town of Clarence.
• Williamsville -- This is an official village within Amherst. It is located in the southern part of the town.

Amherst's Climate

The weather in Amherst changes with the seasons. From May through October, the average high temperatures are usually between 15 and 27 degrees Celsius (60 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit). From November through March, the average high temperatures are colder, ranging from -0.5 to 8 degrees Celsius (31 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit).

Population Information

In 2010, there were 122,366 people living in Amherst. There were 48,894 households, which are groups of people living together. About 26% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.33 people.

The median income for a household in Amherst was about $55,427. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. For families, the median income was about $68,951. About 6.4% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included about 6.6% of young people under 18.

Many adults in Amherst have a good education. Over half of the residents aged 25 and older have earned a Bachelor's degree or higher. About 26.7% have a graduate or professional degree.

Economy and Recognition

Amherst has been recognized as a great place to live. In 2010, CNNMoney ranked Amherst 42nd on its list of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live in America." In 2012, it was ranked 50th. Also, in 2011 and 2012, Amherst was chosen as one of "America's 100 Best Communities for Young People." This award came from America's Promise Alliance.

Two important companies have their main offices in Williamsville, which is part of Amherst. These are National Fuel and Life Storage.

Arts and Culture

Amherst celebrates many festivals throughout the year. The town is also home to the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village. This village helps people learn about the history and culture of the area.

The Town of Amherst Archival Research Center keeps important historical records. It is located at the Harlem Road Community Center.

Sports and Recreation

University at Buffalo Stadium

Amherst has several sports facilities. These include the University at Buffalo Stadium and Alumni Arena. Both are used by the University at Buffalo's sports teams, known as the Buffalo Bulls.

The Northtown Center is the town's ice hockey arena. It is home to the Buffalo Beauts, a professional women's hockey team. The University at Buffalo men's ice hockey team also plays here. Additionally, the Buffalo Wings, a professional inline hockey team, use this arena.

Media and Publishing

The local newspaper for Amherst is the Amherst Bee. This newspaper was important in the town's history. In 1969, a publishing company called Prometheus Books was started in Amherst by Paul Kurtz.

Transportation and Roads

Amherst has several important roads and highways that help people travel.

• Interstate 90, also known as the New York State Thruway, goes through the southern part of town.
• Interstate 290, called the Youngmann Memorial Highway, crosses the town.
• Interstate 990, the Lockport Expressway, is entirely within Amherst.
• U.S. Route 62 forms part of the western town line.
• New York State Route 5 (Main Street) runs through the town.
• New York State Route 78 (Transit Road) marks the eastern town line.
• New York State Route 240 (Harlem Road) is a north-south road.
• New York State Route 263 (Grover Cleveland Highway, Millersport Highway) is another north-south road.
• New York State Route 270 (Campbell Boulevard) runs north-south.
• New York State Route 277 (North Forest Road, Union Road) is a north-south road.
• New York State Route 324 (Sheridan Drive) is an east-west road through the town.

Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital is located in the center of town on Maple Road.

Famous People from Amherst

Images for kids

• 

  The Amherst Bee newspaper office.

• 

  The University at Buffalo Stadium.

See also

In Spanish: Amherst (Nueva York) para niños