Depew, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Depew
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Village
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| Village of Depew | |
| Motto(s):
"The Village of Unexcelled Opportunity" |
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Location in Erie County and the state of New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Erie |
| Towns | Cheektowaga-Lancaster |
| Named for | Chauncey Depew |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.08 sq mi (13.15 km2) |
| • Land | 5.08 sq mi (13.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 673 ft (205 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,178 |
| • Density | 2,990.15/sq mi (1,154.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14043
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| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-20313 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0948333 |
Depew (/dəˈpju/) is a village located in Erie County, New York. In 2010, about 15,303 people lived there. It is part of the larger Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area.
The village is named after Chauncey Depew. He was a politician and one of the first people to invest in buying the land for the village. Depew became an official village in 1894.
Depew is located across the border between two towns: Lancaster and Cheektowaga. A main road called NY Route 78 (Transit Road) runs through the village.
In 2017, residents voted on whether Depew should stop being a village. They decided to remain a village, with many more votes to stay than to dissolve.
Contents
Geography
Depew is located at coordinates 42°54′42″N 78°42′6″W / 42.91167°N 78.70167°W.
The village covers an area of about 5.1 square miles (13.15 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Depew is about 11 miles east of downtown Buffalo. The village of Lancaster borders Depew to the east.
History of Depew
Early Settlement
The first person to settle in this area was Apollos Hitchcock in 1808. He settled near Cayuga Creek. This area was on the main road connecting Buffalo with the village of Lancaster.
The land was bought and surveyed by the Holland Land Company. This company helped to divide and sell land in Western New York.
How Depew Started
Depew was named after Chauncey M. Depew. He was the president of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Company. The railroad decided to build its shops and other facilities here.
On May 17, 1892, construction began. This led to a big increase in land sales and building in the area. The large railroad shops opened on April 1, 1893, with 40 employees.
Growth and Development
By the end of 1893, several other important businesses had opened. These included the National Car Wheel Works and the Gould Coupler Company. The Union Car Company also started operations.
The first house in Depew was built in April 1893. A local newspaper, the Depew Herald, also began publishing that year.
In 1893, many new homes were built. Sidewalks and sewers were also put in place. Fire companies were organized to keep the village safe. Water works were built by the Depew and Lancaster Water Works Company.
Becoming a Village
On July 23, 1894, Depew officially became an incorporated village. The first village officers were elected on August 21.
By February 1895, Depew had a population of 1,814 people. About 500 homes had been built. Many large businesses were operating, employing around 2,500 men.
Schools and Churches
A new school district was formed in 1894. Four schools were operating in the village at that time. Two brick schoolhouses were built in 1894-1895, each costing $10,000.
Different churches were also established. The Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in 1894, and their church was built in 1895. German Lutheran, Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Polish Catholic churches were also built.
Railroad Hub
Depew became a major railroad center. It had stations for several important railroad lines. These included the New York Central, the D., L. & W., the Erie, and the Lehigh Valley Railroads.
The Depew economy in the 19th century was mostly based on railroad-related industries. For example, the Gould Coupler Company made special parts for train cars.
Local Rivalry
Depew High School has a long-standing sports rivalry with Lancaster High School. This rivalry started in 1919 and is still a big event between the two schools.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Depew:
- Joe Andreessen – A linebacker for the Buffalo Bills football team.
- Lucille Clifton – A famous poet who was born and grew up in Depew.
- Pat Dobson – A former MLB (Major League Baseball) pitcher. He was born in Depew.
- Don Majkowski – A former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers football team. He was born and raised in Depew and went to Depew High School.
Historic Places
The United States Post Office in Depew has a special mural inside. It's called Beginning of the Day and was painted in 1941 by Anne Poor.
This mural was part of a program by the U.S. government. From 1934 to 1943, the government hired artists to create murals for public buildings across the country. The Depew Post Office mural was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 3,379 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,921 | 16.0% | |
| 1920 | 5,850 | 49.2% | |
| 1930 | 6,536 | 11.7% | |
| 1940 | 6,084 | −6.9% | |
| 1950 | 7,217 | 18.6% | |
| 1960 | 13,580 | 88.2% | |
| 1970 | 22,158 | 63.2% | |
| 1980 | 19,819 | −10.6% | |
| 1990 | 17,673 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 16,629 | −5.9% | |
| 2010 | 15,303 | −8.0% | |
| 2020 | 15,178 | −0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Depew had a population of 15,303 people. There were 6,832 households, which are groups of people living together.
Most residents were White (93.70%). Other groups included African American (2.30%), Native American (0.70%), and Asian (0.50%). About 1.90% of people were from two or more races.
About 22.0% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the village was 40 years.
Adjacent Cities and Towns
Depew is next to these areas:
- Town of Cheektowaga – to the west, southwest, and northwest.
- Town of Lancaster – to the east, southeast, and northeast.
- Village of Lancaster – directly to the east.
Transportation
Train Station
Depew has the Buffalo-Depew Amtrak station. This is a train station for the Buffalo area. You can catch trains like the Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf, and Empire Service here.
Major Roads
U.S. Route 20 (Transit Road, Broadway): This route runs east-west. In Depew, it runs north-south for a bit while combined with NY 78.
New York State Route 78 (Transit Road): This is a north-south road that goes through Depew.
New York State Route 130 (Broadway): This road runs east-west through the village.- New York State Route 952Q (Walden Avenue): This is another east-west road. It's one of the longest "reference routes" in New York, meaning it's maintained by the state but doesn't have a regular route number sign.
Education
Depew is served by several school districts. Most of the village is in the Depew Union Free School District. Other parts are in the Lancaster Central School District, Cheektowaga-Maryvale Union Free School District, and Cheektowaga Central School District.
See also
In Spanish: Depew (Nueva York) para niños
