East Aurora, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Aurora, New York
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Village
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The Aurora Theatre from Main Street
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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 |
| Town | Aurora |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.52 sq mi (6.53 km2) |
| • Land | 2.51 sq mi (6.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 919 ft (280 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,998 |
| • Density | 2,388.69/sq mi (922.30/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14052
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| Area code(s) | 716, 585 |
| FIPS code | 36-21589 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0948967 |
East Aurora is a village in New York, located southeast of Buffalo in Erie County, New York. It's part of the larger town of Aurora. In 2020, about 6,000 people lived there. It's part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls big city area. East Aurora is known as a great place for families, even being ranked among the best towns in New York State for raising kids. It's also considered one of the safest places to live in New York.
Contents
History of East Aurora
East Aurora was started in 1804 and officially became a village in 1874.
Millard Fillmore's Home
Before he became the President of the United States, Millard Fillmore lived in East Aurora with his wife Abigail. They lived here from 1826 to 1830. The house he built is now looked after by the Aurora Historical Society. This house, built in 1825, has been restored to look like it did when Fillmore lived there. It even has some of his original furniture. You can find this historic home at 24 Shearer Avenue in East Aurora.
The Roycroft Movement
Elbert Hubbard, who started the Roycroft Movement, also lived in East Aurora around the year 1900. The Roycroft Movement was about creating beautiful handmade items and sharing new ideas. Hubbard and his wife sadly died when the ship RMS Lusitania sank in 1915.
One of the village's most famous places is the Roycroft Inn. It used to be Hubbard's print shop. In 1905, it became an inn to welcome the many famous visitors who came to learn about Hubbard's ideas. These visitors also came to see the books, furniture, and metal items made by the 500 Roycroft artists. The Roycroft Campus became a National Landmark in 1986. The Roycroft Inn was fully restored and reopened in 1995. Today, you can still visit the inn for dining and to stay overnight. The Elbert Hubbard Museum on Oakwood Avenue has a large collection of Roycroft books and art pieces.
Fisher-Price and Toy Town
East Aurora is also the hometown of Fisher-Price, the famous toy company. Its main office is located here. For many years, from 1987 to 2007, the village and the Toy Town Museum held a "Toyfest Festival." This festival included a parade with huge versions of classic Fisher-Price toys. It was a fun three-day event with rides, circus acts, and a special play area for kids.
Knox Farm State Park
Seymour H. Knox III, the first owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, lived in East Aurora. His large estate, now called Knox Farm, is a big New York state park. It covers about 633 acres (2.56 square kilometers) and is located on the edge of the village.
Several important buildings in East Aurora are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Millard Fillmore House and the Roycroft Campus. The Adams family were the first settlers to stay a winter in East Aurora in 1804. Their family farm still stands today on Olean Road.
Geography of East Aurora
East Aurora is located at 42°46′1″N 78°37′2″W / 42.76694°N 78.61722°W. The village covers about 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) of land.
Main Street, which runs through the village, is part of U.S. Route 20A.
Interesting Places
Main Street in East Aurora has many unique shops, restaurants, churches, and old homes. The East Aurora Advertiser, the local newspaper since 1872, has been on Main Street for over 100 years. On Riley Street, you'll find the East Aurora Classic Rink. This ice rink uses the same equipment that was used in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic hockey game!
Population of East Aurora
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,109 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,582 | 42.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,366 | 49.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,781 | 17.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,703 | 33.2% | |
| 1930 | 4,815 | 30.0% | |
| 1940 | 5,253 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 5,962 | 13.5% | |
| 1960 | 6,791 | 13.9% | |
| 1970 | 7,033 | 3.6% | |
| 1980 | 6,803 | −3.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,647 | −2.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,673 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,236 | −6.5% | |
| 2020 | 5,998 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, East Aurora had 5,998 people living there. There were about 2,600 households. Many families with children live in the village. The average age of people in East Aurora was 40 years old.
Schools in East Aurora
Children who live in East Aurora go to public schools within the East Aurora Union Free School District.
- Parkdale Elementary serves students in grades K–4.
- East Aurora Middle School is for grades 5–8.
- East Aurora High School is for grades 9–12.
There are also other school choices in the area. These include Immaculate Conception Catholic School (grades K-8) and the Mandala school, which focuses on hands-on learning. For younger children, there are several nursery schools and Montessori schools available.
In 2008 and 2009, the school district made big improvements and additions to its schools. The new entrance at Parkdale Elementary was even designed with the special Roycroft style in mind.
Famous People from East Aurora
Many interesting people have connections to East Aurora:
- Randall James Bayer, a botanist (someone who studies plants).
- Merritt C. Buxton, a U.S. National Champion jockey (horse rider).
- Christine Estabrook, an actress.
- Margaret Evans Price, an illustrator and co-founder of Fisher-Price.
- Abigail Fillmore, the former First Lady of the United States.
- Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States.
- William Headline, a former news chief for CNN.
- Elbert Hubbard, a writer, publisher, and artist who started the Roycroft community.
- Jeremy Jacobs, the owner of the Boston Bruins hockey team.
- Emily Janiga, a professional hockey player for the NWHL Buffalo Beauts.
- Seymour H. Knox III, the first owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team.
- Henry H. Persons, a banker and New York State Senator.
- Irving Price, a co-founder of Fisher-Price and a former mayor of East Aurora.
- Helen Schelle, a co-founder of Fisher-Price.
- James Schuyler, a famous poet.
- Albert Sharpe, an All-American college football player.
- Luke Tasker, a professional football wide receiver.
- Joe Slade White, a political strategist.
- Julie Byrne, a singer-songwriter.
Art in East Aurora
East Aurora has been home to several landscape painters. One notable artist was Carl W. Illig (1910-1987). He lived in the village almost his whole life and painted beautiful scenes of the local creeks, fields, and hills in all seasons. His paintings are found in many homes in the area.
Economy
East Aurora is home to the main offices of two important companies:
- Astronics, which makes advanced technology products.
- Moog, Inc, which designs and makes controls and systems for things like airplanes, defense, and medical devices.
See also
In Spanish: East Aurora para niños
