Hamburg, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hamburg
Town
Town of Hamburg
Motto(s):  The Town That Friendship Built
Location of Hamburg in Erie County and New York
Hamburg Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Erie
Incorporated	1812; 213 years ago (1812)
Named for	Hamburg, Germany
Government
• Type	Town board
• Body	Hamburg Town Board
Area
• Total	41.35 sq mi (107.10 km2)
• Land	41.32 sq mi (107.03 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	732 ft (223 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	60,085
• Density	1,405.92/sq mi (542.83/km2)
Demonym(s)	Hamburger
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	14075
Area code	716
FIPS code	36-029-31654
GNIS feature ID	0952086

Hamburg is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. It is named after the city of Hamburg, Germany. In 2020, about 60,085 people lived here. The town is located on the western side of Erie County, just south of the city of Buffalo. Hamburg is part of the "Southtowns" area in Erie County. The small towns of Hamburg and Blasdell are both inside the larger town of Hamburg. The town was officially created in 1812.

History of Hamburg

Vintage illustration of Woodlawn Beach in 1896

Early Settlements and Naming

Long ago, the Erie people lived in this area. Around 1805, the settlement was called "Barkerville," after Zenas Barker, who was the postmaster. The first settlers arrived in 1804. John Cummings, an early landowner, built the first grist mill (a mill for grinding grain) in 1806.

The town of Hamburg was officially formed on March 20, 1812. It was created from a town called Willink, which no longer exists. The first town meeting happened on April 7, 1812. One of the first things the town leaders did was offer a $5 reward for wolf hides. This was because wolves were bothering the local settlers.

Growth and Development

Mail routes were set up in 1815. Many of the first settlers came from New England. Later, in the 1830s, Germans started to arrive and built many successful farms. In 1824, a group of people decided to start a library.

By 1850, Hamburg became smaller because new towns like East Hamburgh and West Seneca were formed. Around 1852, the Erie Railroad was built through the area, which helped with transportation. The Erie County Fair first came to Hamburg in 1868 and has been held there ever since. In 1875, a weekly newspaper called Erie County Independent started. Today, it is known as The Sun. Telephone service began in 1886.

The village of Hamburg became its own separate village in 1874. Later, in 1898, the community of Blasdell also became its own village. In the early 1900s, a trolley car system was built, making it easier to travel around.

Historical Sites

The Kleis Site is an important historical place in Hamburg. It contains remains of a 17th-century Iroquoian village and a burial ground. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

In 2012, Main Street in the village of Hamburg was approved to be nominated as a national historic district. This means it is recognized for its historical importance.

Geography and Climate

Eighteen Mile Creek in Hamburg

Location and Waterways

Hamburg covers about 107 square kilometers (41.35 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.

Lake Erie forms the western edge of the town. The Eighteen Mile Creek creates the southern border.

Weather in Hamburg

Hamburg has a continental climate, which means it has warm summers and cold winters. The weather is greatly affected by lake-effect snow from Lake Erie. This happens when cold air moves over the warmer lake water, picking up moisture and dropping it as heavy snow. For example, Hamburg had a record 81.2 inches (206.25 centimeters) of snow from November 16–18, 2022.

Population of Hamburg

Evening view of Buffalo from Bayview Road in Hamburg. Steel Winds Urban Wind Farm can be seen in the distance.

In 2000, there were 56,259 people living in Hamburg. The town had about 1,362 people per square mile. About 24.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 39 years.

Economy and Jobs

Hamburg's economy has many different types of jobs. These include jobs in shipping and delivery, making things, healthcare, shopping, and education.

In Blasdell, the Ford Motor Company has a large factory called the Buffalo Stamping Plant. It employs over a thousand people. There is also the Lake Erie Industrial Park near the water. This park includes a main FedEx Ground warehouse for the Buffalo area, which employs 300 people. An Amazon, Inc. distribution center is also being built there.

Arts and Culture

Erie County Fair

The Erie County Fair has been held in Hamburg since 1868. It takes place every August at the Hamburg Fairgrounds, which is a large area of 275 acres. The fair runs for twelve days and is one of the biggest county fairs in the United States. It features rides, games, food, and exhibits.

The Hamburger Legend

Some people say that the hamburger sandwich was invented at the 1885 Erie County Fair, also known as the "Hamburg Fair." The story goes that two food vendors, Frank and Charles Menches, created a sandwich using ground beef and other ingredients. They named this new sandwich after the fair where they invented it. Because of this legend, Hamburg hosts an annual "BurgerFest" during the summer.

Sports Teams

Hamburg is home to several sports teams. The Frontier Falcons represent Frontier Central High School. The Hamburg Bulldogs play for Hamburg High School. The Red Raiders are the team for St. Francis High School, which is a private school for boys.

Hilbert College, a private college in town, has teams called the Hawks. They play in NCAA Division III sports, including basketball, football, women's hockey, soccer, and lacrosse.

Parks and Recreation

Scenic Trails and Parks

The Seaway Trail is a special road that goes through Hamburg along the Lake Erie shoreline. It is part of a National Scenic Byway, which means it's a beautiful route to drive.

Woodlawn Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Erie. It opened as a state park in 1996. Since 2011, the town of Hamburg has been in charge of running the park.

Education in Hamburg

Frontier Central High School

Early Learning

As of 2021, there were 10 preschools in the town of Hamburg, including two in the village of Blasdell.

Local Schools

The main public school system in Hamburg is the Frontier Central School District. This district serves students who live outside the village of Hamburg, especially along the lake shore. Frontier Central was created in the 1950s by combining several smaller school districts. Its offices are in Wanakah.

The district has four elementary schools: Big Tree, Blasdell, Cloverbank, and Pinehurst. It also has Frontier Middle School and Frontier High School. In 2009, Big Tree Elementary School was recognized as a "Blue Ribbon School" for its excellence. In 2020, Buffalo Business First ranked Frontier as one of the top school districts in Western New York.

Other school districts also serve parts of Hamburg, including the Hamburg (village), West Seneca, and Orchard Park central school districts. The Hamburg Central School District mainly serves students in the village of Hamburg and nearby areas.

College Education

Hilbert College is a college located in Hamburg, just north of the village.

Media

The town's weekly newspaper is called the Hamburg Sun.

Transportation

Major Roads

Several important roads pass through Hamburg. These include the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90), U.S. Route 62, US 20, and NY Route 5. NY 75 also runs through the village of Hamburg.

Public Transportation

Five bus lines, run by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), serve the town. There is also a "park and ride" facility near Athol Springs, where people can leave their cars and take a bus.

Notable People from Hamburg

See also

In Spanish: Hamburg (Nueva York) para niños