Town Line, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town Line, New York
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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 | Alden, Lancaster |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.63 sq mi (11.98 km2) |
| • Land | 4.62 sq mi (11.97 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 751 ft (229 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,334 |
| • Density | 504.98/sq mi (194.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14086, 14004, Formerly 14165
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| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-75121 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0967704 |
Town Line is a small community in Erie County, New York, United States. It is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). A CDP is a special area defined by the government for counting people. In 2010, about 2,367 people lived there.
Town Line is part of the larger Buffalo–Niagara Falls area. This area is called a Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community sits right on the border between two towns: Lancaster and Alden. Town Line is famous for a unique event in its past. In 1861, its residents held a special vote to "secede" from the United States. Later, in 1946, they held another vote to "rejoin" the country.
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Town Line's Unique History
The 1861 Secession Vote
Local stories say that in 1861, about 125 men from Town Line met in a schoolhouse. They voted on a plan to leave the United States. The vote was 85 in favor and 40 against. This happened during the American Civil War, a time when some states in the South formed the Confederacy and left the Union.
However, Town Line was never a separate official town or city. It did not have clear borders. This meant their vote had no legal power. Neither the Confederacy nor the Union officially recognized their action.
Karen Muchow, an expert from the Alden Historical Society, says there are no written records of this vote. She also noted that some German-American residents moved to Canada. About twenty people from Town Line fought for the Union Army.
Why did they vote to secede? It is not fully clear. Some people, like author Daren Wang, believe it was because residents did not want to be forced into the army. Many had come from Germany to avoid being drafted into military service there.
Rejoining the Union in 1946
Many years later, on January 24, 1946, Town Line held a special ceremony. This event was to "rejoin" the United States. A famous Hollywood actor, Cesar Romero, even came to join the celebration. During this event, residents voted again. This time, 90 people voted to cancel the old 1861 secession vote, and 23 voted against it.
Where Town Line Is Located
Town Line is located at coordinates 42 degrees 53 minutes 6 seconds North and 78 degrees 33 minutes 30 seconds West. This is a way to pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
The United States Census Bureau says that Town Line covers about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Town Line
In the year 2000, there were 2,521 people living in Town Line. These people lived in 906 households, with 759 of them being families. The community had about 543 people per square mile. Most residents were White (99.29%).
About 32% of households had children under 18 living there. Most households (74.4%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.78 people.
The people in Town Line had different ages:
- 23.9% were under 18
- 6.1% were 18 to 24
- 25.4% were 25 to 44
- 31.1% were 45 to 64
- 13.5% were 65 or older
The average age in Town Line was 42 years.
The average income for a household in Town Line was $51,548. For families, it was $57,054. A small number of families (3.6%) and people (3.8%) lived below the poverty line. This included 5.9% of those under 18 and 2.7% of those 65 or older.
