Niagara Falls, New York

Niagara Falls is a city located in Niagara County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,593. It is located across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario, both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. It has been considered part of the Buffalo, New York metro area.

History

The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated in 1892. Historically, the city was built up around factories that utilized the power of the falling water for energy. Now the downtown area is a park Niagara Falls State Park affording a close-up view of the American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil Falls. The European intrusion into the area began in the 17th Century with missionaries and explorers. This interaction of the local tribes, already hostile, was rapidly converted to open warfare by the competition for the fur trade.

By the end of the 19th Century, the falls area was an ugly squalor of factories, utilizing the power of the water. The city still has a strong industrial base, but its location is away from the tourist areas.

While its Canadian twin, Niagara Falls, Ontario began massively building up its tourism industry in the 1990s, allowing for casinos and tall tower hotels, essentially becoming the "Las Vegas of Canada," Niagara Falls, New York did very little. In 2004 it opened a casino in the former Niagara County Convention Center, hoping to compete with the Canadian side.

Geography

Niagara Falls is located at 43°5'39" North, 79°1'2" West (43.094305, -79.017339).

The city is at the international boundary between the United States of America and Canada.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.5 km² (16.8 mi²). 36.4 km² (14.1 mi²) of it is land and 7.1 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 16.37% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 55,593 people, 24,099 households, and 14,266 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,527.7/km² (3,955.7/mi²). There are 27,837 housing units at an average density of 765.0/km² (1,980.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 76.21% White, 18.72% African American, 1.64% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 2.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 24,099 households out of which 27.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% are married couples living together, 18.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% are non-families. 35.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.27 and the average family size is 2.96.

In the city the population is spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $26,800, and the median income for a family is $34,377. Males have a median income of $31,672 versus $22,124 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,721. 19.5% of the population and 15.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• City of Niagara Falls webpage
• Niagara Falls State Park information