Niagara Falls, New York

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Image:Niagara Falls, New York from Skylon Tower.jpg 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 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.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Art and culture
5 Religious Activities
6 Medicine
7 External links

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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 city was a heavy industrial area, due in no small part to the huge power potential offered by the swiftly-flowing Niagara River. 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, the Seneca Nation of Indians opened the Seneca Niagara Casino in the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, which thereby became sovereign Native American territory in the midst of the city.

Geography

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

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.

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Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of1230000, there were 55,593 people, 24,099 households, and 14,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,527.7/km² (3,955.7/mi²). There were 27,837 housing units at an average density of 765.0/km² (1,980.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,800, and the median income for a family was $34,377. Males had a median income of $31,672 versus $22,124 for females.

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Art and culture

When Niagara Falls High School closed in the late 1990s a new school was built. The new school merged Lasalle and Niagara Falls High Schools and the existing building at Pine and Portage, a large stone structure with a huge set of stone steps like those in Albany became an Art and Cultural Center.

Niagara University is nearby.

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Religious Activities

There are several churches in Niagara Falls, including St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, First United Methodist, and St. Teresa's.

The city mission run by Community Missions Incorporated located on Buffalo Avenue, is involved in the housing and shelter of the homeless, and the Salvation Army has a thrift store located on Niagara Falls Boulevard.

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