Attica, New York

For the village located primarily in this town, see Attica (village), New York. For other uses, see Attica (disambiguation).

Attica
Town
Location in Wyoming County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 42°51′45″N 78°17′03″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Wyoming
Area
• Total	36.03 sq mi (93.31 km2)
• Land	35.71 sq mi (92.49 km2)
• Water	0.32 sq mi (0.82 km2)
Population  (2010)
• Total	7,702
• Estimate  (2016)	7,448
• Density	208.56/sq mi (80.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	36-121-03012
Website	www.TownOfAttica.net

Attica is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 7,702 as of 2010.

The Town of Attica is on the northern boundary of the county and contains part of a village also named Attica (the northern part of the village is within the adjacent town of Alexander in Genesee County).

History

The Town of Attica was established in 1811 from a part of the Town of Sheldon. In 1816, part of Attica was used to make the new Town of Orangeville.

Attica is the location of New York's Attica Correctional Facility, which was the location of the infamous Attica Prison riot that occurred on September 13, 1971. That prison and the New York Wyoming Correctional Facility are located south of the Village of Attica.

In the season 1 finale of the HBO series Oz, Attica is referenced by unit manager Tim McManus as his hometown and the riot as his original impetus for his wanting to set up the prison unit Emerald City.

The name Attica is of unknown origin.

Geography

The northern town line is the border of Genesee County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93 km²), of which 35.7 square miles (92 km²) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km²) (0.83%) is water. Tonawanda Creek passes through the northwest part of the town.

NY-98 intersects NY-238 and NY-354 at Attica village.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,519		—
1830	2,485		63.6%
1840	2,710		9.1%
1850	2,363		−12.8%
1860	2,547		7.8%
1870	2,546		0.0%
1880	3,099		21.7%
1890	3,002		−3.1%
1900	2,677		−10.8%
1910	2,749		2.7%
1920	2,743		−0.2%
1930	2,891		5.4%
1940	5,477		89.5%
1950	5,722		4.5%
1960	5,781		1.0%
1970	6,171		6.7%
1980	5,693		−7.7%
1990	7,383		29.7%
2000	7,806		5.7%
2010	7,702		−1.3%
2016 (est.)	7,448		−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,028 people, 1,497 households, and 1,053 families residing in the town. The population density was 168.8 people per square mile (65.2/km²). There were 1,603 housing units at an average density of 44.9 per square mile (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.79% White, 21.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 5.18% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.16% of the population.

There were 1,497 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 44.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 209.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 240.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,877, and the median income for a family was $49,375. Males had a median income of $32,060 versus $22,220 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,817. About 3.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Attica

• Attica – Part of the Village of Attica is in the north part of the town. The remainder is inside Genesee County.
• Attica Correctional Facility – A New York state prison complex, south of Attica Village.
• Attica Center – A hamlet southeast of Attica Village on Route 238.
• Vernal Corners – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town.

See also

• Attica Central School District

External links

• Media related to Attica, New York at Wikimedia Commons
• The Town of Attica