Lewiston (town), New York: Difference between revisions
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The earliest recorded railway in America was an inclined wooden tramway built by [[John Montresor]] (1736-1799), a British military engineer, in 1764. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the movement of goods over the [[Niagara Escarpment]] in present-day Lewiston.<ref name=Porter>{{cite book | last=Porter |first=Peter |title=Landmarks of the Niagara Frontier |publisher=The Author |year=1914}}</ref> |
The earliest recorded railway in America was an inclined wooden tramway built by [[John Montresor]] (1736-1799), a British military engineer, in 1764. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the movement of goods over the [[Niagara Escarpment]] in present-day Lewiston.<ref name=Porter>{{cite book | last=Porter |first=Peter |title=Landmarks of the Niagara Frontier |publisher=The Author |year=1914}}</ref> |
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For many African-Americans escaping slavery in the 1840s and 1850s, Lewiston was the final stop on the [[Underground Railroad]] before crossing the Niagara River to freedom in Canada. Lewiston is the setting for the book, [http://www.historiclewiston.org/freedom.html ''Freedom Crossing''], by Margaret Goff Clark, which has become required reading for thousands of grade school students across the United States as they become familiar with the Underground Railroad movement. The Historical Association of Lewiston has prepared a [http://www.historiclewiston.org/freedom.html Freedom Crossing Study Guide] and dedicated the Freedom Crossing Monument on October 14, 2009. The large scale bronze Monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River. |
For many African-Americans escaping slavery in the 1840s and 1850s, Lewiston was the final stop on the [[Underground Railroad]] before crossing the Niagara River to freedom in Canada. Lewiston is the setting for the book, [http://www.historiclewiston.org/freedom.html ''Freedom Crossing''], by Margaret Goff Clark, which has become required reading for thousands of grade school students across the United States as they become familiar with the Underground Railroad movement. The Historical Association of Lewiston has prepared a [http://www.historiclewiston.org/freedom.html Freedom Crossing Study Guide] and dedicated the [[Freedom Crossing Monument]] on October 14, 2009. The large scale bronze Monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River. |
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It is also said that the cocktail was invented in Lewiston by Catherine Hustler, who later became a character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel ''The Spy''. The famous [[Frontier House (Lewiston, NY)|Frontier House]] was built in 1824 and was known as the finest hotel in the United States, west of the Hudson River. |
It is also said that the cocktail was invented in Lewiston by Catherine Hustler, who later became a character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel ''The Spy''. The famous [[Frontier House (Lewiston, NY)|Frontier House]] was built in 1824 and was known as the finest hotel in the United States, west of the Hudson River. |
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Revision as of 18:57, 24 October 2009
Lewiston, NY | |
|---|---|
| Village of Lewiston, New York Village of Lewiston, New York | |
.png) Location within Niagara County. | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Niagara |
| Area | |
| • Total | 41.0 sq mi (106.3 km2) |
| • Land | 37.3 sq mi (96.5 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (9.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 427 ft (130 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 16,257 |
| • Density | 436.2/sq mi (168.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 14092 |
| Area code | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-42158 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979146 |
Lewiston is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 2,781 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Morgan Lewis, a governor of New York. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Village of Lewiston, NY (Yehęwakwáˀthaˀ[1] in Tuscarora) is within the Town of Lewiston. The Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park lies at its southern border.
Tourists and visitors flock to Lewiston, primarily in the summertime, to enjoy its many festivals, fine restaurants, Artpark, and to learn about its fascinating history. Thousands enjoy taking the Whirlpool Jet Boat ride, which shoots through the Niagara River Class 5 rapids and is considered one of the top five adventure rides in North America.
Lewiston is situated on the Niagara River, just across the river from Canada, and is half way between the world famous Niagara Falls and historic Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York. Niagara Falls is about a ten minute drive to the south.
Visitors from Canada can take the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge across the Niagara River.
Popular summer festivals include the Outdoor Art Festival (the second weekend in August) and the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival (the last weekend in August. The famous Kiwanis Peach Festival takes place during the second weekend of September. Several other festivals, such as the Harvest Fest, take place during the year and most are held on or near Center Street, the Village's main street (18F North).
Lewiston has completed a multi-million dollar upgrade of its business district, which now boasts brick sidewalks and period lanterns. Its waterfront park is also being improved with more green space and additional parking. A new landmark hotel has just been opened near the waterfront.
In close proximity[2][3] to the Village of Lewiston, the towns of Lewiston and Porter host a 710-acre hazardous chemical waste landfill, the only one left in the Northeastern United States.[2] The landfill is home to tons of radioactive material from the Manhattan Project.[2]
The Town of Lewiston (Est. 1823), which includes the Village, has a population of more than 16,000 people, and the Town Supervisor is Fred Newlin. The village mayor is the Hon. Richard Soluri.
History
The Village of Lewiston (formerly known as The Landing) was the site of the first European settlement in Western New York in 1720, though French explorers had visited the area as early as 1615. Native American tribes inhabited the Lewiston area for thousands of years, with the earliest known artifacts dating to 5000 B.C. The village, incorporated in 1822, claims to be the "most historic square mile in America" and sits directly across the Niagara River from Canada.
Lewiston is historically significant for several reasons. It was the site of the first battle of the War of 1812 when America invaded Canada, referred to as the Battle of Queenston Heights. A commemorative sign marks the location where the American force embarked to cross the Niagara River. Americans lost the battle, and the British subsequently burned Lewiston to the ground in December 1813. Several citizens were killed despite the efforts of the neighboring Tuscarora tribe to thwart the attack.
The earliest recorded railway in America was an inclined wooden tramway built by John Montresor (1736-1799), a British military engineer, in 1764. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the movement of goods over the Niagara Escarpment in present-day Lewiston.[4]
For many African-Americans escaping slavery in the 1840s and 1850s, Lewiston was the final stop on the Underground Railroad before crossing the Niagara River to freedom in Canada. Lewiston is the setting for the book, Freedom Crossing, by Margaret Goff Clark, which has become required reading for thousands of grade school students across the United States as they become familiar with the Underground Railroad movement. The Historical Association of Lewiston has prepared a Freedom Crossing Study Guide and dedicated the Freedom Crossing Monument on October 14, 2009. The large scale bronze Monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River.
It is also said that the cocktail was invented in Lewiston by Catherine Hustler, who later became a character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Spy. The famous Frontier House was built in 1824 and was known as the finest hotel in the United States, west of the Hudson River.
The village has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (9.32%) is water.
Lewiston is a Niagara River community, north of Niagara Falls, New York. Across the river is the region of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada. The formation of Niagara Falls began in Lewiston 12,000 years ago, and since then, they have eroded seven miles south.
Western New York's historic Ridge Road begins in Lewiston. New York State Route 18F and New York State Route 18 have termini here, both at New York State Route 104, and the Robert Moses State Parkway runs along the edge of the village.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,781 people, 1,268 households, and 735 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,610.3 people per square mile (1,003.5/km²). There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 487.5 persons/km² (1,268.1 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 98.53% White, 0.11% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,268 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 42.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.79.
References
- ^ Rudes, B. Tuscarora English Dictionary Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999
- ^ a b c DePalma, Anthony (2004-03-10), "A Toxic Waste Capital Looks to Spread It Around; Upstate Dump Is the Last in the Northeast", New York Times, retrieved 2008-10-10
- ^ MODERN CORPORATION - Model City - Directions
- ^ Porter, Peter (1914). Landmarks of the Niagara Frontier. The Author.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
External links
- Historic Lewiston, NY webpage
- Chamber of Commerce
- Artpark
- Calendar of Events
- Freedom Crossing Monument webcams
- Lewiston Public Library website
Municipalities and communities of Niagara County, New York, United States | ||
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| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |