LOCKPORT (CITY), NEW YORK

'Lockport' is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 22,279 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from several Erie canal locks within the city.
The 'City of Lockport' is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the Town of Lockport.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Local Politics

Interesting Facts

Notable Natives

Remarkable Residents

See also

References

Notes

External links

History

The construction of the Erie Canal was authorized by the New York State Legislature in April 1816. The route proposed by surveyors was to traverse an area in central Niagara County, NY, which was then completely undeveloped and totally lacking in any settlement. At the time, the nearest settlers were located in nearby Cold Springs, NY. As it became known where the proposed canal was to be built, land speculators began to buy large plots along and near the proposed route of the canal. By December 1820, when the exact location of the step locks had been determined, the whole area of what would eventually become Lockport was owned by only fifteen men, many of whom were Quakers.
The canal reached Lockport in 1824, but the locks were not completed until 1825. By 1829, Lockport had become an established village. The community was centered around the locks, and was mainly comprised of immigrant Scottish and Irish canal workers, brought in as labor. The workers remained in Lockport after the completion of the locks, giving the city a heavy Celtic influence still discernible today, especially in the neighborhoods of Lowertown and North Lockport.
The City of Lockport was officially incorporated in 1865.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.4 km² (8.6 mi²). 22.1 km² (8.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.39%) is water.
The Erie Canal passes through the center of the city, turning south toward Tonawanda Creek. It climbs the Niagara Escarpment through a series of two locks. Originally, five smaller locks were used.

Lockport is at the junction of several major trunk roads, including NY Route 78 (North Transit Road), NY Route 31, NY Route 77 and NY Route 93. It is 17 miles morth of Interstate 90.
Lockport lies in the 716 Area Code.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,279 people, 9,459 households, and 5,609 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,008.4/km² (2,612.4/mi²). There were 10,341 housing units at an average density of 468.1/km² (1,212.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.04% White, 5.78% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.06% of the population.
There were 9,459 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,222, and the median income for a family was $44,614. Males had a median income of $35,197 versus $23,944 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,620. About 11.7% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local Politics

In the year 2004, Michael Tucker was elected mayor of the city of Lockport. He is currently serving a four-year term.

Interesting Facts

★ The 1998 motion picture "Child's Play 4: Bride of Chucky" was set in a fictional town named "Lockport". In the film, reproductions of the Lockport, NY Police Department's Uniforms and Police Cruisers can be seen.

★ The first functional fire hydrant system was implemented in the City of Lockport, NY, in the year 1869, by inventor Birdsill Holly.

Notable Natives

Some people of note who were born in Lockport are: ^[1]

★ Kim Alexis, supermodel

★ LtCol William G. Gregory, astronaut(ret.) in the NASA Space Shuttle program

★ Herbert C. Harrison, sometimes credited with the invention of the modern honeycomb automobile radiator

★ Stephanie Miller, nationally syndicated radio talk show host (and daughter of William E. Miller)

★ William E. Miller, 1964 vice-presidential running mate of Barry Goldwater

★ William G. Morgan, inventor of volleyball

★ Joyce Carol Oates, author and professor

★ Daren Stone, professional football player, currently playing for the Atlanta Falcons

★ Mark Wahlstrom, founder of The Legal Broadcast Network

Remarkable Residents

Some people of note who have resided in Lockport are:

★ Geoffrey Giuliano, author, actor and syndicated radio host.

See also

★ Erie canal with illustration of the original five step lock structure located here

★ Lift bridge illustrating bridges crossing the canal here

★ Lockport Cave

★ Lockport Community Television

References

★ Peca, Paulette (2005), ''Lockport'', Arcadia Publishing

Notes

1. Most biographical sources simply refer to Lockport without specifying the City or the surrounding Town; persons on this list may be associated with either the City or the Town of Lockport.

External links

★ City and Town of Lockport webpage

★ Lockport history