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Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. Amherst is a northeastern suburb of the city of Buffalo. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This makes Amherst the second most populous town in New York State after Hempstead on Long Island.

Amherst is known for its established residential neighborhoods and its high quality public school system. Much of Amherst was originally part of the Town of Clarence, from which it was separated in 1818. Amherst was then divided up into villages and hamlets, such as Williamsville, Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, East Amherst and South Amherst.

Population

According to the 2020 census, the population of Amherst was 128,625 people. This is an increase from the 2010 census when the population was recorded as 122,366. Some key facts about the population of Amherst:

• The racial makeup of Amherst is 82.7% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 6.6% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races.
• Hispanic or Latino people of any race make up 3.4% of the population.
• The median age is 40.3 years old.
• 18.7% of the population is under 18 years old, and 15.1% is 65 years old or older.
• 50.3% of the population is female.

For more details and historical population data visit the Wikipedia page on Amherst, NY.

History of Amherst

The Town of Amherst was originally part of the Town of Buffalo Creek Reservation, which was established by the Holland Land Company in 1797. In 1808, the reservation was reduced to the townships of Clarence and Willink. The northern part of Clarence, which would later become Amherst, saw its first settlements in 1807 when Joseph Landon opened a tavern at the hamlet of Getzville.

In 1818, Amherst was partitioned off from the town of Clarence. The original Amherst contained the present day towns of Pendleton and Alden as well as the western part of Newstead. The first landowner in Amherst was David Secord, who in 1813 purchased Lot 32 in the 5th Range.

The first post office in Amherst was built in 1828 in Williamsville, which was at the time the most significant hamlet in the town. The Town Hall was constructed in 1852 and burned down in 1953. It was replaced with the present Town Hall on Main Street in 1958.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Amherst became an affluent streetcar suburb of Buffalo. Large historic residential districts developed throughout the town. By the mid-20th century, the northern parts of the town became the site of new subdivisions, shopping centers, office parks, and light industrial facilities. Since the 1970s, development has been concentrated around the Interstate 290 and Niagara Falls Boulevard corridors.

For more historical information, visit the Amherst Museum or the Amherst Public Library.

Notable Landmarks

Some of the most notable landmarks in Amherst, NY include:

Amherst State Park

Amherst State Park is a 270-acre park in the northeast part of Amherst. It contains a 46-acre lake where visitors can swim, fish, hike and picnic. The park also contains a recreation field, tennis courts, playground and wintertime ice skating.

Address: 995 Park Club Ln, Buffalo, NY 14221

Phone: (716) 689-6797

GPS Coordinates: 43.03728077896114, -78.81406798461773

Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame

The Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame highlights the local sandstone that was used to build many structures in Buffalo. Interactive exhibits showcase the quarries, stonecutters, masons and architects.

Address: 14207 Broadway, Alden, NY 14004

Phone: (716) 937-6690

GPS Coordinates: 42.908426679218554, -78.59581608459235

Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village

This outdoor museum depicts local life from the 1820s to the 1950s. Historic buildings include homes, stores, farms and churches spread out over 37 acres.

Address: 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd N, Amherst, NY 14228

Phone: (716) 689-1440

GPS Coordinates: 43.031007778972816, -78.81850168461854

Economy and Business

Amherst has a thriving local economy with a mix of industries. Major employers in Amherst include:

• Geico - National auto insurance company headquarters - Address: 1 Geico Plaza, Amherst, NY 14228 - Phone: (716) 689-4567
• Tops Markets - Grocery store chain headquarters - Address: 6592 Paysphere Cir, Amherst, NY 14228 - Phone: (716) 634-5000
• Bauer Hockey - Sporting goods manufacturer - Address: 1 Sporting Way, Amherst, NY 14228 - Phone: (716) 447-5000
• Amherst Central School District - Public schools - Address: 55 Kings Hwy, Amherst, NY 14221 - Phone: (716) 362-3020
• Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center - Cancer research and treatment hospital - Address: Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263 - Phone: (716) 845-2300

Other major industries include healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing and hospitality. The economy of Amherst is closely tied to the nearby city of Buffalo which provides access to cultural attractions, transportation hubs and professional sports teams.

For more details on economic development in Amherst see the Amherst Industrial Development Agency website.

Tourism

As a large suburb of Buffalo, Amherst has many attractions that draw visitors to the area. Some top attractions include:

• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village - Outdoor museum of historic buildings from the 1820s-1950s - Website
• Amherst State Park - Park with hiking, swimming, tennis and more - Website
• Town of Amherst Parks - Extensive network of town parks - Website
• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village - Outdoor museum of historic buildings from the 1820s-1950s - Website
• University at Buffalo Athletics - NCAA Division I sports - Website
• Eastern Hills Mall - Shopping mall with 90+ stores - Website
• Buffalo Zoo - Zoo with over 1000 animals - Website

There are also many options for dining, shopping, cultural activities and nightlife in nearby Buffalo.

For more on things to see and do, visit the Buffalo Niagara tourism website.

Education

Amherst is served by the Amherst Central School District. The district operates:

• 5 elementary schools
• 2 middle schools
• 3 high schools - Amherst High School, Sweet Home High School, and Williamsville East High School

In addition, portions of northern Amherst are served by Williamsville Central School District and Sweet Home Central School District.

For more information on the public schools visit the Amherst Central School District website.

At the post-secondary level, the north campus of the University at Buffalo (SUNY) is located in Amherst. The university has over 32,000 students across its campuses. Visit the University at Buffalo website.

Local Government

Amherst is located in Erie County in New York State. The town supervisor serves as the chief elected official in Amherst.

Town of Amherst contact information:

Address: 5583 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221

Phone: (716) 631-7000

Website: www.amherst.ny.us

Erie County contact information:

Address: 92 Franklin St, Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone: (716) 858-6000

Website: www2.erie.gov

Local Resources

Here are some additional local resources for residents and visitors of Amherst:

• Amherst Public Library - Public library system with 3 branches - Website
• Amherst Chamber of Commerce - Local business association - Website
• Amherst Bee - Local newspaper - Website
• Amherst Fire Department - Fire protection and EMS - Website
• Amherst Police Department - Law enforcement - Website
• Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus - Medical center with multiple hospitals, research facilities and more - Website

This covers the key details on Amherst, NY including population, history, landmarks, economy, tourism and local resources. Let me know if you need any other information on this town!