Town of Tonawanda | |
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Town | |
Location in Erie County and the state of New York. |
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Coordinates: 42°58′53″N 78°51′19″W / 42.98139°N 78.85528°WCoordinates: 42°58′53″N 78°51′19″W / 42.98139°N 78.85528°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New York |
County | Erie |
Government | |
• Type | Town Council |
• Town Supervisor | Joseph H. Emminger (NPA) |
• Town Council |
Members' List
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• Town Clerk | Marguerite Greco (D) |
Area | |
• Total | 20.3 sq mi (52.5 km2) |
• Land | 18.7 sq mi (48.5 km2) |
• Water | 1.5 sq mi (4.0 km2) |
Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 73,567 |
• Density | 3,927/sq mi (1,516.1/km2) |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
Area code(s) | 716 |
FIPS code | 36-75000 |
GNIS feature ID | 0979551 |
Website | www |
Tonawanda (formally, the Town of Tonawanda) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 73,567. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo. It is sometimes referred to, along with its constituent village of Kenmore, as "Ken-Ton". The town was established in 1836, and up to 1903 it included what is now the city of Tonawanda.
This area was under French control from the 17th century until ceded to the British after the French and Indian War.
The first settlers arrived around 1805. Rapid growth began after the construction of the Erie Canal, completed in 1825. Tonawanda occupies the northwest corner of Erie County and is bounded on the north by the Erie Canal, which here follows Tonawanda Creek.
The town of Tonawanda was established in 1836, by separation from the town of Buffalo (now part of the city of Buffalo). At that time it included land that later became part of the town of Grand Island (established 1852) and the entire city of Tonawanda (established 1903).
In 1899, Kenmore incorporated as a village of the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.5 km2), of which 18.7 square miles (48.5 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (4.0 km2), or 7.61%, is water.