Clarence, New York

Clarence is a town and affluent suburb located in the northeastern part of Erie County, New York, United States, northeast of Buffalo. The population was 32,950 according to the 2020 census estimate.[2] This represents an increase of 7.4% from the 2010 census figure.[3] The Clarence census-designated place occupies the southeast part of the town and roughly corresponds to a postal district with ZIP code 14031 and 14221 in the western side which it shares with nearby Williamsville. The town is named in honor of Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews (1765–1837), the third son of King George III and later king himself, as William IV.[4]

Clarence
Tanumnogao (Wenrohronon)
Town
Town of Clarence
Clarence Hollow, the main district of Clarence
Clarence Hollow, the main district of Clarence
Location in Erie County and the state of New York.
Location in Erie County and the state of New York.
Location of New York in the United States
Location of New York in the United States
Coordinates: 42°58′36″N 78°35′31″W
Country United States
State New York
CountyErie
Incorporated1808
Founded byAsa Ransom
Named forPrince William, Duke of Clarence
Government
 • TypeSupervisor–council government
 • Town SupervisorPatrick Casilio (R)
 • Town Council
List
  • Peter DiCostanzo (R)
  • Robert Geiger (R)
  • Daniel Michnik (R)
  • Paul Shear (R)
Area
[1]
 • Total53.63 sq mi (138.90 km2)
 • Land53.50 sq mi (138.56 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation
735 ft (224 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total32,950 Increase
 • Density604.28/sq mi (233.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14031, 14032, 14051*, 14221* (*= denotes part of western side)
Area code716
FIPS code36-029-15825
Websitewww4.erie.gov/clarence/

There are no incorporated villages within the town.

History

Early history

The local Native Americans called the area Ta-Num-No-Ga-O, which means "Place of Hickory Bark".

Clarence was the first town to be established in Erie County (1808), and many other towns, villages, and cities have been formed from parts of this original town. In 1810, the town of Buffalo, from which the city of Buffalo later originated, was separated from Clarence. Then in 1823, Newstead and Alden were formed respectively from the east and southeast parts of Clarence. Then finally in 1833, Lancaster was also formed from the town. The defunct town of Willink was also a source of new towns, primarily in the south part of the county, being completely partitioned for this purpose.

Western New York was part of the Holland Purchase. When Genesee County was established in 1802, all of the region was part of the town of Batavia, the single, original town of Genesee County. Clarence was, along with Willink, originally part of Genesee County. Clarence was split off from Willink in 1804, before Niagara County was created from part of Genesee County in 1808. Clarence (in the north) and Willink (in the south) then comprised the entire area of what would, in 1821, become Erie County.

One of the first settlers (1799) in the town was Asa Ransom, who has given his name to several locations. He settled in the southeast part of the town, now known as the Clarence Hollow. In 1807, Asa Harris, a former colonial officer from the American Revolution, established a tavern in the community of Harris Hill in the southwest part of Clarence.

Some have suggested that the town is named after a type of carriage, called a clarence. Such a carriage is pictured on a sign at the eastern edge of town. However, the name probably derives from the English Dukedom of Clarence in London, which also gave its name to the aforementioned carriage.[4]

During the War of 1812, the press of the Buffalo Gazette was moved to Clarence, out of harm's way of the British troops.

German was a common language amongst new Clarentians in Early Clarence, most of whom moved from Germany.

Later history

By the end of the 19th century, industry came to the town in the form of brick kilns, potash mining and gypsum mining. National Gypsum and Atlas Gypsum operated mines in the 20th century west of Clarence Center north of Roll Road near the intersection with Harris Hill Road. Quarries also became more commonly established at this time in history in Clarence.

One historian credits Clarence as the site of the introduction of the carrousel to the United States. These carrousels were carried by two German immigrants, who entered Clarence in 1879. Artifacts from the Clarence carrousels are now preserved in the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, Florida. Including wooden horses built by the original immigrants who brought the carrousel to Clarence.[5]

The town celebrated its bicentennial in 2008. The former Automobile Club of Buffalo clubhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.[6]

Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash

On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center around 22:20 EST. The commuter flight was operating between Newark Liberty International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier Q400. There were 45 passengers and four crew members killed, as well as one victim on the ground.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 53.6 square miles (138.9 km2), of which 53.5 square miles (138.6 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.25%, is water.[2]

The north border of the town is marked by Tonawanda Creek and is the border with Niagara County.

New York State Route 5, called Main Street locally, passes across the south part of the town. NY Route 78, Transit Road, marks the west town line. The eastern terminus of NY Route 324, Sheridan Drive, is located in Clarence at the intersection of NY-5 and Thompson Road. The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) is immediately south of the town.

This town is partially a suburban community, and the remainder is light industry and agriculture. Town government offices are located in Clarence Center. Clarence, Iowa, is named after the town of Clarence.

Nearby cities and towns

Clarence is northeast of the city of Buffalo, west of the city of Batavia, and south of the city of Lockport.

The following towns border Clarence:

Major highways
  • Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway) passes through the southeasternmost corner of Clarence before entering the town of Lancaster, where it travels east–west just south of the Clarence border. A service area on the Thruway (westbound) is named for Clarence.[7]
  • New York State Route 5 (Main Street) is an east–west highway that passes through the southern half of town from Amherst to Newstead.
  • New York State Route 78 (Transit Road) is a north–south highway that marks the west town line.
  • New York State Route 324 (Sheridan Drive) is an east–west highway through the town from the Amherst town line to its eastern terminus at Main Street (NY 5).

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,278—
18303,3532.3%
18402,271−32.3%
18502,72720.1%
18603,35623.1%
18703,147−6.2%
18803,49511.1%
18903,195−8.6%
19002,948−7.7%
19102,9911.5%
19202,660−11.1%
19303,20820.6%
19404,42638.0%
19506,33143.0%
196013,267109.6%
197018,16836.9%
198018,146−0.1%
199020,04110.4%
200026,12330.3%
201030,67317.4%
202032,9507.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 26,123 people, 9,154 households, and 7,204 families residing in the town. The population density was 489.2 inhabitants per square mile (188.9/km2). There were 9,497 housing units at an average density of 177.8 per square mile (68.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 71.33% White, 1.38% Asian, 29.12% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 9,154 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $88,003, and the median income for a family was $107,998. Males had a median income of $58,538 versus $31,140 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,717. About 1.0% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government

Politics
Clarence town vote
by party in presidential elections[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 52.65% 11,074 44.85% 9,434 2.50% 524
2016 57.74% 10,594 35.82% 6,572 6.44% 1,181
2012 62.11% 10,513 35.96% 6,087 1.93% 324
2008 57.60% 9,823 40.19% 6,855 2.21% 375
2004 60.29% 9,940 37.20% 6,070 2.51% 304

Government

Clarence has a Town Council for its Legislative body and a Town Supervisor for its Executive, the Town Supervisor, as well as the Town Council are elected At-Large.

Town Council Members[11]
TitleNamePartyDistrictLast Elected/Vacated
Councilor-at-LargePeter DiCostanzo(R)At-Large2017
Councilor-at-LargePaul Shear(R)At-Large2017
Councilor-at-LargeRobert A. Geiger(R)At-Large2019
Councilor-at-LargeDaniel Michnik(R)At-Large2021
List of Clarence Town Supervisors up until 1954[12]
Name of Supervisor Term Served
Jonas Williams 1808
Samuel Hill Jr. 1809-1811
James Cronk 1812-1813
Simeon Fillmore 1814-1816
Otis R. Hopkins 1817-1822
Simeon Fillmore 1823-1825
Otis R. Hopkins 1826-1828
Benjamin Bivins 1829
John Brown 1830-1832
Benjamin Bivins 1833-1835
Levi Goodrich 1836
Amos Wright 1837
Thomas Durboraw 1838-1841
Archibald Thompson 1842
O. Woeben 1843
Archibald Thompson 1844
Orsamus Warren 1845
Thomas Durboraw 1846
Archibald Thompson 1847
Orsamus Warren 1848-1849
Thomas Durboraw 1850
Archibald Thompson 1851
James D. Warren 1852-1855
H. S. Cunningham 1856-1859
David Woodward 1860-1864
Livingston Wiltse 1865
Jacob Eshelman 1866-1872
Livingston Wiltse 1873
James Magoffin 1874
John Kraus 1875-1878
Lyman Parker 1879-1880
Livingston Wiltse 1881-1885
Jacob Humbert 1886-1889
Theodore Krehbiel 1890-1919
John Lapp 1919-1939
Karl T. Krehbiel 1940-1954

Communities and locations

Communities

Principal locations or settlements in the town are:

  • Beeman Creek Park is an undeveloped county park in the northeast part of the town.
  • Clarence (also called "Clarence Hollow", or just "The Hollow") is in the southeast and is a census-designated place. This is an extensive community of homes and businesses. The Clarence Historical Society is located on Main Street in this community. Part of the community is within a small valley which is traversed by Ransom Creek. The seat of the town government is in the Clarence postal zone, just south of the hamlet of Clarence Center. During the time of its founding, Clarence village was called "Pine Grove" and later "Ransomville." There was also a stop on the West Shore Railroad from 1884 to 1960. The stop on the West Shore Railroad was named the "Clarence Station."
  • Clarence Aerodrome (D51) is a small, grass-strip airport in the northwest part of the town. This is a private general aviation airport. It was known earlier as "Steffan Airport".
  • Clarence Center (formerly "Van Tines Corners") lies near the middle of the town. It is a small hamlet (and census-designated place) with the most densely populated neighborhood situated around the intersection of Goodrich Road and Clarence Center Road. Clarence Center is also a postal ZIP code 14032, covering most of the north part of the town.
  • East Amherst (formerly "Transit Station") is an unincorporated community, or hamlet, on the west side of the town that is mostly in the town of Amherst. East Amherst is also a postal zone (ZIP code 14051).
  • Escarpment Sanctuary is a small nature preserve located on Greiner Road that is losing land to the upscale Spaulding Lake development.
  • Gunnville is a former railroad station in the south part of the town, now only remembered as the source of the name for Gunnville Road.
  • Harris Hill is an extensive community (a census-designated place) in the southwest corner of the town, built on a low hill of the same name. This location was also called "Shimerville" after a former post office, now only remembered as the source of the name for Shimerville Road.
  • Hunts Corners is a location near the eastern town line and consists of a scattered group of homes. The corners are formed by the intersection of Salt Road and Clarence Center-Akron Road. The First Baptist Church of Clarence is located in Hunts Corners.
  • Mansfield Corners is a former location in the eastern part of the town, north of Hunts Corners.
  • Millersport is a hamlet in the northwest corner of the town. Millersport extends into the town of Amherst and also across Tonawanda Creek into Niagara County. The primary settlement consists of residences and businesses near the intersection of Transit Road and Millersport Highway.
  • Potoczek Airport (D46) is a small grass-strip airport in the northwest part of the town, located on Wolcott Road.
  • Rapids is a hamlet at the northern town line. Rapids is officially in Niagara County, but partly extends into Erie County, divided by Tonawanda Creek.
  • Rock Oak Estates is a 55+ community located on Main Street in Clarence.
  • Smiths Corners is a former location in the northern part of the town near Rapids.
  • Snearly Corners is now the intersection of Main Street and Transit Road. It was named after the Snearly family, which ran a hotel there.
  • Spaulding Lake is an upscale housing project built around a former quarry, located north of Main Street.
  • Sturnerville is an historic location east of Harris Hill.
  • Swormville is on the western border of the town and extends across the border into the town of Amherst. The community has had its name spelled several different ways in the past, such as "Schwarmsville".
  • Tillman Road Wildlife Management Area is a conservation area in the southeast part of Clarence.
  • Wolcottsburg (once called "West Prussia") is a hamlet in the northern part of the town, centered about a cluster of businesses, homes, and a church. The community is located near the intersection of Goodrich Road and Wolcott Road. It was once the demographic and economic center of Clarence, although hard times have hit the community and only two businesses remain.

Physiographic locations
  • Beeman Creek is a small stream in the northeast part of Clarence, flowing northward to Tonawanda Creek.
  • Black Creek is a stream running mostly east–west through the northern part of the town, starting near Wolcottsburg, and eventually merging into Tonawanda Creek in northern Amherst.
  • The Escarpment is a ledge, part of the Onondaga Escarpment, running approximately east–west south of the middle of the town and most prominent between Goodrich Road and Kraus Road.
  • Gott Creek is a stream in the southeast part of Clarence that flows west into Amherst.
  • Ransom Creek is a stream in the south central part of Clarence that flows west into Amherst.
  • Spaulding Lake is a former quarry north of Main Street, previously known as Quarry Lake.

Cultural institutions
  • Museum of European Art – contains work by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Arno Breher and Paul Belmondo
  • Clarence Historical Society Museum – A History Museum, currently containing exhibits on the Western New York Railroading, Model Aviation, Norman Rockwell, the Buffalo Truck Company, and Wilson Greatbatch

Education

Most of the town is served by the Clarence Central School District, which contains one high school (Clarence High School), one middle school (Clarence Middle School), and four elementary schools (Clarence Center, Harris Hill, Ledgeview, and Sheridan Hill).

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Elementary school offers K-8 Catholic education, now with a 3-4 year old pre-school program.

Notable residents

Sister city
  • Tianjin, China (since November 10, 2001)

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Clarence town, Erie County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  3. 2010 Census City and Town Growth via NYPIRG
  4. Baker, Oneta (1983). History of the Town of Clarence. Interlaken, New York: Heart of the Lakes. p. 23.
  5. Baker, Oneta (1983). History of the Town of Clarence. Interlaken, New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing. pp. 145–150.
  6. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/06/12 through 8/10/12. National Park Service. August 17, 2012.
  7. "Clarence Travel Plaza". New York State Thruway Authority. Archived from the original on November 26, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. "Elections Archive - Erie County Board of Elections". elections.erie.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  11. "Public Officials | Town of Clarence, NY".
  12. Baker, Oneta (1983). History of the Town of Clarence. Interlaken, New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing. p. 174.
  13. Bob Dylan's Musical Roots - Joan Baez (Page 2)
  14. Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
  15. "Former Sabres captain Jason Pominville says goodbye to Buffalo". June 16, 2020.
  16. "General Manager Darcy Regier bio". Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  17. Lucky Bag. Annapolis, Maryland. 1955. p. 446. Retrieved August 27, 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Clarence, New York.
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