Orchard Park, New York

Orchard Park is an incorporated town in Erie County, New York. It is an outer ring suburb southeast of Buffalo. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,054,[2] representing an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure.[3] The town contains a village also named Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the Southtowns of Erie County and is best known as the site of Highmark Stadium, home of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills.

For the village within the town, see Orchard Park (village), New York.
Orchard Park, New York
East Hamburgh
Town
Village of Orchard Park
Village of Orchard Park
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°46′N 78°44′W
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyErie County
Incorporated1850
Named forOrchard Park
Government
 • SupervisorEugene Majchrzak
  • Eugene L. Majchrzak (R)
  • Conor Flynn (D)
Area
[1]
 • Total38.52 sq mi (99.76 km2)
 • Land38.44 sq mi (99.55 km2)
 • Water0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
866 ft (264 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,686 Increase
 • Density770.85/sq mi (297.63/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14127
Area code716
FIPS code36-029-55277
FIPS code36-55277
GNIS feature ID0979318
Websitewww.orchardparkny.org

History

In 1803, Didymus C. Kinney and wife Phebe (Hartwell) purchased land and built a cabin in the southwest corner of the township, which has since been turned into a museum. The following year, a migration of Quaker settlers began.

The town was separated from the town of Hamburg in 1850 and was first named "Ellicott", after Joseph Ellicott, an agent of the Holland Land Company. Within months, the name was changed to the town of "East Hamburgh". Around 1934, the town was renamed "Orchard Park" after its principal settlement.

In the early 1900s, a large fire burned down most of the central part of the village of Orchard Park around South Buffalo Street.

The Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad Station and the Johnson-Jolls Complex are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Geography

Orchard Park is located at 42°46′N 78°44′W (42.7622, -78.7414).[5] The village of Orchard Park is 14 miles (23 km) southeast of downtown Buffalo.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.52 square miles (99.76 km2), of which 38.44 square miles (99.56 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2), or 0.21%, is water.[2]

Major routes

U.S. Route 219 passes through the west part of the town and forms junctions with U.S. Route 20A (Quaker Street) and NY 179 (Milestrip Road).

U.S. Route 20 (Southwestern Boulevard) passes through the north part of the town and forms a junction with NY 277 and NY 240 (Orchard Park Road).

Adjacent towns and cities

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,136—
18702,2706.3%
18802,4096.1%
18902,304−4.4%
19002,3502.0%
19102,63612.2%
19203,12018.4%
19304,23435.7%
19405,45328.8%
19508,49155.7%
196015,87687.0%
197019,97825.8%
198024,35921.9%
199024,6321.1%
200027,63712.2%
201029,0545.1%
202029,6862.2%
Historical Population Figures [6][7]

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 28,272 people, 11,553 households, and 7,656 families residing in the town. The population density was 717.7 inhabitants per square mile (277.1/km2). There were 10,644 housing units at an average density of 276.4 per square mile (106.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 10,277 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $151,227, and the median income for a family was $112,906. About 1.1% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line.

Government

The town of Orchard Park has a supervisor-council form of government. Elected at large positions are Supervisor, Council Member, Clerk, Highway Superintendent and Town Justice. Other appointed positions are Town Attorney and Deputy Attorney, Engineer, Assessor, Building Inspector, Recreation and Youth Services Director and Chief of Police.

Town of Orchard Park
  • Eugene Majchrzak (2022–Present)
  • Joseph Liberti (2020-2021) Served as the Deputy Supervisor w/o voting power
  • Dr. Patrick J. Keem (2014–2020) (resigned)[9]
  • Janis Colarusso (2010–2013)
  • Mary Travers Murphy (2006–2009)
  • Toni M. Cudney (1998–2005)
  • Dennis J. Mill (1989–1997)
  • Eugene B. Woodard (1968–1989)
  • Clarence F. Henning (1949–1967)
  • Melvin L. Bong (1938–1948)
  • Jacob C. Newton (1932–1937)

Town of East Hamburgh [10]
  • Clinton Ebenezer Holmes (1923–1931)
  • Frank F. Holmwood (1900–1922)

Communities and locations in the Town of Orchard Park

Places of interest

Education

The Orchard Park Central School District operates four K-5 elementary schools (Eggert, Ellicott, South Davis, and Windom), Orchard Park Middle School, and Orchard Park High School. The mascot for the Orchard Park's athletic teams is a Quaker.

Bryant & Stratton College is in Orchard Park.

Erie Community College (ECC) is at the western town line.

Orchard Park also has a number of private, Catholic schools, including Nativity and St. John Vianney. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (pre-k through 8), closed in 2014 after exhaustive research conducted by the Diocese of Buffalo on demographics, finances and educational relevance.[13]

Culture

Art

The annual Orchard Park Festival of the Arts, an outdoor art and craft show, is held each year on the third weekend of September, on the campus of Orchard Park Middle School. It is sponsored by the Orchard Park Chamber of Commerce. It was organized as the Quaker Arts Festival in the 1960s by Orchard Parkers John Coleman of The Suburban Press and Chet Seymour of the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, and was originally held on the grounds of the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. It was run by the Orchard Park Jaycees from 1963 to 2017.

Music

Since 1985, under the direction of the Orchard Park Council of the Arts, local businesses and the town of Orchard Park sponsor free outdoor musical entertainment throughout the summer at the pavilion bandstand on the grounds of the middle school.

Organized in 1949, the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, composed of more than 70 volunteer musicians, performs four regular concerts each year in the high school auditorium.

The Orchard Park Chorale was founded in 1975 under the sponsorship of the Adult Education Program of the Orchard Park School District. Its more than fifty singers perform regularly at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church.

Sports
Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park in November 2006
  • Highmark Stadium, the home stadium of the NFL's Buffalo Bills is located in Orchard Park.
  • West Herr Field, the home stadium of Erie Community College's football team, is located in Orchard Park adjacent to Highmark Stadium.
  • The Orchard Park High School football team won the 2008 and 2011 New York State Public High School Class AA Championship.
  • The Orchard Park High School baseball team won the 1988 State Championship.
  • The Orchard Park High School volleyball team won the 2008 New York State Championship.
  • The 1993 and 1994 Orchard Park Little League Baseball team won the New York State Championship. They recently won five Section titles in three summers with one team winning three in the 10u, 11u, and 12u divisions.

Media
  • The Orchard Park Bee, a weekly newspaper

Notable people

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
  2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Orchard Park town, Erie County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  3. "Places, Towns, and Townships 2012 - Read Online".
  4. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. " Thirteenth census of the United States, 1890, 1900, 1910" Department of Commerce and Labor. (1910), page 350. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  7. "Land Use Study" (PDF). Town of Orchard Park. June 2002. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. O'Brien, Barbara (September 30, 2020). "Orchard Park supervisor resigns to care for his ailing wife". The Buffalo News. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. Kulp, Suzanne. "History of Orchard Park". Town of Orchard Park. Town of Orchard Park. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  11. "Chestnut Ridge". Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry (Erie.gov). Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  12. Conheady, Matt. "Eternal Flame Falls, Orchard Park – Waterfall Photos, Maps, Information". Nyfalls.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  13. Miner, Dan. "Reporter". Buffalo Business First. Buffalo Business First. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
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