NIAGARA COUNTY
County Offices
59 Park Avenue
Lockport 716-439-7213
www.niagaracounty.com
Chamber of Commerce
6311 Inducon Corporate Drive
Sanborn 716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
Situated in New York State’s northwest corner, beautiful Niagara County and its signature attraction of Niagara Falls—or the American Falls on the U.S. side—draws more annual visitors than the Grand Canyon. Bordered in three sides by water—Lake Ontario, Tonawanda Creek, and the Niagara River—this beautiful region offers a paradise for visitors and residents alike. Transportation amenities are first rate, from Niagara International Airport to a strong network of well-maintained state, county, and local highways totaling more than 1,700 miles.
Services
Newcomers to Niagara County can look forward to educational excellence in highly respected public school districts and private or parochial schools. Those interested in pursuing a higher education can begin their degree conveniently and affordably at Niagara County Community College in Sanborn. Part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, NCCC features the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute and hospitality-related programs in downtown Niagara Falls. Several online degree options are available in addition to 70 on-campus degree and certificate programs. Residential opportunities on campus include apartment-style suites and campus life offers more than 35 clubs and organizations, while the intercollegiate athletics program has produced several All-American athletes. Nearby Buffalo expands the options for quality colleges and universities close to home, both public and private. The State University of New York (SUNY) University at Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State College, and Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus are all located in Buffalo. Other nearby options include SUNY Empire State, SUNY Buffalo Amherst, Bryant & Stratton, Canisius College, D’Youville, Daemen, Hilbert, Medaille, Trocaire, and Villa Maria colleges.
The finest in routine and specialized healthcare services are available just around the corner from home. Eastern Niagara Health System operates Eastern Niagara Hospital on two campuses in Lockport and Newfane. Programs and services include 24-hour emergency care, acute and intensive care, full outpatient services, radiology, surgeries, rehabilitation, cardiac services, respiratory therapy, obstetrics and women’s health, occupational medicine, dialysis, laboratory services, and after-hours express care. Ascension Health operates Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, carrying on the Catholic tradition of compassionate care and clinical excellence in a community hospital environment. Among the specialties are minimally invasive surgeries, orthopedics sports medicine, coronary care, and wound healing/hyperbaric medicine. Should the need for highly advanced care arise, nationally recognized research and medical centers are available in Buffalo, including the world-class, 120-acre Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Lifestyle
The same outstanding natural beauty and vitality that endear Niagara County to visitors makes this area an idyllic place to call home. Rich in history, culture, outdoor adventure, and entertainment—all within the context of welcoming small towns—few places in the nation can rival Niagara County for quality of life. The summer months are filled with free outdoor concerts, colorful festivals, and seasonal events while autumn centers on great food, local wines, local crafts, and live music. The Niagara Arts & Cultural Center is a vibrant new addition to the arts scene and hosts a kaleidoscope of special events. The 1921 Rapids Theatre, restored to its former elegance, maintains a calendar filled with concerts, events, exciting shows, and live stage performances. The Kenan Center is another cultural jewel that covers 25 acres in Lockport, featuring a converted carriage-house theater and 1800s Victorian mansion with an art gallery and former gardens. A community room, sports arena, and outdoor fields make this space ideal for arts, education, and recreational programs.
From local wineries to a vibrant nightlife, Niagara County is brimming over with developed and natural attractions. Niagara Falls State Park sprawls over 400 acres of lush landscape and wildlife in an area that boasts more than 500 miles of navigable waterways lined by hundreds of unique communities that beg for exploration. Three byways meander through the countryside: The Seaway Trail, Niagara Historic Trail, and Niagara Wine Trails. In addition to scenic backdrops for fishing, hunting, boating, biking, hiking, camping, and nature study, individual communities add an array of sports venues and entertainment centers including golf courses. When shopping is the sport, farmer’s markets, small boutiques, and antique dealers contrast with one of the nation’s top-rated fashion outlet malls. Throughout the communities in Niagara County, newcomers will find a balance of historic preservation with progressive amenities. Homes are available in every imaginable style, size, age, and setting from quaint village neighborhoods to country manors on expansive acreage. Regardless of where you choose to settle in Niagara County, the friendliness of your new neighbors will be the greatest treasure of all.
COMMUNITIES
Lockport City/Town
City Offices
716-439-6676
www.lockportny.gov
Town Offices
716-439-9520
www.elockport.com
Chamber of Commerce
716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
The City and Town of Lockport grew up along the banks of the Erie Canal—an early 19th Century engineering marvel—to offer a friendly community with a rich heritage. This area boasts several of the county’s most popular attractions including the Flight of Five locks, the Erie Canal Discovery Center, and the Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises that showcase bridges being raised and lowered. The Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride reveals natural geological formations and artifacts. Just 18 miles east of Niagara Falls, the town bustles with activity. More than 50 manufacturing firms and 850 retail and commercial establishments maintain a progressive, lively atmosphere. The reinvention of Main Street has added the charm of historic light fixtures, courtyards, and building facelifts to lovely green spaces. One of the fastest-growing towns in Upstate New York, Lockport is fortunate to have leaders who are determined to preserve its cherished quality of life.
North Towawanda City, Wheatfield Town, Pendleton Town
City Offices
716-695-8555
www.northtonawanda.org
Wheatfield Town Hall
716-694-6440
www.wheatfield.ny.us
Pendleton Town Hall
716-625-8833
http://pendletonny.us
Chamber of Commerce
716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
North Towawanda City is also known as “The Lumberjack City” for its former lumber industry and the host of manufacturing enterprises it spawned. As the birthplace of a leading carousel manufacturer, the city now features the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. Magnificent architecture from that golden period includes a number of notable homes as well as the Riviera Theater and Performing Arts Center, a restored Italian Renaissance architectural structure. Other grand venues include The Ghostlight Theatre, housed in a century-old church, and the Carnegie Art Center—a former Carnegie Library. Residents of the towns of Wheatfield and Pendleton enjoy easy access to Lockport attractions and amenities. In recent decades, both towns have gained in population as new homes and business or industrial parks blend with traditional farming activity.
Niagara Falls City, Town of Niagara
City Hall
716-286-4300
www.niagarafallsusa.org
Town Hall
716-297-2150
www.townofniagara.com
Chamber of Commerce
716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
Located adjacent to the Niagara River—across from the city in Ontario, Canada, of the same name—the City of Niagara Falls plays host to millions of visitors each year. The city claims a number of natural and developed attractions including Niagara Falls State Park with the Cave of the Winds behind Bridal Veil Falls, Maid of the Mist boat tours at the foot of Rainbow Bridge, the observation tower at Prospect Point, Niagara Discovery Center, and the Aquarium of Niagara. Whirlpool State Park and DeVeaux Woods State Park also take advantage of the riverfront location. Downtown highlights include the star-studded entertainment center of Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel and an IMAX theater with a famous “Daredevil Exhibit.” Niagara Town is well-known as the retail hub of Niagara County, home to the popular Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls USA, the nation’s largest true outlet mall and the crown jewel of Western New York’s shopping scene. The town is only 10 minutes from Buffalo and part of Niagara International Airport falls within its borders.
Lewiston Village/Town, Porter Village/Town
Lewiston Village Hall
716-754-8271
www.villageoflewiston.net
Lewiston Town Hall
716-754-8213
www.townoflewiston.us
Porter Town Hall
716-745-3730
http://townofporter.net
Youngstown Village Hall
716-745-7721
http://youngstownnewyork.us
Chamber of Commerce
716-754-9500
www.niagarariverregion.com
Lewiston Village offers an historic yet vibrant community atmosphere that includes some of the area’s most popular restaurants and unique retail shops. Great fishing, summer concerts, a calendar filled with colorful events and festivals, lovely gardens, and majestic architecture are just a few of the highlights. In fact, the community is so rich in history that President Jimmy Carter called Lewiston “the most historic square mile in America.” The hamlet of Sanborn within the town is home to Niagara County Community College and the Sanborn-Lewiston Farm Museum, dedicated to preserving the area’s rich legacy for future generations. Lewiston also features the top-rated Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. The Town of Porter is home to the historic village of Youngstown, known for its quaint Main Street, Old Fort Niagara, and sailing or boating events. The tiny hamlet of Ransomville adds Ransomville Speedway and thriving agri-business attractions that include popular roadside stands.
Wilson Town/Village, Cambria Town, Newfane Town
Wilson Town Hall
716-751-6704
www.wilsonnewyork.com
Village Hall
716-751-6764
http://villageofwilson.org
Newfane Town Hall
716-778-8531
www.townofnewfane.com
Cambria Town Hall
716-433-8523
www.townofcambria.com
Chamber of Commerce
716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
Centrally located in Niagara’s great fruit-growing region, the Town and Village of Wilson are located on the shores of Lake Ontario. The well-protected boat harbor hosts several marinas and offers outstanding trout, salmon, and bass fishing. Tuscarora State Park is nearby for picnicking, canoeing, swimming, and hiking. Also located along Ontario Lake’s shoreline, Newfane Town offers a rural landscaped dotted by six tiny hamlets. The Town Hall and community center are both located along Route 78, a vital corridor within the community. Newfane is home to wonderful eateries and restaurants, unique shops, picturesque wineries, and excellent fishing opportunities in addition to a full-service hospital that serves a regional population. The interior Town of Cambria retains a rural character with sprawling farmland, lovely fruit orchards, grape vineyards, and grain fields interspersed with premier residential sites.
Somerset Town, Barker Village, Royalton Town, Middleport Village, Hartland Town
Somerset Town Hall
716-795-3575
www.somersetny.org
Barker Village Hall
716-795-3777
www.villageofbarker.org
Royalton Town Hall
716-772-2431
http://townofroyalton.org
Middleport Village Hall
716-735-3303
http://villageofmiddleport.org
Hartland Town Hall
716-735-7179
http://townofhartland.org
Chamber of Commerce
716-285-9141
http://niagarachamber.org
The Niagara County landscape features several rural towns and villages that invite newcomers to discover a world of pastoral beauty and a simpler way of life. Somerset Town offers a lovely waterfront setting nestled in the most eastern section of the county along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Proud of its agricultural history, the town has preserved picturesque dairy and fruit farms that produce some of the finest crops in the nation. The historic Seaway Trail traverses the town via Route 18. Other attractions in Somerset include Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse and Golden Hill State Park Marina and Campground—the latter named as one of America’s “Top 100” parks. The historical Babcock Cobblestone House Museum serves as the town Welcome Center and home to an active historical society. Barker Village nestles in the heart of the town, providing wonderful shops, restaurants, businesses, post office and public library. Royalton Town and its quaint Middleport Village as well as Hartland Town add to the opportunities for serene rural living within a short commute from expanded amenities. Hartland is best known for its churches, taverns, cobblestone houses, and roadside markets. Residents may travel to nearby cities to work, shop, or seek out entertainment but they are always happy to return home to the tranquility of their country home.
