Orchard Park is a town located in Erie County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 27,637. The name is derived from a village in the town.

Within the Town of Orchard Park is a village also called Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County.

History

The town was originally a settlement of Quakers.

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

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 99.9 km² (38.6 mi²). 99.7 km² (38.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.18% water.

Route 219 passes through the west part of the town.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 27,637 people, 10,277 households, and 7,656 families residing in the town. The population density is 277.1/km² (717.7/mi²). There are 10,644 housing units at an average density of 106.7/km² (276.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.57% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the town the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $59,762, and the median income for a family is $71,552. Males have a median income of $51,341 versus $31,429 for females. The per capita income for the town is $28,692. 3.2% of the population and 1.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.5% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Communities and locations in the Town of Orchard Park

• Chestnut Ridge County Park -- A popular county park with a wide range of activities is located south of Orchard Park village on Chestnut Ridge Road (Route 277).
• Erie Community College -- The official location of the south campus, although most of the campus is in the adjacent Town of Hamburg.
• Orchard Park -- The Village of Orchard Park, located at the junction of Routes 240 and U.S.20A.
• Ralph Wilson Stadium -- The home stadium of the NFL's Buffalo Bills lies on the western edge of the town.
• Webster Corners -- A hamlet north of Orchard Park village by the intersection of Webster and Orchard Park Roads.

Education

The Orchard Park School District has four elementary schools (Eggert, Ellicot, South Davis, and Windom), the Orchard Park Middle School, and the Orchard Park High School.

Erie Community College is at the western town line.

External links

• Village and Town information: Orchard Park