East Aurora, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = East Aurora, New York
settlement_type = Village
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Erie
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.5
area_land_km2 = 6.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.5
area_land_sq_mi = 2.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6673
population_density_km2 = 1024.6
population_density_sq_mi = 2653.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 280
elevation_ft = 919
latd = 42 |latm = 46 |lats = 1 |latNS = N
longd = 78 |longm = 37 |longs = 2 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 14052
area_code = 716, 585|blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-21589
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0948967
website =
footnotes =

East Aurora is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 6,673 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The Village of East Aurora lies in the eastern half of the Town of Aurora. It is southeast of Buffalo, New York. The current mayor is Clark W. Crook.

History

The village was founded in 1804, and incorporated in 1874.

Former President of the United States Millard Fillmore lived in East Aurora with his wife Abigail from 1826 to 1830. The house he built there while practicing law in the beginning of his political career is currently maintained by the Aurora Historical Society. The 1825 structure is restored to that period and features some original Fillmore furniture of the era, as well as items from Fillmore’s presidential years.

The founder of the Roycroft Movement, Elbert Hubbard, also lived there during the turn of the nineteenth century. Hubbard and his wife died onboard the RMS Lusitania in 1915. The Roycroft Inn was granted National Landmark Status in 1986 and re-opened in June 1995 through the support of the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. [cite web | url = http://www.roycroftinn.com/inn/inn_history.htm | title = The Roycroft Inn, East Aurora NY - History | accessdate = 2007-02-15 ] The Roycroft Inn was completely restored and is open to the public for dining and accommodations. The Elbert Hubbard Museum on Oakwood Avenue features an extensive collection of Roycroft books and Arts & Crafts pieces.

East Aurora is also the birthplace of and home to the Corporate Headquarters for Fisher-Price. [cite web | url = http://www.fisher-price.com/us/default.asp | title = Fisher-Price Website| accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] From 1987 through 2007 [cite web | url = http://www.toytownusa.com/events/toyfest.htm | title = Toyfest | accessdate = 2008-03-16 ] the village and the Toy Town Museum (an independent non profit organization located on the Fisher-Price campus) held the Toyfest Festival, [cite web | url = http://www.east-aurora.ny.us/history.htm | title = Village of East Aurora History | accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] which included the Toyfest parade featuring giant replicas of classic Fisher-Price toys. The three day event was usually held at Hamlin Park and included an amusement park, circus-like attractions and a Fisher-Price play area where young children could play with a variety of toys. The museum still exhibits toys from the early 1900s through the present and tours are available upon request.

The town was the home of the inaugural owner of the NHL Franchise Buffalo Sabres, Seymour H. Knox. The Knox Estates, now known as Knox Farm, is a 633 acre New York State park. It is located on the north-west edge of the village.

Contemporary issues

East Aurora was one of the first communities to successfully block a Wal-Mart store, in 1995 and again in 1999. [cite web | url = http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/list.asp?i=109 | title = 11 Most Endangered Places at National Trust for Historic Preservation | accessdate = 2007-02-15 ] [cite web | url = http://eastaurora.org/about.aspx | title = East Aurora New York - Village History | accessdate = 2007-02-15 ]

In February, 2008, local officials rejected the urging of local politician Kevin Gaughan to merge village functions with the Town of East Aurora, citing recent disputes with the town. Gaughan, a proponent of reducing the number of government entities in Erie County, is also a proponent of metro government.

Another ongoing controversy involves a proposed twin ice rink facility to be constructed on a vacant Riley Street lot in the Village downtown area. A parent led group known as the Aurora Ice Association has submitted plans for the facility, but is being met with resistance from a group of residents claiming a lack of demand, lack of parking, and the potential for catastrophic train derailments from the adjacent railroad tracks. On September 15th, 2008, the Village Board voted to accept a Negative Declaration on the State Environmental Quality Review for the proposed rink, which eliminates the need for further exhaustive site environmental impact studies. As a temporary measure, the group purchased and will erect the ice rink structure used in the inaugural 2008 NHL Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The outdoor facilty, purchased in its entirety, is slated to open November 1, 2008.

Geography

East Aurora is located at coor dms|42|46|1|N|78|37|2|W|city (42.766809, -78.617121)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all of it land.

Main Street in the village is US Route 20A.

Points of interest

A walk down East Aurora's bustling Main Street is, in some ways, a step back in time with a variety of specialty shops, restaurants, churches, municipal buildings and carefully preserved homes. Main Street is home to various local businesses and attractions, including Vidlers (an old-fashioned five and dime store), an ice cream parlor and the Aurora Theatre, a 650-seat, big-screen cinema theatre with a classic, old-fashioned neon marquee. [cite web | url = http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7632/ | title = Cinema Treasures - Aurora Theater | accessdate = 2007-02-15 ]

About 1 mile from Knox Farm is Christ the King Seminary. Christ the King Seminary is located west of the village.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,673 people, 2,596 households, and 1,728 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,653.8 people per square mile (1,026.5/km²). There were 2,729 housing units at an average density of 1,085.3/sq mi (419.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.80% White, 0.19% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 2,596 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $49,028, and the median income for a family was $59,250. Males had a median income of $42,969 versus $32,111 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,753. About 1.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Children living in the town or village of East Aurora attend Parkdale Elementary (grades K-2), Main Street Elementarty/Middle School (grades 3-8), and East Aurora High School (grades 9-12). Immaculate Conception School (ICS), a Catholic institution, also offers education from grades K-8 and is ranked in the top 5 of all private elementary schools in Western New York [cite web | url = http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2006/05/08/daily53.html | title = Buffalo Business First - It's a three-peat for Christ the King | accessdate = 2007-04-06 ] . Moreover in 2008 ICS was recognized as the number #1 private elementary school and the number #1 parochial elementary school in all of Western New York. [cite web | url = http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/09/08/daily12.html | title = Buffalo Business First - Smallwood atop elementary list | accessdate = 2008-09-23 ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.eastaurora.org East Aurora, New York]
* [http://www.eastaurorany.com East Aurora Newspaper]
* [http://www.east-aurora.ny.us Village of East Aurora]
* [http://www.eanycc.com East Aurora Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.eaur.wnyric.org/ East Aurora Union Free Schools]
* [http://www.vidlers5and10.com/ Vidler's 5 & 10]