Lackawanna, New York
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- For other places with this name, see Lackawanna (disambiguation).
Lackawanna is a city located in Erie County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,064. The name derives from the Lackawanna River.
The City of Lackawanna is in the western part of the county.
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History
The City of Lackawanna was incorporated in 1901. Located along Lake Erie, Lackawanna was a center of iron and steel manufacture throughout most of the 20th Century until a decline in that industry reduced and finally closed the immense facilities located in this city. Efforts have been made to convert these brownfields to other uses.
The City of Lackawanna was the defendant in the 1971 decision Kennedy-Park Homes Association v. City of Lackawanna, which forbade the municipal government from interfering with the construction of a low-income housing development in a predominantly white section of the city, because such action would amount to racial discrimination. [1] (http://www.naacpldf.org/timeline.aspx), [NY (1971) (436 F2d 108)*]
Geography
Lackawanna is located at 42°49'10" North, 78°49'32" West (42.819391, -78.825637)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.9 km² (6.1 mi²). 15.9 km² (6.1 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 19,064 people, 8,192 households, and 4,775 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,202.7/km² (3,114.0/mi²). There are 8,951 housing units at an average density of 564.7/km² (1,462.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 83.99% White, 9.50% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.30% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. 5.08% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,192 households out of which 26.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% are married couples living together, 16.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% are non-families. 37.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 3.06.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $29,354, and the median income for a family is $39,237. Males have a median income of $32,063 versus $22,794 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,727. 16.7% of the population and 13.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Adjacent towns and other areas
The City of Buffalo is to the north. The east border is shared by the Town of West Seneca, and the south border is shared by the Town of Hamburg and the Village of Blasdell. The western border is defined by Lake Erie.
Additional facts about Lackawanna
Lackawanna is home to Our Lady of Victory Basilica, a landmark regional church. Father Nelson Baker is buried here.
Ron Jaworski, former quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, was born and raised in Lackawanna.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, a Lackawanna native, set his musical play "Lackawanna Blues" in 1956 Lackawanna.
Connie Porter's novel "All-bright Court" is set in Lackawanna.
External links
http://www.ourladyofvictory.org/
- Brief Lackawanna history (http://www.wnyreligion.net/lackawanna.html)
- Lackawanna inoformation (http://lackawannanewyork.com)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Jaworski Template:Mapit-US-cityscale http://www.hbo.com/films/lackawannablues/ http://wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens/files_2003/porter_connie.htm