Lackawanna is a city located in Erie County, New York, located just south of Buffalo in the western part of New York state. 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.
Lackawanna is located at 42°49'10" North, 78°49'32" West (42.819391, -78.825637).
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.
As of the census 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.
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. With the 20th century growth of the steel plant, at one time the fourth largest in the world, came the continued growth of the city and its institutions. It attracted people from many lands to settle here and make their homes. In the diversity of national origin of its people, it is second to no city in the nation. It is one of the great "melting pots" of America.
In recent years, efforts have been made to convert the former steel plant brownfields to other uses.
Lackawanna is home to Our Lady of Victory Basilica, a National Shrine. Father Nelson Baker is buried here. Father Baker, who fought in the Civil War at Gettysburg as part of the 74th Regiment of the New York State militia, was responsible for the building of working boy's home in Buffalo in 1898, an infants home in 1907, a maternity home in 1915, Our Lady of Victory Hospital in 1919 and the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory in 1926. Father Baker named the Basilica after the famous shrine to Our Lady of Victories in Paris, France, which he had visited as a seminarian in 1874. Father Baker was in charge of the Basicilica and the various institutions of charity until his death at the age of 94, on July 29, 1936. Father Baker's legacy continues to this day in many ways. His social programs have evolved into Baker Victory Services, which provide care to more than 2,500 children each and every day, his Hospital continues to offer services to the area, his Homes of Charity provide the critical funds necessary to continue his social programs through donations, and his wonderful Basilica enjoyed its 75th Anniversary in 2001. In addition, the Catholic Church named Father Baker "Servant of God" in 1987, the first step towards declaring him a saint. Currently, his cause for canonization, overseen by his third successor, Msgr. Robert C. Wurtz, is under review by Vatican officials in the hopes of beatifying the humble priest in the very near future.
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. ,
The Buffalo six (also known as the "Lackawanna six") is a group of alleged Al-Qaida terrorists and were convicted of "material support" to Al-Qaida. They travelled to Afghanistan in the spring of 2001. They were arrested in Lackawanna in mid-September 2002.
Source:
LackawannaNewYork.com
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