History of Lewiston, NY
Various cultures of Native American tribes inhabited the Lewiston area for thousands of years, with the earliest known artifacts dating to 5000
B.C. By the 14th century, this area was inhabited by Iroquoian-speaking peoples. Before the mid-17th century, they had coalesced into the Five
Nations, the historic Iroquois tribes of the Haudenosaunee based in present-day New York. In the early 18th century, they were joined by the
Iroquoian Tuscarora from the South, who centuries before had migrated from the Great Lakes area to North Carolina. In 1722, the Iroquois
accepted the Tuscarora as the Sixth Nation of the confederacy. The Tuscarora had a village here before the American Revolutionary War called
Yehęwakwáʼthaʼ.
During the war, Tuscarora and Oneida Iroquois bands allied individually with the colonists or the British. Those who allied with the British went
north with Joseph Brant before the end of the war and are part of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario. Those allied with the
American colonists stayed in New York. The Tuscarora Nation of New York is federally recognized and has occupied a reservation at Lewiston
since the early 19th Century, although in the 1950s state and federal authorities took 22% of their reservation by eminent domain to construct
what is now the Robert Moses Power Plant reservoir.[2]
The Village of Lewiston (formerly known as The Landing) was the site of the first European settlement in western New York in 1720, where
trading started along the river. French explorers arriving from Canada across the river had visited the area as early as 1615. The village,
incorporated in 1822, claims to be the "most historic square mile in America". It was named after Morgan Lewis, an early 19th-century
governor of New York.
In addition to its ancient indigenous settlement, Lewiston became historically significant during European development of North America, and
strategic in United States and Canadian history. It was the site from which the US invaded Canada in the Battle of Queenston Heights which
took place October 13, 1812. It was the first major battle of the War of 1812. A commemorative sign marks the location where the American
force embarked to cross the Niagara River. After the Americans lost the battle, a British retaliatory raid in December 1813 burned Lewiston to
the ground and killed several civilians. While most American militia deserted, the local Tuscarora natives stood and fought a delaying action
which bought enough time for the surviving citizens to escape.[3] The Historical Association has announced plans to construct a large scale
bronze monument of thanksgiving to the Tuscaroras entitled "Tuscarora Heroes" to be unveiled on the 200th anniversary of the attack on
December 19, 2013.
The earliest recorded railway in the United States was an inclined wooden tramway built here in 1764 by John Montresor (1736–1799), a British
military engineer. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the
movement of goods over the Niagara Escarpment in present-day Lewiston.[4]
For many African Americans' escaping slavery in the 1840s and 1850s, Lewiston was the final stop on the Underground Railroad before they
crossed the Niagara River to secure freedom in Canada. Lewiston is the setting for the book, Freedom Crossing, by Margaret Goff Clark. Many
schools use the book as required reading for thousands of grade school students across the United States as they learn about the
Underground Railroad movement. The Historical Association of Lewiston has prepared a "Freedom Crossing Study Guide". They dedicated the
Freedom Crossing Monument on October 14, 2009. The large-scale bronze monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River.
Lewiston has completed a multi-million dollar upgrade of its business district, which has been renovated with brick sidewalks and period
lanterns. Its waterfront park is also being improved with more green space and additional parking. A new landmark hotel has just been opened
near the waterfront. The village has a number of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5] These have contributed to the
sense of place that anchors the village and formed the base of its main street renovation.
Tourists and visitors flock to Lewiston, primarily in the summertime, to enjoy its many festivals, fine restaurants, Artpark, and to learn about its
history. Thousands enjoy taking the Whirlpool Jet Boat ride, which shoots through the Niagara River Class 5 rapids and is considered one of the
top five adventure rides in North America.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of
it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (9.32%) is water.
Lewiston is a Niagara River community, north of Niagara Falls, New York. Across the river is the region of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario,
Canada. The formation of Niagara Falls began in Lewiston 12,000 years ago. Since then, the falls have moved seven miles (11 km) south along
the river due to erosion of land.
Western New York's historic Ridge Road begins in Lewiston. New York State Route 18F and New York State Route 18 have termini here, both at
New York State Route 104. The Robert Moses State Parkway runs along the edge of the village by the river.
Demographics
Middle-class residence in LewistonAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,781 people, 1,268 households, and 735 families residing in the
village. The population density was 2,610.3 people per square mile (1,003.5/km²). There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 487.5
persons/km² (1,268.1 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 98.53% White, 0.11% African American, 0.54% Native American,
0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 1,268 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married
couples living together, 8.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 42.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were
made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the
average family size was 2.79.
Various cultures of Native American tribes inhabited the Lewiston area for thousands of years, with the earliest known artifacts dating to 5000
B.C. By the 14th century, this area was inhabited by Iroquoian-speaking peoples. Before the mid-17th century, they had coalesced into the Five
Nations, the historic Iroquois tribes of the Haudenosaunee based in present-day New York. In the early 18th century, they were joined by the
Iroquoian Tuscarora from the South, who centuries before had migrated from the Great Lakes area to North Carolina. In 1722, the Iroquois
accepted the Tuscarora as the Sixth Nation of the confederacy. The Tuscarora had a village here before the American Revolutionary War called
Yehęwakwáʼthaʼ.
During the war, Tuscarora and Oneida Iroquois bands allied individually with the colonists or the British. Those who allied with the British went
north with Joseph Brant before the end of the war and are part of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario. Those allied with the
American colonists stayed in New York. The Tuscarora Nation of New York is federally recognized and has occupied a reservation at Lewiston
since the early 19th Century, although in the 1950s state and federal authorities took 22% of their reservation by eminent domain to construct
what is now the Robert Moses Power Plant reservoir.[2]
The Village of Lewiston (formerly known as The Landing) was the site of the first European settlement in western New York in 1720, where
trading started along the river. French explorers arriving from Canada across the river had visited the area as early as 1615. The village,
incorporated in 1822, claims to be the "most historic square mile in America". It was named after Morgan Lewis, an early 19th-century
governor of New York.
In addition to its ancient indigenous settlement, Lewiston became historically significant during European development of North America, and
strategic in United States and Canadian history. It was the site from which the US invaded Canada in the Battle of Queenston Heights which
took place October 13, 1812. It was the first major battle of the War of 1812. A commemorative sign marks the location where the American
force embarked to cross the Niagara River. After the Americans lost the battle, a British retaliatory raid in December 1813 burned Lewiston to
the ground and killed several civilians. While most American militia deserted, the local Tuscarora natives stood and fought a delaying action
which bought enough time for the surviving citizens to escape.[3] The Historical Association has announced plans to construct a large scale
bronze monument of thanksgiving to the Tuscaroras entitled "Tuscarora Heroes" to be unveiled on the 200th anniversary of the attack on
December 19, 2013.
The earliest recorded railway in the United States was an inclined wooden tramway built here in 1764 by John Montresor (1736–1799), a British
military engineer. Called "The Cradles" and "The Old Lewiston Incline," it featured loaded carts pulled up wooden rails by rope. It facilitated the
movement of goods over the Niagara Escarpment in present-day Lewiston.[4]
For many African Americans' escaping slavery in the 1840s and 1850s, Lewiston was the final stop on the Underground Railroad before they
crossed the Niagara River to secure freedom in Canada. Lewiston is the setting for the book, Freedom Crossing, by Margaret Goff Clark. Many
schools use the book as required reading for thousands of grade school students across the United States as they learn about the
Underground Railroad movement. The Historical Association of Lewiston has prepared a "Freedom Crossing Study Guide". They dedicated the
Freedom Crossing Monument on October 14, 2009. The large-scale bronze monument stands on the bank of the Niagara River.
Lewiston has completed a multi-million dollar upgrade of its business district, which has been renovated with brick sidewalks and period
lanterns. Its waterfront park is also being improved with more green space and additional parking. A new landmark hotel has just been opened
near the waterfront. The village has a number of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5] These have contributed to the
sense of place that anchors the village and formed the base of its main street renovation.
Tourists and visitors flock to Lewiston, primarily in the summertime, to enjoy its many festivals, fine restaurants, Artpark, and to learn about its
history. Thousands enjoy taking the Whirlpool Jet Boat ride, which shoots through the Niagara River Class 5 rapids and is considered one of the
top five adventure rides in North America.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of
it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (9.32%) is water.
Lewiston is a Niagara River community, north of Niagara Falls, New York. Across the river is the region of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario,
Canada. The formation of Niagara Falls began in Lewiston 12,000 years ago. Since then, the falls have moved seven miles (11 km) south along
the river due to erosion of land.
Western New York's historic Ridge Road begins in Lewiston. New York State Route 18F and New York State Route 18 have termini here, both at
New York State Route 104. The Robert Moses State Parkway runs along the edge of the village by the river.
Demographics
Middle-class residence in LewistonAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,781 people, 1,268 households, and 735 families residing in the
village. The population density was 2,610.3 people per square mile (1,003.5/km²). There were 1,351 housing units at an average density of 487.5
persons/km² (1,268.1 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 98.53% White, 0.11% African American, 0.54% Native American,
0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or
Latino of any race. There were 1,268 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married
couples living together, 8.5% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 42.0% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were
made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the
average family size was 2.79.
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