From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Collins is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. The population was 8,307 at the 2000 census.

The Town of Collins is on the south border of the county and is considered to be one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Communities and locations in Collins 5 External links

The area was first settled around 1808. Many of the first settlers were Quakers, who intended to assist the local Native Americans. The Town of Collins was formed in 1821 from the Town of Concord. The town lost land to create the new Towns of Brant in 1839 and North Collins in 1852. Because of the concentration of dairy farms, there were once ten cheese factories in the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 124.8 km² (48.2 mi²). 124.6 km² (48.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.08%) is water.

The south border of the town, marked by Cattaraugus Creek, is Cattaraugus County, New York.

US Route 62 runs north-south through the town, and New York State Route 39 runs east-west and intersects with north-south New York State Route 75.

As of the census² of 2000, there were 8,307 people, 1,754 households, and 1,187 families residing in the town. The population density was 66.7/km² (172.6/mi²). There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 15.1/km² (39.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 66.85% White, 22.62% African American, 3.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.16% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.94% of the population.

There were 1,754 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 48.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 318.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,444, and the median income for a family was $45,647. Males had a median income of $30,215 versus $26,071 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,082. About 6.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

• Bagdad -- A hamlet northeast of Gowanda.
• Collins -- A hamlet northeast of Gowanda.
• Collins Center -- A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town at the junction of NY-39 and NY-75.
• Collins Correctional Facility -- A NYS Medium Security prison located right next to Gowanda Correctional Facility separated by Middle Road.
• Gowanda - Part of the Village of Gowanda in the southwest part of the town. It is located on NY-62.
• Gowanda Correctional Facility -- A NYS Medium Security prison located right next to Collins Correctional Facility separated by Middle Road. Middle Road is said to be the boarder between Collins and Gowanda.
• Seneca Heights -- A community located at the intersection of Richarson Road and NY-62. Seneca Heights is home to the Gernatt's Gravel Pits and more prosperus homes.
• Taylor Hollow -- A community in the northeast corner of the town on NY-62.
• Whites Corners -- A location in the northeast corner of the town on NY-75.
• Zoar -- A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
• Zoar Valley -- A scenic valley formed by Cattaraugus Creek.

• Collins history

	v • d • e  Municipalities and Communities of Erie County, New York County Seat: Buffalo
Cities	Buffalo | Lackawanna | Tonawanda
Towns	Alden | Amherst | Aurora | Boston | Brant | Cheektowaga | Clarence | Collins | Concord | Eden | Elma | Evans | Grand Island | Hamburg | Holland | Lancaster | Marilla | Newstead | North Collins | Orchard Park | Sardinia | Tonawanda | Wales | West Seneca
Villages	Alden | Angola | Blasdell | Depew | East Aurora | Farham | Gowanda | Hamburg | Kenmore | Lancaster | North Collins | Orchard Park | Sloan | Springville | Williamsville
CDPs	Angola on the Lake | Billington Heights | Cheektowaga | Clarence Center | Eden | Elma Center | Harris Hill | Holland | Lake Erie Beach | North Boston | Tonawanda | Town Line | West Seneca
Reservations	Cattaraugus Reservation | Tonawanda Reservation

Coordinates: 42°29′47″N, 78°55′14″W