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66-491: Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power & Manufacturing Company was an American company, based in Niagara Falls , New York that was the first company to generate hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls in 1882. The company built upon several predecessor companies efforts to construct a canal used for hydraulic mill power. In 1918, the company merged with Niagara Falls Power Company , which later became Niagara Mohawk and in 2002

132-553: A plea deal after Anello pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of pension fraud, regarding a pension from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers , of which he is a member. He was sentenced to 10 to 16 months in prison. The city's decline received national exposure from Bloomberg Businessweek in 2010. On November 30, 2010, the New York State Attorney General entered into an agreement with

198-552: A New York state assemblyman and a second-generation Irish American , persuaded Governor Roswell P. Flower to sign the bill on St. Patrick's Day . George W. Wright was elected the first mayor of Niagara Falls . By the end of the 19th century, the city was heavily industrialized, due in part to the power potential offered by the Niagara River . Tourism was considered a secondary niche, while manufacturing of petrochemicals , abrasives , metallurgical products and other materials

264-601: A chemical landfill beneath it forced United States President Jimmy Carter to declare a state of emergency , the first such presidential declaration made for a non-natural disaster. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from the area, many of whom were ill because of exposure to chemical waste. After the Love Canal disaster, the city—which had already been declining in population for nearly two decades—experienced accelerated economic and political difficulties. The costs of manufacturing elsewhere had become less expensive, which led to

330-766: A federal license from the Federal Power Commission , issued under the Federal Water Power Act of 1920 for a term of 50 years, that authorized the diversion of water for power purposes from the Niagara River , above Niagara Falls , and the return of it below the Falls, all in New York. The "Niagara Falls Power Company" later became " Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. " which was acquired by National Grid plc in 2002 for $ 3 billion (equivalent to $ 5,081,961,000 in 2023). Niagara Falls, New York Niagara Falls

396-540: A public square named Cataract Commons opened on Old Falls Street. It is a public space for outdoor events and activities. The city has multiple properties on the National Register of Historic Places . It also has three national historic districts , including Chilton Avenue-Orchard Parkway Historic District , Deveaux School Historic District and the Park Place Historic District . Niagara Falls

462-421: A shortened version of Evershed's tunnel. In 1889, developers organized the " Niagara Falls Power Company " and the " Cataract Construction Company " (incorporated June 12, 1889) to carry out the new plan. Edward Dean Adams , as president of the "Cataract Construction Company," directed plans to construct a central generating plant and to solve the problem of transmitting electricity over long distances. Adams and

528-554: A thunderstorm. As of the census of 2010, there were 50,193 people, 22,603 households, and 12,495 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,987.7 people per square mile (1,153.5 per square km). There were 26,220 housing units at an average density of 1,560.7 per square mile (602.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 70.5% White , 21.6% African American , 1.9% Native American , 1.2% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 0.8% from other races , and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of

594-641: Is a city in Niagara County, New York , United States. As of the 2020 census , the city had a total population of 48,671. It is adjacent to the Niagara River , across from the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario , and named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share. The city is within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the Western New York region. While the city was formerly inhabited by Native Americans, Europeans who migrated to

660-540: Is at the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The city is within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and is approximately 16 miles (26 km) from Buffalo, New York . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 16.9 square miles (44 km ), of which 14.1 square miles (37 km ) (83.43%) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km ) (16.57%)

726-512: Is published quarterly. The Messenger Of Niagara Falls, NY , which is officially Niagara Falls, New York's, first black-owned and operated news publication, founded October 2018. The Messenger Of Niagara Falls, NY published its inaugural issue April 2019. The Buffalo News is the closest major newspaper in the area. The city also is the home to a weekly tabloid known as the Niagara Falls Reporter . Three radio stations are licensed to

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792-536: Is represented by Congressman Brian Higgins . In the United States Senate , the city and the state are represented by senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand . Founded in 1892 Niagara Falls Police Department provide local law enforcement in the city with 155 sworn officers. This force is not to be mistaken for the Town of Niagara, New York which has a smaller force founded in 1954. Residents are zoned to

858-479: Is water. The city is built along the Niagara Falls and the Niagara Gorge , which is next to the Niagara River . Niagara Falls has a humid continental climate ( Dfa ). The city experiences cold, snowy winters and very warm, humid summers. Precipitation is moderate and consistent in all seasons, falling equally or more as snow during the winter. The city has snowier than average winters compared to most cities in

924-414: The Niagara Falls Reporter . Union boss Michael "Butch" Quarcini died before trial, while the rest of the union leadership was sentenced to prison. In early 2010, former Niagara Falls Mayor Vincenzo Anello was indicted on federal charges of corruption , alleging the mayor accepted $ 40,000 in loans from a businessman who was later awarded a no-bid lease on city property. The charges were dropped as part of

990-821: The Aluminum Company of America and "Cliff Electrical Distributing Company" owned their electrical generators and electrical apparatus and the transmission machinery (the transmission lines which carry the power from the generators to the place where they use it) and the "Hydraulic Power Company" owned everything else. In 1914, the directors of "Cliff Electrical Distributing Company" were: Peter P. Pfohl, Paul A. Schoellkopf , John Olmstead, C. P. Hugo Schoellkopf , and Jacob F. Schoellkopf Jr. The officers were: Peter P. Pfohl, president; Paul A. Schoellkopf, secretary and treasurer; and C. P. Hugo Schoellkopf , vice president. Schoellkopf's success in developing millsites led Charles B. Gaskill , of "Cataract City Milling Company",

1056-797: The Bridal Veil Falls , Maid of the Mist , a popular boat tour which operates at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge , Prospect Point and its observation tower , Niagara Discovery Center, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center , and the Aquarium of Niagara . Several other attractions also near the river, including Whirlpool State Park , De Veaux Woods State Park , Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park in nearby Lewiston (town), New York , and Fort Niagara State Park in Youngstown, New York . Attractions in

1122-874: The Gridiron Developmental Football League are a minor league football team based in Niagara Falls. The team played their inaugural season in 2021. In 2017, the Tier III junior North American 3 Hockey League team, the Lockport Express, relocated to Niagara Falls as the Niagara Falls PowerHawks. Former sports teams based in Niagara Falls include the Class-A Niagara Falls Sox, the Class-A Niagara Falls Rapids ,

1188-623: The Niagara Falls City School District . Niagara University and Niagara County Community College are the two colleges in Niagara County. Since Niagara Falls is within the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area , the city's media is predominantly served by the city of Buffalo. The city has two local newspapers, the Niagara Gazette , which is published daily except Tuesday and The Messenger Of Niagara Falls, NY which

1254-550: The Niagara River , then shipped them east on Lake Ontario . When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it made the portage obsolete and plans to develop Niagara Falls suffered. Augustus proposed a hydraulic mill canal in 1847 and offered the right of way for the canal to any person ready to build it, but the Porter brothers died before interest in the project led to construction. In 1852, Caleb Smith Woodhull and his associates purchased

1320-490: The Reform Jewish Temple Beth El. The Conservative Jewish Temple Beth Israel closed in 2012. Niagara Falls has struggled with high rates of violent and property crime ; FBI crime data indicate that the city has among the highest crime rates in New York state. In response to gun violence, volunteer groups such as Operation SNUG mobilized to promote positive community involvement in the troubled areas of

1386-463: The " Niagara Falls Canal Company ." At an investment of $ 1.5 million, (equivalent to $ 42,919,000 in 2023) the canal was finally completed in 1861, but could not be used because of the American Civil War . After completing the canal project, it was idle until 1875 when the canal's first customer, Charles B. Gaskill's "Cataract City Milling Company", was using the water of the canal to power

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1452-632: The "Cataract Construction Company" began constructing a central power station immediately, however, the problem of how to transmit electricity long distance was not yet solved. On December 20, 1892, the Evershed tunnel and the Edward Dean Adam's power house inlet canal are completed. Therefore, the "Cataract Construction Company" sponsored the "International Niagara Commission", which met in London in June 1890 and

1518-454: The Canadian side has a greater average annual income, a higher average home price, and lower levels of vacant buildings and blight , as well as a more vibrant economy and better tourism infrastructure. The population of Niagara Falls, New York fell by half from the 1960s to 2012. In contrast, the population of Niagara Falls, Ontario more than tripled. In 2000, the city's median household income

1584-575: The Canadian side is the closest airport offering long-haul international flights for the Niagara region. The city is served by Amtrak 's Maple Leaf and Empire train services, with regular stops at the Niagara Falls Station and Customhouse Interpretive Center at 825 Depot Ave West. Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is the public transit provider in the Buffalo metro area, with hubs at

1650-720: The Niagara Falls Lancers of the Midwest Football League , and the Western New York Thundersnow of the Premier Basketball League and American Basketball Association . The City of Niagara Falls functions under a strong mayor-council form of government. The government consists of a mayor, a professional city administrator, and a city council. The current mayor is Robert Restaino. The city council serves four-year, staggered terms, except in

1716-445: The Niagara Falls in the mid-17th century began to open businesses and develop infrastructure. Later in the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists and businessmen began harnessing the power of the Niagara River for electricity and the city began to attract manufacturers and other businesses drawn by the promise of inexpensive hydroelectric power. After the 1960s, however, the city and region experienced an economic decline. As industries left

1782-553: The Niagara Power Company's generating station , but paid nothing additional (i.e. rent) for the installation. In 1918, the "Cliff Electrical Distributing Company," the "Hydraulic Power Company of Niagara Falls," and the "Niagara Falls Power Company" merged due to government pressure for more efficient use of the Niagara River 's water provided by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1910 . The consolidated company retained

1848-474: The Portage Road and Niagara Falls transportation centers. Forebay (reservoir) Forebays have a number of functions. They are used in flood control to act as a buffer during flooding or storm surges , impounding water and releasing in a controlled way into the larger waterbody. They may be used upstream of reservoirs to trap sediment and debris (sometimes called a sediment forebay ) in order to keep

1914-540: The State of New York established the USA Niagara Development Corporation, a subsidiary to the State's economic development agency, to focus specifically on facilitating development in the downtown area. However, the organization has been criticized for making little progress and doing little to improve the city's economy. From 1973 to 2002, the city had a Convention and Civic Center on 4th street. In 2002

1980-510: The US, however less than many other cities in Upstate New York including nearby Buffalo and Rochester. Thaw cycles with temperatures above 32 °F (0 °C) are a common occurrence. The hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in the decade through 2015 were 97 °F (36 °C) in 2005 and −13 °F (−25 °C) in 2003, respectively. 38% of warm season precipitation falls in the form of

2046-529: The area began in the 17th century. The first recorded European to visit the area was Frenchman Robert de la Salle , who built Fort Conti at the mouth of the Niagara River early in 1679, with permission from the Iroquois , as a base for boatbuilding; his ship Le Griffon was built on the upper Niagara River at or near Cayuga Creek in the same year. He was accompanied by Belgian priest Louis Hennepin , who

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2112-406: The average family size was 4.02. In the city, 22% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.1% aged from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 26,800, and

2178-419: The canal significantly exceeded estimates and the company went bankrupt. In 1856, Stephen N. Allen bought the company, which was renamed the " Niagara Falls Water Power Company ." The company completed the entrance and river portion of the canal by 1857, with the exception of a narrow extension at the south end of the basin which was completed in 1881. In 1860, Horace H. Day purchased the company and renamed it

2244-458: The canal's first customer in 1875, to believe that there would be a growing demand for power. Therefore, in 1886, Gaskill formed the " Niagara River Hydraulic Tunnel, Power, and Sewer Company " to meet the demand. His company hired engineer, Thomas Evershed , to create a plan to develop power. Evershed planned to use the mechanical power of waterwheels and turbines rather than generating electricity. He proposed twelve canals to direct water from

2310-446: The case of a special election. It is headed by a chairperson, who votes in all items for council action. On a state level, Niagara Falls is part of the 145th Assembly District of New York State, represented by Republican Angelo Morinello . Niagara Falls is also part of the 62nd Senate District of New York State, represented by Republican Robert Ortt . On a national level, the city is part of New York's 26th congressional district and

2376-430: The city and its police department to create new policies to govern police practices in response to claims of excessive force and police misconduct. The city committed to create policies and procedures to prevent and respond to allegations of excessive force, and to ensure police are properly trained and complaints are properly investigated. Prior claims filed by residents will be evaluated by an independent panel. In 2020,

2442-538: The city of Niagara Falls, including WHLD AM 1270, WEBR AM 1440, and WTOR AM 770. Niagara Falls is primarily served by the Buffalo Niagara International Airport for regional and domestic flights within the United States. The recently expanded Niagara Falls International Airport serves the city, and many cross border travellers with flights to Myrtle Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Punta Gorda. Toronto 's Pearson International Airport on

2508-613: The city's major industries. This prosperity would end by the late 1960s as aging industrial plants moved to less expensive locations. In addition, the falls were incompatible with modern shipping technology. In 1956, the Schoellkopf Power Plant on the lower river just downstream of the American Falls was critically damaged by the collapse of the Niagara Gorge wall above it. This prompted the planning and construction of one of

2574-523: The city. Niagara Falls' main industry is tourism, driven primarily by the waterfalls. A 2012 profile from the Office of the New York State Comptroller reported that Niagara Falls has "struggled through decades of population losses, rising crime and repeated attempts to reinvent itself from a manufacturing town with some tourism to a major tourist destination." The city became a boomtown with

2640-471: The closure of several factories. The city's population eventually dropped by more than half of its peak, as workers fled the city in search of jobs elsewhere. Then, much like the nearby city of Buffalo, the city's economy plummeted when a failed urban renewal project destroyed Falls Street and the tourist district. In 2001, the leadership of Laborers Local 91 was found guilty of extortion , racketeering and other crimes following an exposé by Mike Hudson of

2706-683: The commission failed to award a winner, Lord Kelvin and the commission asked George Westinghouse to use alternating current to develop electricity at Niagara Falls . The construction lasted for several years and was funded by an interest composed of notable businessmen including: J. P. Morgan , John Jacob Astor IV , Lord Rothschild , and W. K. Vanderbilt . The Edward Dean Adams Power Plant , designed by McKim, Mead, and White , first produced power on August 26, 1895, and in November 1896, power generated from Niagara Falls reached Buffalo . The first 1,000 horsepower of electricity transmitted to Buffalo

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2772-453: The development of electric energy and distribution of it. Therefore, the hydraulic business of "Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company" became the " Hydraulic Power Company of Niagara Falls " and "Cliff Electrical Distributing Company" was formed to distribute the power. The "Hydraulic Power Company" owned the building itself, the land, the penstocks , the turbines , and the water wheels . The company furnished power to many of

2838-542: The downtown include the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel and Pine Avenue which was historically home to a large Italian American population and is now known as Little Italy for its abundance of shops and quality restaurants. The Niagara Power of the New York Collegiate Baseball League play at Sal Maglie Stadium . The team is owned by Niagara University . The Cataract City Wolverines of

2904-575: The era of industrial production of alternating current , the electrical plant generated direct-current electricity, and only provided it within a range of two miles from the plant. In 1898 the company built the Niagara Junction Railway to encourage industrial expansion in the area. In 1907, the New York Public Service Commission law was passed which regulated the rights of non-electrical corporations from engaging in

2970-404: The excavating, but the canal remained idle for a few years. The work on the power plant began and the canal was enlarged in 1892. By 1896, power plant number two had been completed and was supplying power to different factories about Niagara Falls . Many additions and extensions were made to the original plant, and company began to work on a new plant, called plant number three, that when completed,

3036-444: The land and the water rights from the heirs of the Porter brothers with the intention to build a canal, and in 1853 formed the " Niagara Falls Hydraulic Company ." A grant was obtained from the owners of a strip of land 100 ft. wide extending from a point above the upper rapids to the high bank below the Falls. The company started with the construction of the canal in 1853 but stopped after sixteen months because construction costs of

3102-637: The largest factories and industrial companies in Niagara Falls, New York . Among the company's larger contracts for power is that for the Niagara Gorge Railroad , the Aluminum Company of America , The National Electrolytic Company, and many other large manufacturing interests in Niagara Falls . As of 1908, officers of the company were George B. Mathews (president), William D. Olmsted (vice president) Arthur Schoellkopf (secretary and treasurer), Paul A. Schoellkopf (assistant secretary and treasurer), John L. Harper (chief engineer). The board of directors

3168-514: The largest hydroelectric plants to be built in North America to that time, generating a large influx of workers and families to the area. New York City urban planner Robert Moses built the new power plant in nearby Lewiston, New York . Much of the power generated there fueled growing demands for power in downstate New York and New York City. The neighborhood of Love Canal gained national media attention in 1978 when toxic waste contamination from

3234-533: The median income for a family was $ 34,377. Males had a median income of $ 31,672 versus $ 22,124 for females. 23% of the population was below the poverty line. Niagara Falls has a number of places of worship, including the Salvation Army, First Assembly of God Church, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Niagara , St. Peter's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Deveaux, and

3300-415: The milling company's flour grist mill . In 1877, as the company had only attracted one client, it declared bankruptcy and was auctioned off. The company interests were bought for $ 71,000 (equivalent to $ 2,031,000 in 2023) by Jacob F. Schoellkopf , who in 1878 formed the "Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company" to use the canal. After the transfer of the property, Schoellkopf finished

3366-419: The name "Niagara Falls Power Company" and issued $ 26,000,000 (equivalent to $ 526,673,000 in 2023) capital stock , common and preferred. The $ 26 million in capital stock was consisted of The $ 11,515,400 in preferred stock was distributed to the shareholders of "Niagara Falls Power Company." Of the $ 14,484,600 in common capital stock: On March 2, 1921, the combined "Niagara Falls Power Company," secured

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3432-487: The opening of the New York State Power Authority 's hydroelectric Niagara Power Plant in the 1960s; the cheap electricity produced by the plant generated power for a burgeoning manufacturing industry. Along with the rest of Western New York , Niagara Falls suffered a significant economic decline from a decline in industry by the 1970s. Today, the city struggles to compete with Niagara Falls, Ontario ;

3498-410: The population. There were 22,603 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and

3564-516: The region, affluent and middle-class families relocated from Niagara Falls to other metropolitan areas around the country. Due to the loss of jobs in the region, especially in the manufacturing sector, the city has gone from over 102,000 residents in 1960 to approximately 48,000 residents in 2020, a population drop of more than 50%. Before Europeans entered the area, it was dominated by the Neutral Nation of Native Americans. European migration into

3630-439: The reservoir clean. This entails the use of a dam built upstream of the main reservoir, called a forebay dam or pre-dam . Forebays may also be used upstream of lakes to prevent siltation . Some forebays are used simply to create a natural habitat for flora and fauna, to counterbalance the environmental impact of a dam or reservoir. Forebays vary greatly in size depending on their situation and purpose. A forebay can also be

3696-493: The river at a point above Port Day, and runs throughout the city to a point below the Upper Steel Arch Bridge , furnished a steady supply of water year round. Just below Port Day is the beginning of the rapids, with a fall of more than 50 ft. in three-quarters of a mile. By cutting across a bend in the river the canal comes out at the cliff below the bridge the entire distance being about 4,400 ft. Built before

3762-526: The upper Niagara River to remove power production from the River bank. The canals would feed 238 waterwheel pits with water plunging into the pit, rotating the turbine, and redirected through a huge tunnel into the gorge below the Falls . It was determined that Evershed's plan was too expensive, so Edward Dean Adams and others decided to develop hydro-electric power. New plans called for a central generating station and

3828-517: The venue was converted into the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel . In 2004, a new Niagara Falls Convention Center (NFCC) opened on Old Falls Street. The Old Falls Street venue has 116,000 square feet for exhibitions and meetings, and a 32,200-square-foot event/exhibit hall. The city is home to the Niagara Falls State Park . The park has several attractions, including Cave of the Winds behind

3894-603: Was 36% below the national average. In 2012, the city's unemployment rate was significantly higher than the statewide unemployment rate. Significant sources of economic activity in the region includes the Niagara Falls International Airport , which was renovated in 2009; the Seneca Gaming Corporation 's Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel , which opened in the 2000s respectively; and the nearby Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station . In late 2001,

3960-531: Was acquired by National Grid plc . In 1805, " Porter, Barton & Company ," which comprised Augustus Porter , Peter Porter , Benjamin Barton, and Joseph Anim, purchased the Niagara River and the American Falls from New York at a public auction . The purchase also included the water rights from above the upper rapids to below the Falls. The company portaged goods by land from Lake Erie to Lewiston on

4026-496: Was claimed by the street railway company, with the local power company putting in orders for 5,000 more. Similar to the "Hydraulic Power Company of Niagara Falls" arrangement with the "Cliff Electrical Distributing Company," the "Niagara Falls Power Company" sold power to the International Railway Company (w.streetcars in Buffalo & Niagara Falls city) which obtained the right to install its rotary converters in

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4092-405: Was composed of George B. Mathews , William D. Olmstead , Arthur Schoellkopf , Jacob F. Schoellkopf Jr. , and J. L. Romer. The " Cliff Electrical Distributing Company ," was an electrical corporation organized for the sole purpose of enabling the "Hydraulic Power Company" lawfully to distribute electric power. As of 1914, the main consumers of power from the "Hydraulic Power Company" were: Both

4158-470: Was headed by Lord Kelvin . The commissioners offered a $ 100,000 (equivalent to $ 3,391,000 in 2023) prize for a solution to the problem. The commission received seventeen submissions from experts around the world only to reject them all. The schemes ranged from a system using pneumatic pressure to one requiring ropes, springs and pulleys. Some proposed transmitting direct current electricity, including one endorsed by Thomas Edison . On May 6, 1893, after

4224-487: Was separate from the original plant around six or eight hundred feet to the north. The workings of the Hydraulic company were entirely below the first Upper Steel Arch Bridge . Plant number two, which was one 100 ft. by 176 ft. in dimensions, generated an average of 34,000 continuous horsepower . The entire fall of the water in the canal from the forebay to the tailrace is 210 ft. The power canal, which taps

4290-457: Was the first known European to see the falls. The influx of newcomers may have been a catalyst for already hostile native tribes to turn to open warfare in competition for the fur trade. The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated on March 17, 1892, from the villages of Manchester and Suspension Bridge, which were parts of the Town of Niagara . Thomas Vincent Welch , a member of the charter committee and

4356-471: Was the main producer of jobs and attracted a large number of workers, many of whom were immigrants. In 1927, the city annexed the village of La Salle, named for Robert de la Salle, from the Town of Niagara . Industry and tourism grew steadily throughout the first half of the 20th century due to a high demand for industrial products and the increased mobility of people to travel. Paper, rubber, plastics, petrochemicals, carbon insulators and abrasives were among

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