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==History== Before Europeans entered the area, it was dominated by the [[Neutral Nation]] of Native Americans. European migration into the area began in the 17th century. The first recorded European to visit the area was [[France|Frenchman]] [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldfortniagara.org/history|title=Old Fort Niagara|website=www.oldfortniagara.org|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> He was accompanied by [[Belgium|Belgian]] priest [[Louis Hennepin]], who 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 [[Niagara, New York|Town of Niagara]]. [[Thomas Vincent Welch]], a member of the charter committee and a New York state assemblyman and a second-generation [[Irish Americans|Irish American]], persuaded [[Governor of New York|Governor]] [[Roswell P. Flower]] to sign the bill on [[Saint Patrick's Day]]. George W. Wright was elected the [[List of mayors of Niagara Falls, New York|first mayor of Niagara Falls]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niagarafallsinfo.com/history-item.php?entry_id=1334¤t_category_id=199 |title=Niagara Falls New York Township History - The City of Niagara Falls, New York, USA |publisher=Niagarafallsinfo.com |access-date=2012-03-22}}</ref> 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 [[petrochemical]]s, [[abrasive]]s, [[metallurgy|metallurgical products]] and other materials was the main producer of jobs and attracted a large number of workers, many of whom were immigrants. [[File:Niagara Falls, mill district on American shore, ca. 1900.jpg|left|thumb|The Niagara Falls mill district downriver from the [[American Falls]], 1900]] 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 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.{{explain|date=July 2021}} 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 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 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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Love Canal Collection | publisher = University of Buffalo Libraries | url = http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/lovecanal/introduction.html | access-date = 2007-02-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110923233444/http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/lovecanal/introduction.html | archive-date = 2011-09-23 | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[File:Love Canal protest.jpg|left|thumb|upright|The contaminated neighborhood of [[Love Canal]] received national attention in 1978.]] 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 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' International Union of North America|Laborers Local 91]] was found guilty of [[extortion]], [[racketeering]] and other crimes following an exposé by Mike Hudson of 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 [[political corruption|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 a [[plea bargain|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.<ref name=Anello_prison>{{cite web |url=http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/prison-for-former-falls-mayor-vince-anello/article_6cae472b-7648-56bf-9965-6f90370ec695.html |title=Prison for former Falls mayor Vince Anello |newspaper= Niagara Gazette |date=September 2, 2010 |author=Pfeiffer, Rick |access-date=October 29, 2015}}</ref> The city's decline received national exposure from [[Bloomberg Businessweek]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/10_50/b4207078529793.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302002726/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/magazine/content/10_50/b4207078529793.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2015 |title=The Fall of Niagara Falls |website=Bloomberg Business |date=December 2, 2010 |access-date=March 30, 2015}}</ref> On November 30, 2010, the New York State Attorney General entered into an agreement with 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/attorney-general-cuomo-reaches-agreement-city-niagara-falls-reform-its-police |title=Attorney General Cuomo Reaches Agreement With The City Of Niagara Falls To Reform Its Police Practices |newspaper=Ag.ny.gov |date=November 30, 2010 |author=New York State Office of the Attorney General |access-date= March 30, 2015}}</ref> [[File:Cataract Commons, Niagara Falls, New York.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.8|Cataract Commons]] In 2020, a public square named '''Cataract Commons''' opened on Old Falls Street. It is a public space for outdoor events and activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA Niagara Breaks Ground on Cataract Commons Project in Niagara Falls |url=https://esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/press-releases/usa-niagara-breaks-ground-cataract-commons-project-niagara-falls |website=Empire State Development |publisher=State of New York |access-date=26 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Anstey |first1=Evan |title=Cataract Commons opens in Niagara Falls |url=https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/niagara-county/niagara-falls/watch-lt-gov-kathy-hochul-announces-completion-of-cataract-commons/ |access-date=26 October 2023 |publisher=WIVB |date=17 July 2020}}</ref> The city has multiple properties on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Niagara County, New York|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> It also has three national [[Historic districts in the United States|historic districts]], including [[Chilton Avenue-Orchard Parkway Historic District]], [[Deveaux School Historic District]] and the [[Park Place Historic District (Niagara Falls, New York)|Park Place Historic District]].
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