Editing East Aurora, New York

{{for|the village in Cayuga County, New York|Aurora, Cayuga County, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = East Aurora, New York
| settlement_type    = [[Village (United States)|Village]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Aurora Theatre from Main Street.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The [[Aurora Theatre]] from Main Street
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = EastAuroraNYseal.png
| image_map          = Erie County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas East Aurora highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Erie County, New York|Erie County]] and the state of [[New York (state)|New York]].

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Erie County, New York|Erie]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Town (New York)|Town]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Aurora, Erie County, New York|Aurora]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 6.53
| area_land_km2      = 6.50
| area_water_km2     = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.52
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.51
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 5998
| population_density_km2 = 922.30
| population_density_sq_mi = 2388.69

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 280
| elevation_ft       = 919
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|46|1|N|78|37|2|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 14052
| area_code          = [[Area code 716|716]], [[Area code 585|585]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 36-21589
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0948967
| website            = {{URL|www.east-aurora.ny.us}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''East Aurora''' is a [[village (New York)|village]] in [[Erie County, New York]], United States, southeast of [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]. It lies in the eastern half of the town of [[Aurora, Erie County, New York|Aurora]]. The village population was 5,998 per the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: East Aurora village, New York |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/eastauroravillagenewyork |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> It is part of the [[Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area]]. In 2015, East Aurora was rated the third-best town to raise a family in [[New York State]] by [[Niche (company)|Niche]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://local.niche.com/rankings/towns/best-places-for-families/s/new-york/ |title=2019 Best Places to Raise a Family in New York - Niche |publisher=Local.niche.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> According to the National Council of Home Safety and Security, it is also among the safest places to live in New York State <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/lewiston-east-aurora-safest-places-to-live-in-wny/71-518896426 |title=Lewiston, East Aurora safest places to live in WNY |publisher=wgrz.com |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> (ranked 1st, 2018).

== History ==
The village was founded in 1804,<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the City of Buffalo and Erie County: With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Volume I |author=Smith, H. Perry|page=[https://archive.org/details/historycitybuff00smitgoog/page/n639 537]|publisher=D. Mason & Co|year=1884|url=https://archive.org/details/historycitybuff00smitgoog}}</ref> and incorporated in 1874.<ref>{{cite news |title=East Aurora Bee |date=October 12, 2011 |url=http://www.eastaurorabee.com/node/11984 |access-date=March 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817125158/http://www.eastaurorabee.com/node/11984 |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Prior to becoming [[President of the United States]], [[Millard Fillmore]] lived in East Aurora with his wife [[Abigail Fillmore|Abigail]] from 1826 to 1830. The house he built there while practicing law in the beginning of his political career is currently maintained by the Aurora Historical Society. The 1825 structure is restored to that period and features some original Fillmore furniture of the era, as well as items from Fillmore's presidential years. The home is currently located at 24 Shearer Avenue in the village of East Aurora. 	[[File:Millard Fillmore Presidential Site, East Aurora NY 2017.jpg|thumb|Millard Fillmore Presidential Site]]

The founder of the [[Roycroft|Roycroft Movement]], [[Elbert Hubbard]], also lived there during the turn of the twentieth century. Hubbard and his wife died on board the {{RMS|Lusitania}} in 1915. One of the town's most famous landmarks, the Roycroft Inn, was converted from the Hubbards' original print shop and opened as an inn in 1905 to accommodate the influx of famous visitors attracted by Hubbard's ideas as well as the books, Mission-style furniture and metalware produced by the 500 Roycroft artisans on the South Grove Street Roycroft campus. The Roycroft Campus was granted National Landmark Status in 1986. The Roycroft Inn was re-opened in June 1995 through the support of the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roycroftinn.com/inn/inn_history.htm | title = The Roycroft Inn, East Aurora NY ‒ History | access-date = February 15, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070312042831/http://www.roycroftinn.com/inn/inn_history.htm | archive-date = March 12, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The inn was completely restored and is open to the public for dining and accommodations. [[George and Gladys Scheidemantel House|The Elbert Hubbard Museum]] on Oakwood Avenue features an extensive collection of Roycroft books and Arts & Crafts pieces.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

East Aurora is also the birthplace of and home to the corporate headquarters for [[Fisher-Price]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fisher-price.com/us/default.asp | title = Fisher-Price Website| access-date = October 3, 2007 }}</ref> From 1987 through 2007<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.toytownusa.com/events/toyfest.htm | title = Toyfest | access-date = March 16, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080613220441/http://www.toytownusa.com/events/toyfest.htm | archive-date = June 13, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> the village and the [[Toy Town Museum]] (an independent non-profit organization located on the Fisher-Price campus) held the Toyfest Festival,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.east-aurora.ny.us/history.htm | title = Village of East Aurora History | access-date = October 3, 2007 | archive-date = October 25, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071025045248/http://www.east-aurora.ny.us/history.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> which included the Toyfest parade featuring giant replicas of classic Fisher-Price toys. The three-day event was usually held at Hamlin Park and included an amusement park, circus-like attractions and a Fisher-Price play area where young children could play with a variety of toys.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
[[File:Knox Farm at Night.jpg|thumb|Night view of Knox Farm from Willardshire  Road]]
The town was the home of the inaugural owner of the NHL franchise [[Buffalo Sabres]], [[Seymour H. Knox III]]. The Knox Estates, now known as [[Knox Farm State Park|Knox Farm]], is a {{convert|633|acre|km2|adj=on}} New York state park. It is located on the northwest edge of the village.

The [[Millard Fillmore House]], [[George and Gladys Scheidemantel House]], and [[Roycroft|Roycroft Campus]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>  The Adams family were the first settlers to stay a winter in East Aurora in 1804 and the family farm still stands today on Olean Road.

== Contemporary issues ==
East Aurora was one of the first communities to successfully block a [[Walmart]] store, in 1995 and again in 1999. The act was led by a community group in an attempt to preserve the small town values, and help support privately owned businesses. [[Wegmans]] also attempted to come to East Aurora, but it was blocked by [[Tops Friendly Markets|Tops]], a grocery store in East Aurora.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/list.asp?i=109 | title = 11 Most Endangered Places at National Trust for Historic Preservation | access-date = February 15, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060928233624/http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/list.asp?i=109 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = September 28, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://eastaurora.org/about.aspx | title = East Aurora New York ‒ Village History | access-date = February 15, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070307120546/http://www.eastaurora.org/about.aspx | archive-date = March 7, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== Geography ==
East Aurora is located at {{Coord|42|46|1|N|78|37|2|W|type:city}} (42.766809, -78.617121).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the village has a total area of {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}}, all land.
[[File:Creek from Maple.jpg|thumb|View of Tannery Brook from Maple]]
Main Street in the village is [[U.S. Route 20A (New York)|U.S. Route 20A]].

=== Points of interest ===
Main Street in East Aurora is lined with a variety of specialty shops, restaurants, churches, municipal buildings and carefully preserved homes. Businesses include The ''East Aurora Advertiser'', the community newspaper since 1872, which has occupied its Main St. office for more than 100 years. On Riley Street sits the East Aurora Classic Rink, which was created by the Aurora Ice Association. The rink’s components such as the boards, glass and refrigeration system were purchased by the Aurora Ice Association and is the same equipment used in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7632/ | title = Cinema Treasures ‒ Aurora Theater | access-date = February 15, 2007 }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1109
|1890= 1582
|1900= 2366
|1910= 2781
|1920= 3703
|1930= 4815
|1940= 5253
|1950= 5962
|1960= 6791
|1970= 7033
|1980= 6803
|1990= 6647
|2000= 6673
|2010= 6236
|2020= 5998
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2020, there were 5,998 people, 2,596 households, and 1,728 families residing in the village. The population density was {{convert|2,653.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,729 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,085.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

There were 2,596 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males. Since 2012, there has been a boost in families with very young children.

== Schools ==
Children living in the village of East Aurora attend Parkdale Elementary (grades K–4), East Aurora Middle School (grades 5–8), and [[East Aurora High School (New York)|East Aurora High School]] (grades 9–12). Children living in the Town of Aurora attend the same public schools, with the notable exception of children living on Highland Drive in the Town of Aurora who attend the Iroquois School District due to a decision made in the 1960s. Immaculate Conception Catholic School (grades K-8) is the [[parochial school|parochial]] and the Mandala school, a school that incorporates democratic and hands-on learning, are the alternatives. Children from the ages of one through four can attend [[nursery school]] on the Fisher Price campus, at the Duck Duck Goose Childcare Center or at some of the churches in East Aurora. Another option is the East Aurora [[Montessori School]] for ages two through five. Children may also attend Sprouting Minds Montessori School which is a school for infants through sixth grade providing a full Montessori curriculum to children in preschool through sixth grade. Sprouting Minds Montessori is located in the Town of Aurora near the West Falls borderline. Although not in East Aurora, the Aurora Waldorf School is a nearby option in West Falls providing an alternative Waldorf education to children from infancy through eighth grade.

In 2008 and 2009 additions and renovations totaling $24 million<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=53153 | title = Capital Facilities Project Overview | access-date = April 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307071154/http://eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/blank/browse.asp?a=383&bcob=0&bmdrn=2000&c=53153 | archive-date = March 7, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref> were made to the district's schools to address space and maintenance issues.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=288445&C=56928 | title = Capital Facilities Project History | access-date = April 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160310131813/http://eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/cwp/view.asp?a=3&c=56928&q=288445 | archive-date = March 10, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Prior to 2009 students attended Parkdale Elementary in grades K–2, and Main Street Elementary for grades 3–8. Elements of the Roycroft style influenced the design of Parkdale Elementary's new entrance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/lib/114010522142145140/September_October_2008_Project_Status.pdf | title = Capital Facilities Project July–August 2008 Update | access-date = April 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307125309/http://eastauroraschools.org/114010522142145140/lib/114010522142145140/september_october_2008_project_status.pdf | archive-date = March 7, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
[[File:East Aurora Middle School.jpg|thumb|East Aurora Middle School from Main Street]]
The district gained approval on January 25, 2011, to begin contracting a roof repair project at the high school that would take place over the summer of 2011. The project did not have any tax impact on the community as it used funds from the district's emergency building repair fund and New York State Building Aid. The work was scheduled to begin on June 27, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastauroraschools.org/114010128202613737/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=58391 |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306175756/http://eastauroraschools.org/114010128202613737/blank/browse.asp?a=383&bcob=0&bmdrn=2000&c=58391 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
*[[Randall James Bayer]], botanist
*[[Merritt C. Buxton]], U.S. National Champion jockey
*[[Christine Estabrook]], actress
*[[Margaret Evans Price]], illustrator, co-founder of [[Fisher-Price]]
*[[Abigail Fillmore]], former First Lady of the United States
*[[Millard Fillmore]], 13th President of the United States of America
*[[William Headline]], former Washington bureau chief for [[CNN]]
*[[Elbert Hubbard]], writer, publisher, artist, philosopher, and founder of the Roycroft artist community; died aboard the sinking of the RMS ''Lusitania'' on May 7, 1915.
*[[Jeremy Jacobs]], owner of the [[Boston Bruins]]
*[[Emily Janiga]], Professional Hockey player for the NWHL [[Buffalo Beauts]]
*[[Seymour H. Knox III]], original owner of the [[Buffalo Sabres]]
*[[Joseph McKeen Morrow]], Wisconsin state assemblyman
*[[Henry H. Persons]], banker, businessman, New York State Senator.
*[[Irving Price]], co-founder of [[Fisher-Price]] and former mayor of East Aurora
*[[Helen Schelle]], co-founder of [[Fisher-Price]]
*[[James Schuyler]], New York School poet, moved to East Aurora with his family when he was 15 (the town is the setting for two of his poems, "The Morning of the Poem" and "A Few Days")
*[[Julie Byrne]], singer-songwriter
*[[Albert Sharpe (American football)|Albert Sharpe]], [[All-American]] college football player
*[[Luke Tasker]], CFL wide receiver
*[[Joe Slade White]], political strategist

==Art==
East Aurora has been home to a number of regional landscape painters, most notably Carl W. Illig (1910-1987), who grew up and lived in the village for nearly all of his life. He painted landscape scenes along [[Cazenovia Creek]], and fields and hills around East Aurora, in all seasons. His paintings are found in many homes in the village and surrounding towns.

==Economy==
[[Astronics]] is based in East Aurora.

East Aurora is home to the corporate headquarters of [[Moog, Inc]]. Moog is a designer and manufacturer of motion and fluid controls and control systems for applications in aerospace, defense, industrial and medical devices. The company operates under three segments: aircraft controls, space and defense controls, and industrial systems.

==Cultural references==
* In the [[Whit Stillman]] movie ''[[Metropolitan (1990 film)|Metropolitan]]'', Nick Smith (played by [[Chris Eigeman]]) says that he will soon be taking a train to East Aurora, where he will meet his "stepmother of untrammeled malevolence, quite possibly to be murdered."
* ''[[A Prince for Christmas]]'' was filmed in the village of East Aurora and premiered on the ION network on November 29, 2015.
* ''A Christmas in Vermont'' was filmed in the village of East Aurora and other locations entirely in western NY. It premiered on the ION network on November 27, 2016.
* ''Cold Brook'' was directed by William Fichtner was filmed in the village of East Aurora and other locations in Western NY. The movie was released October 15, 2018.

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.east-aurora.ny.us Village of East Aurora official website]
* [http://www.eastaurorany.com ''East Aurora Advertiser''], local newspaper
* [http://www.eanycc.com Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.eastauroraschools.org/ East Aurora Union Free School District]
*{{Wikivoyage inline|East Aurora}}

{{Erie County, New York}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Villages in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Villages in Erie County, New York]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1804]]
[[Category:1804 establishments in New York (state)]]