Some of the early settlers were from Wales, and gave the town the name of their origin.
The Town of Cambria was established in 1808 when Niagara county was formed. Cambria was the original town of Niagara County; all other towns were formed from its territory after 1812.
When Genesee County, New York was formed in 1802, all of Niagara County was included and was part of the Town of Batavia. Subsequently, Erie County was created by removing the Towns of Willink and Clarence, both towns having been created from Cambria in Niagara County.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.9 square miles (103 km2), all land.
New York State Route 31 (Saunders Settlement Rd.), East-West Highway through the town from the Lewiston town line to the Lockport town line.
New York State Route 93 (Ridge Rd., N. Ridge Rd., Youngstown-Lockport Rd.), east–west roadway through the northeastern part of town from the Wilson town line to the Lockport town line where NY 93 then heads south on its west route and makes up the eastern Cambria town line as Town Line Rd. (Lockport Town Line Rd.) from NY 104 to NY 31. (NY 93 also runs concurrent with NY 104 from the Lockport town line to N. Ridge Rd. where NY 93 heads north towards Youngstown.)
New York State Route 104 (Ridge Rd.), east–west highway through the northern part of town from the Lewiston town line to the Lockport town line.
New York State Route 270 (Campbell Blvd.), north–south roadway through the town from its northern end at Saunders Settlement Rd. (NY 31) to the Pendleton town line.
New York State Route 425 (Shawnee Rd., Lower Mountain Rd., Cambria-Wilson Rd.), north–south roadway through the town from the Wheatfield town line to the Wilson town line.
New York State Route 429 (Town Line Rd.), north–south roadway that forms the western town line from Saunders Settlement Rd. (NY 31) to its northern terminus at Ridge Rd. (NY 104).
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,393 people, 1,995 households, and 1,524 families residing in the town. The population density was 135.3 inhabitants per square mile (52.2/km2). There were 2,066 housing units at an average density of 51.8 per square mile (20.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.29% White, 0.26% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,995 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,534, and the median income for a family was $54,583. Males had a median income of $45,767 versus $25,545 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,397. About 4.1% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Cambria
Cambria Center – A hamlet at the junction of Lower Mountain Road and Cambria-Wilson Road (Route 425).
Cambria Station – A hamlet near the south town line on Shawnee Road (Route 425).
Comstock Corners – A location in the southeast corner at the junction of Saunders Settlement Road and Comstock Road.
Hickory Corners – A hamlet at the eastern town line on Town Line Road (Route 93).
Molyneaux Corners – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on Ridge Road, named after early settler William Molyneaux.
