Visiting Lockport?
Convenient, Cost-Effective, and Comfortable Accomodations!
Call COMFORT INN: 716-434-4411
Or Visit Our Web Site
Lockport is a city of about 22,650 population (1998 figures) in the northwestern part of New York State, about 20 miles northeast of Buffalo and 15 miles east of Niagara Falls. It is the county seat for Niagara County, located in the heart of the Niagara Fruit Belt and home for several manufacturing operations. The city is on the New York State Barge Canal System and got its name from the set of large canal locks which allow boats on the canal to traverse the Niagara Escarpment (about a 50-foot drop-off). The Town of Lockport surrounds the city on all sides and has a population of about 18,629 (1998 figures).
Lockport enjoys a favorable geographic relationship to Buffalo. Although with a separate identity, government, and demographics, it is close enough to the major city to be effectively served through good highway systems, by Buffalo's shopping, cultural, business, transportation, and entertainment assets---without (yet) having to endure many of the liabilities of big rust-belt cities. Lockport is presently near full employment (unemployment rate hovers around 5.6%) and has a state employment office to help job seekers and employers.
This brief summary deals almost exclusively with the city and town of Lockport and does not touch on other parts of the Niagara Frontier which may be just minutes away. Reports on other areas are available. This report is designed to be helpful to first-time visitors to the city and without the bias often expected in tourist, government, and chamber of commerce publications. It is compiled by an experienced reporter and updated frequently as needed. Review the listings below and click on the highlighted items that interest you...or...just scroll down the entire list.
Agriculture. Lockport is in the center of the Niagara Fruit belt and the major service
center for Niagara County farms.
Hotels & Lodging This
overview includes our Top Three Recommendations.
Industries Lockport
industry is diversified. Our summary gives you a first look.
Retail & Business. As
in many communities, business is leaving the central "Main Street" area but the
overall picture is prosperous. Click here for more information.
Tourist Attractions.
All the major items of possible interest to Lockport tourists are detailed here
along with many secondary attractions.
Transportation. Good connections
for the traveler and shipper.
Government Services. Here
we give you a review of the Lockport town and city government services.
Media. Click here for newspaper, radio,
TV, and telephone info.
Housing. It's often hard to get an
unbiased report on housing topics. We've tried our best to tell it like it is.
Restaurants. This overview includes
our Top Four Recommendations.
Recreation,
Entertainment & Attractions. Lockport has plenty for many and what isn't
within its boundries is nearby.
Lockport Trivia. Here's an opportunity to learn
about Lockport with a trivia funtest. Newcomers and oldtimers alike will find details of
interest here. Trivia tidbits change every few weeks.
Links to
Lockport & Contact Information. Click here for a constantly
revised and growing list of contacts with telephone numbers and hot links to web sites of
interest to those traveling to Lockport. Links to Lockport area organizations
are also available here along with a comprehensive list of over 100 groups operating in
Lockport.
Events Around Lockport. This is a brief summary
of upcoming events in the Lockport area.
Class Reunion Information
Especially useful for those who have moved away. A means of keeping track of
class activities through the years.
Although a manufacturing city, Lockport is the heart of the Niagara County fruit belt and agricultural industry. The city is the major commercial center for agriculture in Niagara County and has several supply centers that cater to the needs of agriculture. In addition to this, the New York State Cooperative Education and Farm Bureau have their regional centers here. According to 1997 figures of the United States Department of Agriculture, Niagara County had 340 full-time farms, down 13% from 1992 reporting. Sales were estimated at $57,726,000 up 25% for 1992 even though acres under farming were down 6% to 127,355.
Overnight lodging in Lockport is usually sufficient in capacity for most times of the year. When Lake Ontario fishing tournaments are going on, the limited facilities can fill up fast.
Top Three Recommended Facilties
1. Best Western Lockport Inn, 515 South Transit Street
(Route 78). Tel (716) 434-6151.
has in-house restaurant, lounge, pool, ballroom, and business meeting facilties.
2. Comfort Inn, 551 South Transit Street (Route 78). Tel (716) 434-4411 Six-time Choice International Gold Award Winner. Cable TV and HBO. Free Continental Breakfast Buffet. Dining next door. Check web site for complete details, rates, reservations.
3. Lockport Motel, 315 South Transit St., Tel (716) 434-5595. A local operation with restaurant across the street.
Hilger Properties
Affordable warehouse,
manufacturing, retail, and office spaces
in and around Lockport. --- New!--- Studios for artists.
Visit our web site: http//:www.hilgerproperties.com
or call Doug Emerson at (716) 439-0608
Even though it has lost about 1300 manufacturing jobs over the past twenty years, Lockport still has a high percentage of such employment at 21%. Median income is $35,000.
Delphi-Harrison Thermal, the heating/cooling manufacturing subsidiary of General Motors has its world headquarters here and is the region's major employer. Nothing in the area comes close to its impact with about 6,500 employees, most affiliated with the UAW union. See separate page for Delphi-Harrison.
Other major industries include:
Allegheny Ludlum Steel Special Products - Layoffs have
cut employment to under 50.
Buffalo Paperboard Corp. - Evolved from the old Upson Company. (Emp 75+)
Cadillac Rubber & Plastic, Inc. - Plastic injection molding. (Emp
200+)
Candlelight Cabinetry - Kitchen and bath cabinets. (Emp about 50) Hiring.
Chameleon Color Cards - Paint sample cards. (Emp around 50)
Chemical Design, Inc. - Big plant processing assemblies, world-wide
business (Emp 15+)
Corson Manufacturing - Folding paper cartons (Emp about 200) Closing!
Diversified Manufacturing - Precise machining, laser cutting. (Emp about
100)
Duraline Abrasives - New and up-coming. Named "Business of the
Year" (Emp 15+)
Franbilt, Inc. - Machine shop products. (Emp 30+)
Great Lakes Container (Jamestown Container) Corrugated cartons. (Emp
100+)
International MultiFoods Corp - Bakery products (Emp 50+)
Metal Cladding, Inc. - Coatings of many types, some plating (Emp about
100)
MRS Plating - Quality electroplating. (Emp 15+)
Milward Alloys - Aluminum and copper-based Master Alloys. (Emp 25+)
Niagara Fiberboard - Laminated fiber and wood panels, display boards (Emp
25+)
Niagara Precision - Macine shop. (Emp about 25)
Pallet-Pallet - Wood pallets (Emp 50+)
Pivot Punch Corp - Punches and cutting devices and instruments (Emp about
100)
Polycom Huntsman - Compounder. Resins (Emp 25+)
Sadlo Lumber & Wood Products - Doors, crates, stairs, millwork, etc.
Some retail (Emp 25+)
Sherwood (Taylor-Wharton Gas Equip. Div of Harsco Corp.) - Valves. (Emp
near 500)
Twin Lakes Chemical Co. Inc. - Chlorinated organic chemicals (Emp about
15)
VanDeMark Chemical Group- Poison gas including phosgene; acid chlorides,
chloroformates, and specialized organic chemical intermediates. The company group includes
Vanchem, Inc., Vanchlor, and VanDeMark Chemical. (Emp about 50)
Von Dungen, Emil, Inc. - Sheet metal fabrication. (Emp 20+)
The manufacturing base is well diversified. There is extensive additional space in the area available for small and medium size industries to move right in. Harrison Square, formed from a General Motors plant in the center of the city has leased space available, GM's Harrison-Delphi is still taking a large part of this complex. About ten companies are tenants here now, some high tech. An industrial park, next to the giant Delphi-Harrison complex on the city's northwest boundry also has room for industry.
Go to The Lockport Industrial Index
for an expanded look at local industry.
Like many cities that went through "urban renewal," Lockport's central city business district (downtown) is no longer the major retail center for the area. Along Main Street there's still significant activity but development is hampered by the lack of diversity in downtown property ownership, a growing criminal element residing on the business district's border, and...politics. Lockport has been struggling to address this problem for over 20 years. Lockport Savings Bank, after long consideration, decided to move its headquarters outside of Lockport to a location near the Erie County line in Pendleton where eventually 300 people are expected to be employed. The bank says the "Main" banking office will still remain downtown, but this is the type of job loss that continues to hurt the city's downtown area.
The major shopping center is the Lockport Mall and associated development along South Transit Road (Route 78) on the city's southern border. The Mall itself is ranked (Business First) as the 10th largest mall in Western New York in terms of number of stores. Many national retail and restaurant chains are in this area, several department stores (The Bon-Ton, Wards, Hills, K-Mart, Wal-Mart), a major supermarket complex (Tops) and all the new auto dealerships.
There is a limited bus schedule to and from Buffalo from which national transportation links can be made. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) provides bus service between Lockport and Buffalo. For a schedule of their arrival and departure times, click here. Taxi service in the city is the major transportation asset available to those without their own vehicles. A county-funded organization, Rural Niagara Transportation operating as Rides Unlimited of Niagara, provides limited bus service from various pickup and drop off points in the city and county. Of course, there is a school bus service for those attending the grades through high school and outside walking distance.
Air transportation is primarily from the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (about 30 minutes from Lockport) where a good variety of air carriers provide service. Charter and air cargo service is available through the Niagara Falls International Airport. Both of these facilities are presently owned by the NFTA.
Lockport has rail freight service through Conrail and the Falls Road Railroad (Genesee Valley Transportation) Out-going connections to the rest of the nation is through Conrail. There is a choice of connections between Lockport and Niagara Falls using either Conrail or Falls Road. Connections directly to the west are available through Falls Road; the line ends, however, in Brockport. There is no rail passenger service at present. Passenger "excursion" trips are run occasionally between Lockport and Brockport.
Lockport has a full-service United Parcel Service (company-owned) terminal. Federal Express also provides daily service here. The United States Postal Service has a relatively new, full-service office here. A number of common carriers provide service here and Lockport is home for one major over-the-road trucking company.
The city has a good-sized professional full-time fire department which also provides the city ambulance service. Fire services in the town of Lockport are through a large volunteer department. The city has an adequate police force with four cars usually on the road, 24-hours-a-day. The town relies on Sheriff's patrols, adequate most of the time.
The city operates its own water and sewer utilities (with rates for both rising rapidly), a garbage collection service, and a streets and parks department with significant capabilities. In the town, water is provided by the County Water Authority, sewer service by the city, and garbage collection by private contractors. Gas and electric service is from New York State Electric & Gas.
City government is headed by a part-time mayor, numerous full-time professional department heads, and a part-time legislative council. Residents pay city, county, and school property taxes plus separate billing for water and sewer. The town government is very limited and there is no town tax as such, residents paying county and school property taxes plus certain charges such as for water, sewer, and fire protection. There is a 7% sales tax in effect in all areas.
Tax Rates: (per $1000 of assessed property value - Year 1999-2000)
Lockport City: $12.87
Lockport Town: No Town Tax
Lockport School District: $25.24
Niagara County: $8.68
Total Taxes For Lockport City: $46.79/$1000
The city hospital was turned into a privately operated facility (Lockport Memorial Hospital) and is adequate for most situations.
The public school system is well financed with many schools, all in good repair, located throughout the territory. Neighborhood schools for the grades, two middle schools, and a single large high school. Facilties are very good. Teachers are well paid. For a performance report on Lockport and other areas schools, go to School Performance Reports on our Niagara County Contacts and Links page. For the grades, two superior church-affiliated schools are also available. A county-owned Niagara County Community College provides a wide variety of course and degree offerings both on an undergraduate, adult education, and industrial training basis. A downtown public library has been recently expanded and has ample resources for the size community and some specialized offerings for the business community.
The Lockport Union-Sun & Journal publishes six days a week. It is part of the Newspaper Holding Group, controlled out of Kentucky. The Buffalo News and the Niagara Gazette are daily papers with significant distribution in Lockport and limited coverage of local news. The Gazette,was recently purchased by the same Kentucky group and its publisher installed to also head operations of the Lockport paper. Consolidation of operations is in the works. There is a cable TV service and a local access channel, a local AM radio station, and a wide variety of radio/TV signals available from Buffalo, Rochester, and southern Ontario (Canada). There are several "shopper" type free publications for advertising and the usual outdoor advertising options.
Local telephone service is available from Bell Atlantic (Formerly NYNEX). Calls to Buffalo are toll calls. Good cellular service is available.
For more complete media information on Lockport and all of Western New York go to the special section, Western New York Media Monitor at this website.
Internet Service Providers have telephone access numbers in Western Niagara County and Buffalo. Calls to the Western Niagara County numbers are usually toll-free for all but those with basic budget telephone services. Calls to Buffalo are toll calls. For local Internet and computer-related information go to: Lockport OnLine.
The real estate market in the Lockport area is a better value than available in suburban Buffalo. Taxes, although high, are lower than the city of Buffalo and northern suburbs. There is a large number of homes for sale in all price ranges and neighborhoods. Lockport has only one significant area of neighborhood deterioration and that borders the city's central business district on parts of the south. Crime is a factor in this area. There are few building lots available for new homes in the city.
Rooms, apartments, and houses of modern and superior quality for rent to the general population may be difficult to come by. However, there is a large inventory of subsidized senior and low-income housing, of good quality, at various locations. A 1997 report by a consulting firm retained by the city states 42% of the housing in the city in rental. It also states the average home price in 1994-95 was $55,000.
The average assessed value of residential property is $53,100.
Most major fast-food chains are represented. Lockport has approximately fifty-seven restaurants (in the immediate urban area) listed in the telephone directory Yellow Pages. There is an excellent variety of family and modestly priced establishments. For business or important dinner dates we recommend these establishments:
Top Four Recommended Restaurants
1. The Shamus Restaurant, 98 West Avenue, (716-433-9809). Located near the county office and court house complex, just a one minute walk out of the city's Main Street business district. Adult dining, wide range of menu choices, expert chef-owner, reserved atmosphere usually without rowdy patrons. Food and presentation are superior. Lunch and dinner, closed Sundays.
2. Garlock's Restaurant, 35 South Transit (Route 78) (716-433-5595). Located just a minute's walk from the Main Street business district. Adult dining, superior steaks and seafood. Dinners only, daily.
3. Danny Sheehan's Steak House, 491 West Avenue, (Route 31 West) (716-433-4666). Out of the business district on the west side. Adult dining, superior steaks. A Lockport dining tradition. Dinners only, closed Mondays.
4. Village Eatery, 429 Davison Road, near the county golf course on the east side of Lockport. (716-433-0688). More than a "pizza and pasta house" as the sign indicates. Excellent Italian menu items, superior food preparation and a "special" atmosphere. Take-out service available. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
The city has two major and many neighborhood parks (a total of 27). The major parks have areas for sports such as tennis, baseball, football, volleyball, bowling on the green, swimming, and basketball. Many of the neighborhood schools also have outdoor recreational space and facilities. There is an indoor roller skating rink, a couple of bowling alleys, and two movie houses with multiple screens plus a drive-in (seasonal). There is a year around sports complex to the south of the city. The county golf course is on the city's eastern border and the Lockport Town and Country Club has an excellent golf course. Two other commercial golf courses are just north of the city. An excellent airfield for R/C model flying is maintained on the east side of the county golf course and is available without charge. Hiking, biking, and walking trails are available along the canal and in a "wilderness park." The Lockport Conservation Club has a large property on the north side for sportsmen interested in hunting and fishing.
Most national social and service clubs are present in Lockport including a very busy YMCA and YWCA. There are several commercial health clubs and a couple of dance studios. A very active and extensive senior citizen's center (Dale Association) has many activities year around (Lockport has a high percentage of senior citizens, 16%). At the Kenan Center a small community theatre presents productions several times a year. Large exhibition areas are available at the Kenan Center, the State Armory, and the "County Fair Grounds" on the north side.
Ease of travel to Buffalo and other major nearby entertainment venues, probably precludes siting of many "after dark" stages in Lockport. There are several sports bars, many neighborhood bars, and a few bars with musical entertainment but for adults primarily under 35.
Of interest to tourists...Canal boat tours and operation of the locks are of interest during the summer. A cave along side the canal has recently been re-opened for tours during the warm weather months. A County Historical complex is open at 215 Niagara Street. The Kenan Mansion is open at various times for art and other events at 433 Locust Street. In the summer, there is a nice overlook from the top of the Niagara Escarpment at Outwater Park on the city's northwest border. See complete information on our separate page: Lockport Tourist Attractions.
City of Lockport, City Clerk's Office: Telephone: (716) 439-6676
City of Lockport, Mayor's Office: Telephone: (716) 439-6665
Eastern Niagara Chamber of Commerce, (716) 433-3828 e-mail: info@eastniagarany.org
Helpline. An information and referral service providing data on hundreds of organizations and services available for just about any need in the area. Operates 24-hours-a-day: (716) 433-5432
Lockport Letter. A free web-based summary of top local news of the Lockport area presented in a concise format and updated daily as needed. Includes links to other area weather and current information sources on the web important to Lockport.
Lockport Public Library, Telephone (716) 433-5935. East Avenue, downtown. Provides full library service including computers with Internet access, reference librarians, reading room, audio-visual media and book loan.
Lockport School District. Listing of schools, administrators, stats, demos, test results.
Lockport High School PTSA. Reports of doings at Lockport High School. Updated frequently.
New York State Employment Office at Lockport: 716-433-6766
Niagara County Tourism Department Click here to go to their informative Home Page or call them at: 716-439-7300.
Rural Niagara Transportion (Niagara County bus service). Using Niagara County Community College as its main hub, the $1/ride buses provide connections to all parts of the county except the Barker area. For schedules and stop information in Lockport call 731-3540.
Town of Lockport. Office of the Town Clerk, Telephone (716) 439-9524
Town of Lockport. Office of the Town Supervisor, Telephone (716) 439-9520
Union-Sun & Journal. Publishes Monday thru Saturday from Lockport. Part of Newspaper Holdings, Inc., a national chain of small newspapers controlled by Kentucky family. Operated in association with co-owned papers in Niagara Falls and Medina. Telephone: (716) 439-9211(Business Office).
Allegheny Environmental Services, Inc. With its Regional Office in Lockport, Allegheny offers a full menu of environmental services including site remediation, property assessments, and hazardous waste disposal. The Allegheny Home Page is a gateway to other environmental destinations on the web.
The Basket Case. "Lockport's Original Gift Basket" is set up to provide theme baskets for any occasion or custom basket created to your specifications today...delivered tomorrow. From the Lombardi family in Lockport. Check out their web page today.
McKnight-Hogan & Noonan Realtors. Operating from 124 East Avenue in Lockport (next to the Post Office) this real estate firm, with 50 years of service to the Niagara Frontier region, has specialists for residential, commercial, farm, and land properties. Jim Noonan and his company are making a financial contribution to the support of the Lockport website. Please check out their website.
Comfort Inn. This is a recommended lodging facility in Lockport at 551 South Transit Road, Route 78. The Comfort Inn at Lockport is a Six-Time Choice International Gold Award winner; ranking in the top 5% of all Choice Hotels!. The Comfort Inn is making a financial contribution to the support of the Lockport web site. You may make an immediate reservation or check rates at their web site which gives full information (with photos) on facilities, and location.
Mills Jewelers. Located in downtown Lockport, Mills has their own web site which includes an interesting variety of information. Check it out at www.millsjewelers.com Mills is making a financial contribution to the support of the Lockport web site.
Organization Page Links and Lists. Here is an index of names of non-commercial organizations in or serving the Lockport area, who have web addresses and have had a link to those addresses established here. Information on how to add a listing is included. Following this, is a comprehensive list of over 100 Lockport area organizations known to be in operation---giving a good indication of what's available. Contact information for each organization is available on request.
Quik Internet Service. Local access internet service provider for Lockport-Buffalo area. Also provides DSL and Internet cell phones. In the Bewley Building in Lockport.
"Keeping in Touch." This is a listing of residents and former residents of the Greater Lockport area (Eastern Niagara County) who have submitted their e-mail addresses to make it easier for old friends to contact them. Instructions on how to add your name to the list. Those who have personal home pages may have a link to it installed here.