Keywords About Porter Departments Boards & Committees Contact Us FAQ Find It Fast You are here Home ›› Departments ›› Town Historian History of Porter By Lynn Jacobs Zanardi Links: Welcome to the Village of Youngstown Old Fort Niagara: Western New York's most popular State Historic Site Bicentennial War of 1812 New York State Parks: Four Mile Creek State Park Niagara Frontier Country Club Youngstown Yacht Club Find a Grave: Oakland Rural Cemetery Find a Grave: Universal Cemetery Find a Grave:St. John Lutheran Cemetery Find a Grave: Skinner Cemetery Find a Grave: Curtiss Pioneer Cemetery (Ransomville Cemetery) Find a Grave: Tower Cemetery Find a Grave: Halsted Cemetery Find a Grave: Fort Niagara 1812 Cemetery Find a Grave: St. Bernard's Cemetery Census Data During the twentieth century, the town experienced steady growth until the completion of the Power Project. The construction of the Power Project and a new Lewiston-Queenston Bridge brought jobs, new homes, and classrooms in trailers to accommodate the influx of students into the Lewiston-Porter Central School District. 1814 - 148 1820 - 850 1825 - 925 1830 - 1,490 1835 - 1,838 1840 - 2,177 1845 - 2,303 1850 - 2,455 1855 - 2,643 1860 - 2,353 1865 - 2,366 1870 - 2,042 1875 - 2,102 1880 - 2,278 1885 - 2,700 1890 - 2,104 1930 - 2,954 1940 - 3,361 1950 - 4,276 1957 - 5,612 1960 - 7,309 1967 - 6,631 1970 - 7,429 1980 - 7,251 1990 - 7,100 2000 - 6,920 2010 - 6,771 History The Town of Porter was named for the Hon. Augustus Porter, the first judge of Niagara County. Judge Porter owned land in the town, but did not reside in Porter. The town was formed from the Town of Cambria on June 1, 1812, by an act of the New York State Legislature. Settlement of the town’s 19, 870 acres evolved from its strategic location bounded on the west by the Niagara River and Lake Ontario on the north, and Old Fort Niagara. Earliest records of minutes from a town meeting were dated April 11, 1815. The Village of Youngstown was named for John Young, a Canadian, who operated the first store in the village. The village was incorporated on April 18, 1854. The Hamlet of Ransomville was named for the prominent Ransom family. The first settler to arrive in Ransomville was Gideon Curtiss in 1817, followed by his brother Gilbert. Historical events in a town impact the growth or decline of its citizenry. A number of books in the Museum offer clues to the data. Sources: Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, Facts about Niagara County, May 1967 Niagara County Historian’s Office, Town populations 1800s. Town Genealogy Are you looking for your ancestors from the Town of Porter? Some resources to begin your search: Town of Porter Historical Society Museum 240 Lockport St. Youngstown, NY 14174 716-745-1271 Hours: Wednesday, Thursday; 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Some of the records available at the museum include: 1820 Town of Cambria census 1820 Town of Niagara census 1820 Federal Census Index for the Town of Porter 1820 Town of Wilson census 1830 Federal Census Town of Porter 1840 Federal Census Town of Porter 1850 Census Town of Porter 1860 Census Town of Porter 1865 Census Town of Porter 1875 Town of Porter census including Youngstown 1880 Youngstown census 1910 Town of Porter Census Oakland Rural Cemetery records Skinner Family Cemetery records St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Cemetery records Fillmore-Halstead Cemetery records Modern Post Cemetery records Fort Niagara 1812 Cemetery records St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery records Universal Cemetery records Family Tree Maker, family files, newspaper clippings, modern obituaries, maps, books and articles on the history of the town and village, and more. Ransomville Historical Room Behind Ransomville Free Library 3733 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY 14131 Contact Library for museum hours (716) 791-4073 Niagara County Genealogical Society 215 Niagara St. Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 433-1033 call first before visiting Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Niagara County Historian’s Office 139 Niagara St. Lockport, NY 14094 716-439-7324 Hours: Wednesday – Friday; 8:30 – 12:30; 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Niagara Falls Public Library Local History Department 1425 Main St. Niagara Falls, NY 716-286-4489 Hours: Monday – Friday; 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Niagara Gazette and other newspapers on microfilm Niagara County Genealogical Society Niagara County Historian’s Office Niagara Falls Public Library History of Porter Contact Info Address: 3265 Creek Road Youngstown, NY 1417 United States See map: Google Maps Key Contacts Terry Duffy Town of Porter Town Hall 3265 Creek Rd Youngstown, New York 14174 (716) 745-3730 Website Disclaimer Government Websites by CivicPlus ® Login