Attica

History

The Town of Attica was established in western New York in 1802 from a part of the Town of Sheldon. In 1816, part of Attica was taken to organize the new Town of Orangeville. Attica is the location of two state prisons: New York's maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility and medium-security Wyoming Correctional Facility, both located south of the Village of Attica. Since the 1930s Attica had been a prison town, and most correctional officers live here or nearby with their families. On September 9, 1971, in the Attica Prison riot, more than 1200 inmates (of 2200) took over control of the prison. They sought to negotiate with authorities to improve living conditions. The state suppressed the uprising on September 13, 1971, with armed corrections officers, state police, and New York National Guard. Of the 43 men who died, law enforcement gunfire killed 10 hostages and 30 prisoners.

Geography

The town and county are located in western New York. The northern town line is the border of Genesee County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.83%) is water. Tonawanda Creek passes through the northwest part of the town. NY-98 intersects NY-238 and NY-354 at the village of Attica.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,933
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,764
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  3,370
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,363
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,266
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,107
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,803
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,793

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2023-02-06
  1 km NE of West Seneca, New York
• M 2.6 — 2022-03-15
  5 km SSW of Warsaw, New York
• M 2.6 — 2020-03-29
  11 km N of Lyndonville, New York
• M 2.52 — 2017-07-11
  11 km NNW of Barker, New York
• M 2.46 — 2014-02-13
  34 km N of Lyndonville, New York
• M 2.7 — 2009-12-21
  10 km NNE of Olcott, New York