Cheektowaga

Cheektowaga is a suburban town in Erie County, New York, composed of several residential neighborhoods like Bellevue, Cleveland Hill, and Maryvale. The town sits near Buffalo and includes commercial areas, with the Walden Galleria serving as a major shopping destination for the region.

The town was founded in 1839 from lands that were previously part of the Buffalo Creek Indian Reservation inhabited by the Seneca people. European settlement transformed the area from tribal territory into a residential community.

Polish-American families form a strong part of the community, and you can find traditional foods, local shops, and celebrations reflecting this heritage throughout the town. The influence shapes how neighborhoods gather and what you see in local businesses today.

The town has a flat layout that makes it easy to navigate, with roads connecting well to nearby Buffalo and surrounding areas. Visitors should plan to have a car, since public transportation is limited and neighborhoods spread out across the region.

The name comes from the Erie-Seneca word Ji-ik-do-wah-gah, which refers to the abundance of crabapple trees that once covered the land. This connection to the natural landscape reveals how the town's identity traces back to its original vegetation.

Location: Erie County

Inception: 1839

Elevation above the sea: 201.8 m

Part of: Northtowns

Shares border with: Buffalo, Sloan

Website: https://tocny.org

GPS coordinates: 42.90390,-78.74390

Latest update: December 19, 2025 22:59