Porter Today
Today, the Town of Porter (including Ransomville, NY and Youngstown,
NY) is an area rich in historical heritage, agricultural tradition,
and small businesses. In 2000, the Town of Porter had a population
of 6,920.
Our History
The land which became the Town of Porter was formed from Cambria
on June 1, 1812 by an act of the New York State Legislature.
The Town of Porter was named in honor of Judge Augustus Porter,
a member of one of the leading families in Niagara County and the
first Judge of the County. Porter was the fourth town into which
Niagara County was divided.
An early record book reports what is thought to be the first town
meeting on April 11, 1815. Dexter P. Sprague was elected Supervisor.
It was during this time period, in 1817, that Gideon Curtiss came
to the frontier. He cut and felled the first timber in what is now
Ransomville, on land purchased from the Holland Land Company, built
a log cabin, and established the first tavern.
The Village of Youngstown was named after John Young, proprietor
of the first store in Youngstown and founder of the village –
he received "Letters Patent" from the State of New York
for Lot #1(183 acres) and Lot #2(187 acres) on November 15, 1811.
Youngstown’s storied history includes providing supplies for
Fort Niagara, being burned by the British in 1813, and serving as
a station in the “underground railroad.” The Village
of Youngstown was incorporated in 1854 and the first Village election
was held on October 4, 1854.
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