Batavia Revisited

The origins of Batavia can be traced back to 1801 when Joseph Ellicott, a surveyor and land agent for the Holland Land Company, laid out the town's principal thoroughfares. Incorporated as a village in 1823 and as a city in 1915, Batavia has undergone significant changes over the years.

As the community grew, mansions were built along Main Street, only to disappear later on. Several major factories emerged, but many of them either failed or relocated. The retail center shifted from the city's downtown to the surrounding town of Batavia.

Urban renewal dramatically altered the core of the city, as large areas were leveled and then rebuilt or transformed into parking lots. The railroad tracks that once ran through the center of the community were moved to its periphery, and new bridges were constructed across Tonawanda Creek, changing the traffic patterns.

This book documents these and other transformations that occurred in Batavia during the last 200 years. From the initial layout of the town's main streets by Joseph Ellicott to the urban renewal projects that reshaped the city's landscape, Batavia's history has been marked by a series of significant changes.

The incorporation of Batavia as a village in 1823 and later as a city in 1915 reflects the community's growth and evolution over time. As the town expanded, the construction and subsequent disappearance of mansions along Main Street, as well as the rise and fall of major factories, illustrate the dynamic nature of Batavia's economic and social landscape.

The relocation of the retail center from the city's downtown to the surrounding town area highlights the shifting commercial dynamics within the community. The urban renewal projects that leveled and rebuilt large sections of the city, or turned them into parking lots, dramatically altered the core of Batavia, while the movement of the railroad tracks to the city's periphery and the construction of new bridges across Tonawanda Creek further transformed the community's infrastructure and transportation networks.

This comprehensive documentation of the changes that Batavia has undergone in the past two centuries provides valuable insights into the town's development and the factors that have shaped its evolution over time. From the initial planning and layout of the town to the more recent urban renewal efforts, this book offers a detailed account of the transformations that have defined Batavia's identity and character.

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