Alden, New York

Alden is a town in Erie County, New York. The population was 10,865 at the 2010 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers.Alden is in the northeast part of Erie County, east of Buffalo. It contains a village also called Alden.HistoryThe town of Alden was established in 1823 from part of the town of Clarence. Part of the town was later given up to form the town of Marilla in 1853.In 1856, the community of Alden in the town set itself off by incorporating as a village. The town was made more popular by the discovery of the black water baths in 1891. People would travel from Buffalo and from areas far east of the town to experience the healing powers of the black water baths.GeographyAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 89.4sqkm, of which 88.9sqkm is land and 0.5sqkm, or 0.58%, is water. Ellicott Creek, a tributary of Tonawanda Creek and thence the Niagara River, flows westward through the north-central part of the town. Cayuga Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River, flows westward through the southern part of the town.