Map of Angola village, New York

Angola is a village in the town of Evans in Erie County, New York, United States. Located 2 miles (3 km) east of Lake Erie, the village is 22 miles (35 km) southwest of downtown Buffalo. As of the 2010 Census, Angola had a population of 2,127. An unincorporated community known as Angola on the Lake, with a population of 1,675, lies between Angola village and Lake Erie.

Online Interactive Map

Click on to view map in "full screen" mode.

Angola location map. Where is Angola village?

History

The community was previously called “Evans Station”. Circa 1854 or 1855, a post office was established there, bearing the name “Angola”. The first postmaster was John H. Andrus, who later became county clerk. The new name was apparently chosen because, at that time, local residents (primarily Quakers) were supporting missionary efforts in the Portuguese colony of Angola in Africa. The economy of the village improved with the arrival of a railroad line in 1852.

The Village of Angola was incorporated in 1873. In June 2004, an attempt to dissolve the village was thwarted by a judicial ruling that the petitions for a referendum were invalid. In 2007, the village agreed to dissolve its police department and contract with the Town of Evans for police services. Angola officers would be hired by Evans.

In February 2008, local officials rejected the urging of local politician Kevin Gaughan to reduce the size of the village board, stating that no financial savings would result. Gaughan, a proponent of reducing the number of government entities in Erie County, is also a proponent of metro government. The US Post Office—Angola was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The Friends of the Village of Angola is a non-profit group of volunteer members whose purpose is to bring more foot traffic to the village. They work to improve and maintain many behind-the-scenes things in Angola. The Friends are responsible for organizing the annual Christmas in the Village, funded by the annual summer Drifters Car Cruise and Donations from individuals and local businesses.

Angola Horror train wreck

On December 18, 1867, just after 3 pm, the last coach of the Buffalo-bound New York Express of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway derailed. It plunged off a truss bridge into Big Sister Creek just after passing Angola. The next car was also pulled from the track and rolled down the far embankment. Stoves set both coaches on fire. Forty-nine people were killed, with an additional forty being injured.

Angola Road Map

Angola city Satellite Map

Geography

Angola is located in southwestern Erie County at 42°38′21″N 79°1′51″W / 42.63917°N 79.03083°W / 42.63917; -79.03083 (42.639109, -79.030709), near the geographic center of the town of Evans. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km), all land.

Angola is 2 miles (3 km) east of the shore of Lake Erie and is west of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90). It is on the New York-Buffalo-Chicago Main Line of CSXT and on the Jersey City-Buffalo-Chicago Main Line of the Norfolk Southern Railway. From 1907 to 1932 Angola was on the Buffalo-to-Erie (Pa.) Main Line of the Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction Company (B&LET) and its successor, the Buffalo & Erie Railway (B&E), a high speed interurban electric railway. The B&E was abandoned with the approval of the New York State Public Service Commission to promote the growth and development of highway transportation.

See also