Amherst, New York

Amherst, New York
Amherst Municipal Building
Location of Amherst in Erie County, New York (left) and of Erie County in New York state (right)
Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Coordinates: 42°58′42″N 78°48′00″W / 42.97833°N 78.80000°W / 42.97833; -78.80000
Country United States
State New York
CountyErie
IncorporatedApril 10, 1818
Named afterJeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst
Government
 • TypeTown council
 • SupervisorBrian Kulpa (D)
 • Deputy SupervisorDeborah Bruch Bucki (D)
 • Councilmembers
List
  • Jacqualine G. Berger (D)
  • Shawn Lavin (D)
  • Michael Szukala (D)
 • ClerkFrancina J. Spoth
Area
 • Total
53.58 sq mi (138.78 km2)
 • Land53.20 sq mi (137.78 km2)
 • Water0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)  0.73%
Elevation
594 ft (181 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
129,595
 • Estimate 
(2019)
126,082
 • Density2,364.6/sq mi (912.96/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
  • 14068, 14221, 14226, 14228, 14231, 14260, 14261 (Amherst)
  • 14051 (East Amherst)
Area code716
FIPS code36-029-02000
Websitewww.amherst.ny.us

Amherst (/ˈæmhərst/ ) is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Buffalo. As of 2020, the town had a total population of 129,595. This represents an increase from 122,366 as reported in the 2010 census. It is the 14th most populated municipality in New York.

The second-largest in area and the most populous suburb of Buffalo, the town of Amherst encompasses the village of Williamsville as well as the hamlets of Eggertsville, Getzville, Snyder, Swormville, and East Amherst. The town is in the northern part of Erie County and borders a section of the Erie Canal.

Amherst is home to the north campus of the University at Buffalo, a campus of Erie Community College, a satellite campus of Bryant & Stratton College, and Daemen University.