Erie County Legislator John Mills recently celebrated the Town of Evans Bicentennial by presenting a proclamation to Town of Evans Supervisor Mary Hosler. The Town of Evans is a rural community 20 miles south of Buffalo—occupying over 41 square miles of land and 12 miles of Lake Erie waterfront with a population of over 16,000 residents.

Joel Harvey was the first settler to arrive in 1804. Following the War of 1812, the Town of Evans experienced a dramatic increase in immigration to the lakeside area which caused the local authorities to consider becoming a town.

In March of 1821, the New York State Legislature proposed and passed an Act for the Purpose of erecting the Town of Evans which became effective on March 31, 1821. The Town of Evans was named after David Ellicott Evans—a prominent agent for the Holland Land Company who was known for his kindness, humility, generosity and exceptional talent.

Legislator Mills said, “The Town of Evans is a hidden gem and I am proud to represent the area in my legislative district. Celebrating a bicentennial is a monumental achievement and I am proud to witness it. I want to send out a thank you to Mary Hosler. who is the Town of Evans Supervisor and works tirelessly to keep the Town running smoothly and effectively. Here’s to another 200 years!”