Gowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills. The Village of Gowanda is partly in the Town of Collins in Erie County and the Town of Persia in Cattaraugus County.
Communities and locations in Gowanda
Chang Hu Park – A memorial park dedicated to the late Dr. Ronald Chang who was influential in the town's planning and building process.
Gowanda Correctional Facility – A NYS Medium Security prison located right next to Collins Correctional Facility
Riverside Park – located along the Cattaraugus Creek in the heart of Gowanda which was revitialized into a historic park area.
Zoar Valley – A scenic valley formed by Cattaraugus Creek. Located in Gowanda, Zoar Valley features over 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of wilderness, hiking trails and waterfalls.
Featured in AAA's travel guide, Gowanda features the Hollywood Happening. Attendance of the 2008 Hollywood Happening was estimated to be around 22,000 people for the entire weekend.
