Dear Group, I'm in process of responding to a query that included a question regarding . . . well, as she put it, "Are the "Town of Porter" and "Village of Youngstown" one in the same? If not, how are they different? Wht is it's name now." While I was at it, I thought that my response to her would be of some value to all of you. Here how it goes. Regarding the Town of Porter and the Village of Youngstown, both of them still exist under those names. In NY state, the counties are subdivided into towns/townships. The Village of Youngstown and the hamlet of Ransomville are located within the boundaries of the Town of Porter in the northwest corner of Niagara County. The town has its government, headed by the town supervisor. The village has its government headed by the village mayor. Being a hamlet means that Ransomville is not incorporated and has no governmental body specific to Ransomville. Both Youngstown and Ransomville must abide by the laws of the Town of Porter, just as the Town must abide by the laws of the county, then the state and then the federal government. Although my postal address is Youngstown, I don't live within the village limits; therefore I actually live (only) in the Town of Porter. In the event that you are puzzled that you can't find Town of Porter on a road map, towns/townships just aren't defined on them. You would need a more local map than what is generally available outside the area. The one I find that is most helpful is the Niagara County highway map put out by Niagara County Dept. of Planning, Development & Environmental Services 59 Park Avenue Lockport, NY, 14094 I'm certain that if you write and ask them for a copy of the map, they would be pleased to send it to you. In addition to showing the different towns and their borders, it also has detailed street maps of the cities of Lockport, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls. And if you look at Town of Porter and follow Creek Rd. (Rt. 18) northward where it just passes Blairville Rd. and you look real close, you'll find me waving at you just about 1/4 inch up Creek Rd.on the left hand side! Of course, we call that "down" Creek Rd. because Four Mile Creek flows down/north into Lake Ontario. We're kinda funny that way around here! :-) Vee Housman Youngstown, NY