Dunkirk, New York

The City of Dunkirk is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie in Chautauqua County, New York. The 4.6 square mile city has an estimated population of just over 13,000 and is flanked to east and west by the Town of Dunkirk, with which it shares a name. Railroads and locomotive manufacturing have played a key role in Dunkirk's development. Brooks Memorial Hospital, which since 1898 has occupied the imposing Gothic mansion donated by locomotive manufacturer H.G. Brooks, serves as a reminder of the city's industrial legacy. Other historic structures in Dunkirk include the Point Gratiot Light, a working 1875 lighthouse on Lake Erie, and School No. 7, built in the early 1920s. The Chautauqua County fair is held annually in Dunkirk.

The city of Dunkirk was first settled between 1804 and 1809, and was incorporated as a town in 1837. Interest in railroad development was high, and the New York and Lake Erie Railroad line, chartered in 1837, was completed in 1851, with Dunkirk as its terminus. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley & Pittsburgh lines, and others, quickly followed. Dunkirk was thus a logical site for locomotive manufacturing. H.G. Brooks took over operation of the New York & Lake Erie Railroad's shops in 1869, and purchased them outright in 1883. By 1889, the Brooks Locomotive Works was the largest employer in Dunkirk, which had incorporated as a city in 1880. Brooks Locomotive was one of a group of companies that merged in 1901 to form American Locomotive Company. ALCO continued to produce railroad engines until 1934, when the company switched to pressure vessels and specialty thermal products. The factory officially closed down in 1962.

Dunkirk's history of heavy industry makes asbestos exposure an issue. Workers and their loved ones who have been exposed to asbestos may be at risk for asbestos cancer. We provide information about mesothelioma treatment options in and around Dunkirk at the bottom of this page. Additionally, mesothelioma lawyers may be able to give guidance if you were exposed to asbestos in Dunkirk and then diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Jobsites in Dunkirk where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Dunkirk, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Dunkirk, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Dunkirk, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.