[6] The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 spurred Amherst's growth, bringing with it with new settlers and increased commerce.

German immigrants settled in the northern part of the town as farmers, attracted by the fertile land in the area.

[7] Several communities and hamlets started to develop around this time, such as Williamsville (1810s), Eggertsville and Snyder (1830s), East Amherst and Swormville (1850s), and Getzville (1860s).

[8] Much of Amherst was originally floodplain and marshland, portions of which have been drained in recent years to facilitate development of new homes and businesses.

Despite this development, the hamlets of Eggertsville and Snyder and the village of Williamsville have managed to retain much of their original character.

Some sections of northern and eastern Amherst have experienced problems with collapsing residential foundations as a result of unstable soil conditions.

[citation needed] Amherst is bordered on the north by Tonawanda Creek and Niagara County.

Areas within Amherst are referred to by the former post office station names and are not legally incorporated.

The areas listed below are governed and run by the Town of Amherst except for the Village of Williamsville, an independent political entity.

[12][13] In July 2010, CNNMoney ranked Amherst 42nd in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.

The Town of Amherst Archival Research Center is located in the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst NY 14226 (previously housed in the Former Reformed Mennonite Church[17] which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

The ranking is based on annual reports by the FBI, including crime statistics in six categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and auto theft.

In 2006, Amherst was ranked the second safest city in the United States, after Brick Township, New Jersey.