The roots of modern Lockport begin in 1820 when it consisted of three log cabins. In 1821 it was announced that the Erie Canal would go through the area. At the time all of Western New York was owned by the Holland Land Company, the following group of people purchased the land from this company, they are: Esek Brown, John Comstock, Nathan Comstock, Zerro Comstock, Webster Thorn, Daniel Smith, David Fink, Daniel Washburn, James Connley, Alman Millard, Reuben Haines, Joseph Otis, Asabel Smith, and Nathan Rogers. These men surveyed the land and divided it up into lots and sold it. Many homes and businesses sprung up in the area in anticipation of the hundreds of workers the canal would bring. In fact Lockport would not have existed without "Clinton's Ditch." In 1822 Lockport became and still is the county seat. By time the Erie Canal was finished in 1825, Lockport's population was 3000. Jesse Haines did most of the surveying in Niagara County and in 1830 he published the first engraved map of lockport. By 1865 Lockport's population had increased to 12,553 people and it was declared a city. This made Lockport the first and largest city in Niagara County. Today the city of Lockport's population is approxamately 20,000.