Tonawanda is a city located in Erie County, New York, United States. It is situated on the Niagara River, just north of Buffalo. The population was 15,130 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area.

The city of Tonawanda lies within the Town of Tonawanda and borders the City of North Tonawanda to its north. The city is bordered by Grand Island to its west and Niagara County to its east. The city's name derives from an Indian word meaning "swift water".

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1805 and was incorporated as a village in 1836. It became a city in 1897. The city has a rich industrial history, having been home to several steel mills and other manufacturing plants over the years. Today, it is home to several large businesses including General Motors, Praxair, and DuPont.

Tonawanda is known for its parks and recreational areas such as Niawanda Park which features a beach on the Niagara River, Ellicott Creek Park which offers hiking trails and picnic areas, and Veterans Memorial Park which includes a memorial honoring veterans from all branches of service. The city also hosts several annual events such as the Canal Fest celebration each summer along the Erie Canal and the annual Christmas parade each December.

Tonawanda offers residents access to excellent schools including Kenmore East High School, Tonawanda Middle School, Franklin Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School and St Francis High School among others.

Overall Tonawanda is an excellent place to live with plenty of amenities for residents to enjoy while still being close enough to Buffalo for easy access to all that it has to offer as well.