Monroe County, New York
U.S. County|
county = Monroe County|
state = New York |
seal = |
map = Map of New York highlighting Monroe County.png |
map size = 250|
founded =
1821| seat =
Rochester | area = 3,537
km² (1,366
mi²) |
area land = 1,708 km² (659 mi²) |
area water = 15 km² (6 mi²) |
area percentage = 51.72% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 735,343 |
density = 178|
web = www.co.monroe.ny.us |}}
Monroe County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
New York. As of 2000, the population was 735,343. It is named after
James Monroe, fifth
President of the United States of America. Its
county seat is
Rochester.
When counties were established in the Province of New York in
1683, the present Monroe County was part of
Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of
Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the
Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on
July 3,
1766 by the creation of
Cumberland County, and further on
March 16,
1770 by the creation of
Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.
On
March 12,
1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces,
Tryon County, contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of
Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the
Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the
Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for
William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.
In the years prior to
1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to
Canada. In
1784, following the peace treaty that ended the
American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to
Montgomery County in order to honor the general,
Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of
Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.
In
1789,
Ontario County was split off from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present
Allegany,
Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua,
Erie,
Genesee,
Livingston, Monroe,
Niagara,
Orleans,
Steuben,
Wyoming,
Yates, and part of
Schuyler and
Wayne Counties.
Genesee County was created by a splitting of Ontario County in
1802. This was much larger than the present Genesee County, however. It contained the present
Allegany,
Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua,
Erie,
Niagara,
Orleans,
Wyoming, and portions of
Livingston and Monroe Counties.
Finally, Monroe County was formed from parts of Genesee and Ontario Counties in
1821.
Monroe County is in northwestern New York State, northeast of
Buffalo and northwest of
Syracuse.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,537
km² (1,366
mi²). 1,708 km² (659 mi²) of it is land and 1,829 km² (706 mi²) of it (51.72%) is water.
The current County Executive is
Maggie Brooks, a former news anchor in Rochester
Rochester is a home to a number of international businesses, including
Eastman Kodak,
Bausch & Lomb and
Paychex, all of which make Rochester their world headquarters.
Xerox, while no longer headquartered in Rochester, has its principal offices and manufacturing facilities in the Rochester area. Because of the high prevalence of imaging and optical science among the industry and the universities, Rochester is known as the world capital of imaging. The
University of Rochester's Institute of Optics is ranked number one in the country, and the
Rochester Institute of Technology has one of the best imaging science departments in the country. Eastman Kodak has been going through successive rounds of layoffs for years, which are a strain on the local economy.
Rochester is also home to regional businesses such as
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.,
Roberts Communications, Inc., The Sutherland Group,
PAETEC Communications and major fashion label
Hickey-Freeman.
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 735,343 people, 286,512 households, and 184,513 families residing in the county. The
population density was 431/km² (1,115/mi²). There were 304,388 housing units at an average density of 178/km² (462/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.14%
White, 13.75%
African Amercian, 0.27%
Native American, 2.44%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 2.44% from
other races, and 1.94% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 5.31% of the population.
There were 286,512 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were
married couples living together, 13.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,891, and the median income for a family was $55,900. Males had a median income of $41,279 versus $29,553 for females. The
per capita income for the county was $22,821. About 8.20% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.
*
Brighton (town)
*
Brockport (village)
*
Chili (town)
*
Churchville (village)
*
Clarkson (town)
*
East Rochester (village and town)
*
Fairport (village)
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Gates (town)
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Greece (town)
*
Hamlin (town)
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Henrietta (town)
*
Hilton (village)
*
Honeoye Falls (village)
*
Irondequoit (town)
*
Mendon (town)
*
Ogden (town)
*
Parma (town)
*
Penfield (town)
*
Perinton (town)
*
Pittsford (village)
*
Pittsford (town)
*
Riga (town)
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Rochester (city)
*
Rush (town)
*
Scottsville (village)
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Spencerport (village)
*
Sweden (town)
*
Webster (town)
*
Webster (village)
*
Wheatland (town)
Label in parentheses is official political designation.
*
Rochester Institute of Technology*
Saint John Fisher College*
University of Rochester*
State University of New York at Brockport*
Nazareth College, Rochester*
Roberts Wesleyan College *
Monroe Community College*
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity SchoolMonroe County is east of
Orleans and
Genesee Counties and west of
Wayne County.
Livingston County is on the southern border.
Ontario County forms the southeast border. The northern border of Monroe County is
Lake Ontario with
Canada on the opposite shore.
The 2006 Academy Award's Best Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman grew up in
Fairport.
Midge Marshall was an early influence and directed his breakthrough performance in
Death of a Salesman*
Monroe County webpage *
City of Rochester, NY webpage*
Monroe County Library System
