Rochester
owes much of its development and prosperity to the GeneseeRiver, which cuts a path right down
the center of the city. In the early days, many of the neighborhoods in the
city, as well as suburban villages, began as small settlements that depended on
the river to receive and sell goods. Certain types of businesses and residents
were attracted to either the east or west side of the river. Charlotte
and the area around the Maplewood
neighborhood on the west side were among the area’s first thriving communities.
In the early 1800s, the well-to-do
lived in Corn Hill, another western community. It wasn’t until the latter half
of the 1800s that the city began to stretch into the northeastern side of town.
East Avenue may have been Rochester’s
first prominent suburb, since it was considered away from downtown at the time.
That trend continued into the 1900s, with wealthier suburbs and professional
jobs forming on the eastside, and manufacturing and light industry work like
Kodak to the west.
To this day, an eastside vs. westside vibe persists. As one westsider
puts it:
“It’s a class thing, plain and simple, like
the Sharks and the Jets. Oh sure, the eastsiders will
deny it to our faces, but as soon as we leave the room, it’s ‘beer and chicken wings this’ and ‘NASCAR’ that. And for our part, we
tend to view them as upper class twits, insipid golf-obsessed bores with overly
botoxed wives sporting size 0 designer ensembles in
safe pastel shades. I know several professional people who relocated to Rochester,
and their realtors told them not to look at anything west of the Genesee.
One even took a map of the county and crossed out all the towns — all westside — that they were supposed to stay away from.”
To learn more about what each of the
suburbs in Monroe County (and a couple outside of it) have to offer — all of
it special in its own way — check the websites provided below for information
on town meetings, special events, recreation, and local history.
Brighton
It
is the suburb that feels more like a neighborhood.
It
has Twelve Corners, great schools, MonroeCommunity College, and all the
bagels you’ll ever want.
Go
to Corbett’s GlenNaturePark, PersimmonPark, tennis courts.
Municipal offices: 784-5250,
www.townofbrighton.org.
Brockport/Sweden
They
are a historic village (Brockport) in the town of Sweden.
They
have SUNY Brockport and a college-town vibe on the historic Erie
Canal.
Go
to the new WelcomeCenter
on the canal and the SUNY Brockport Creative Writing Lecture Series.
Municipal offices: Brockport
637-5300, www.brockportny.org; Sweden
637-2144
Canandaigua
It
is the gateway to the Finger Lakes, hardly a summer
day trip anymore.
It
has art galleries, tattoo parlors, and boat dealers all in one spot.
Go
to a wide range of parks and water activities, or take the “antique trail”
along Routes 5 and 20.
Municipal offices: 394-1120,
www.townofcanandaigua.org.
Churchville
It
is in the township of Riga.
It
has plenty of open space and working farmland.
Go
to 27-hole golf course, snowmobile trails, and sports courts
Municipal offices: Churchville
293-3720, www.churchville.net; Riga
293-3880, www.townofriga.org
Clarkson
It
is a small pioneer town on the northwest edge of MonroeCounty.
It
has some wonderful rustic architecture, including cobblestone homes.
Go
to Sweden/Clarkson Community Center and HaefnerPark.
Municipal offices: 637-1130,
www.clarksonny.org.
East Rochester
It
is not as posh as its neighbors — Fairport and Pittsford — but looks
pleasingly the same as it did in the 1960s.
It
has affordable homes and small-town attitude.
Go
toBelVedere Deli, the
no-frills Italian market on East Commercial.
Municipal offices: 586-3553; www.eastrochester.org.
Fairport/Perinton
They
are a village (Fairport) in a township (Perinton)
situated on the Erie Canal.
They
have wonderful historic homes, unique village shops, and pricey new
developments along the Perinton hillsides.
Go
to Lollypop Farm, the PerintonAquaFitnessCenter,
and the Canal Days summer festival.
Municipal offices: Fairport 223-0313,
www.village.fairport.ny.us; Perinton
223-0770, www.perinton.org.
Gates/Chili
They
are western communities once dominated by Kodak’s Elmgrove
plant. Chili is home to RobertsWesleyanCollege.
They
have a mix of suburban development and light industry.
Go
to eight different parks and two boat launches.
Municipal offices: Gates 247-6100,
www.townofgates.org; Chili 889-3550, www.townofchili.org.
Greece
It
is the most densely populated of the western suburbs.
It
has ranch homes, quiet neighborhoods with large lots, and Ridge
Road for a main street.
Go
toBraddockBay
Wildlife Preservation Area.
Municipal offices: 225-2000,
www.greeceny.gov.
Hamlin
It
is apple orchards and west-side lake country.
It
has summer fruit stands and “pick-your-own” growers.
Go
toHamlinBeachState Park.
Municipal offices: 964-2421, www. hamlinny.org.
Henrietta
It
is the shopping mall land south of the city.
It
has Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute
for the Deaf.
Go
to Marketplace Mall and SouthtownPlaza.
Municipal offices: 334-7700,
www.townofhenrietta.org.
Hilton/Parma
They
are a village (Hilton) in a township (Parma).
They
have fruit orchards, farmland, and miles of Ontario
shoreline.
Go
to the Hilton Apple Festival, one of the area’s favorite fall festivals.
Municipal offices: Hilton 392-4144,
www.hiltonny.org; Parma 392-9461,
www.parmany.org.
Irondequoit
It
is the city’s older neighbor to the north.
It
hasEast Ridge Road
shopping, two school districts, and quaint lakeside neighborhoods like
Summerville and WhiteCity.
Think lighthouses.
Go
toDurandEastmanPark, SeabreezeAmusement Park,
Hot Dog Row, House of Guitars, and the oldest miniature golf course in the
country.
Municipal offices: 467-8840,
www.irondequoit.org.
Mendon/Honeoye
Falls
They
are southeastern rural communities known for their country chic, sprawling
homes, and carefully guarded green space.
They
have the worry of too many deer.
Go
to Custom Brewcrafters, MendonPondsPark,
and the MillArtCenter.
Municipal offices: Mendon 624-6060,
www.townofmendon.org; Honeoye Falls 624-1711.
Penfield
It
is comfortable, the kind of upscale suburb seen in Spielberg movies.
It
has moderate to expensive homes and a re-imagined village center at the Four
Corners.
Go
toGentle’s Farm Market on Penfield
Road.
Municipal offices: 340-8600,
www.penfield.org.
Pittsford
It
is the moneyed metro-village done right with pricey real estate, fine
dining, boutique shopping, and Euro cars.
It
has St. John Fisher and NazarethColleges.
Go
to the Wegmans in PittsfordPlaza; it’s grocery shopping for
the Benz class.
Municipal offices: Village of
Pittsford 586-4332, www.villageofpittsford.org; Town of Pittsford 248-6200,
www.townofpittsford.com.
Scottsville/Wheatland/Rush
They
are the villages and towns that rim the southern edges of MonroeCounty.
They
have lovely historic homes, the Lehigh Valley Trail, and the quiet life for
commuters.
Go
to the Genesee Valley Greenway, a hiker’s paradise.
Municipal offices: Scottsville
889-1553; Wheatland 889-4700, www.townofwheatland.org; Rush 533-1312,
www.rushconnections.com.
Spencerport/Ogden
They
are western suburbs with a mix of light industry and farmland.
They
have farm markets and roadside produce stands.
Go
to the new boat docks on the Erie Canal.
Municipal offices: Spencerport
352-4771, www.vil.spencerport.ny.us; Ogden 352-2100,
www.ogdenny.com.
Victor
It
is the fastest-growing suburb not in MonroeCounty.
It
has historic homes mixed with upscale new developments.
Go
toEastview Mall; where else?
Municipal offices: 742-5000,
www.victorny.org.
Webster
It
is the suburb Xerox built.
It
has multimillion-dollar lakefront homes and quiet bedroom neighborhoods.
Go
to over 22 acres of parks in the village alone. Try the Arboretum on Schlegel
Road.
Municipal offices: Village of Webster
265-3770, www.villageofwebster.com; Town of Webster 872-1000, www.ci.webster.ny.us.
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2006.
