Fairport, New York

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Fairport
Village
Erie Canal - Fairport Lift Bridge.JPG
The Fairport Lift Bridge
Location in Monroe County and the state of New York.
Location in Monroe County and the state of New York.
Location of New York in the United States
Location of New York in the United States
Coordinates: 43°05′58″N 77°26′35″W / 43.09944°N 77.44306°W / 43.09944; -77.44306Coordinates: 43°05′58″N 77°26′35″W / 43.09944°N 77.44306°W / 43.09944; -77.44306
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyMonroe
Incorporated1867; 155 years ago (1867)
Area
[1]
 • Total1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Land1.58 sq mi (4.09 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation
474 ft (144 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,501
 • Density3,481.65/sq mi (1,344.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14450
Area code585
FIPS code36-25076
Websitehttp://www.village.fairport.ny.us/

Fairport is a village located in the Town of Perinton, which is part of Monroe County, New York, United States. Fairport is a suburb 9 miles (14 km) east of Rochester. It is also known as the "Crown Jewel of the Erie Canal".[2] In 2005, it was named as one of the "Best Places to Live" by Money Magazine.[3] The population of the Village of Fairport was 5,353 as of the 2010 census.

History[edit]

The town of Perinton was first settled by European Americans in the two flat areas of Perinton Center (Turk Hill and Ayrault Roads) and Egypt. The first settlers in Perinton were Glover Perrin, his wife Johanna and his brother Jesse. What was developed as the village of Fairport was a swampy area within the Town of Perinton until the 1820s, when it was drained by construction of the new Erie Canal. With the opening of the Canal, what was then known as Perrinsville quickly became a busy canal port with a reputation for being a "fair port."[2][4] A further boon to the area's reputation as an industry and transportation center came with the construction of railroads in 1853.[2] This now booming section of Perrinsville was incorporated as a village on April 30, 1867 and eventually became the center of activity for the town of Perinton.[5]

Perspective map of Fairport with list of landmarks from 1885 by L.R. Burleigh

In the 19th century industry moved into Fairport, including Deland Chemical (baking soda), Cobb Preserving (the predecessor to American Can), and the Trescott Company (fruit grading and packing systems). Deland Chemical later became Fairport Vinegar Works, makers of Certo brand pectin used to jell foodstuffs.

In the early 20th century, the Erie Canal was expanded and renamed the Barge Canal. (It reverted to its original name in 1992). Barge transportation rapidly declined as automobiles and trucks became popular. The town began to expand away from the canal. The Erie Canal is now used mainly for recreation.

Fairport acquired its name in the mid-19th century from a traveler on the Erie Canal who was overheard at Mallett's Tavern referring to the village as a fair port.[2] Local legend has it that the same visitor vociferously complained the next morning that the Millstone Block Hotel had bedbugs, and he stormed out of Fairport, never to be seen again. The name, however, stuck.[citation needed]

In 2005, Money Magazine and CNN/Money ranked Fairport as #62 on their "Best Places to Live" list.

In 2008, Relocate America included Fairport in their "Top 100 Places To Live" list.

The First Baptist Church of Fairport, Wilbur House, Minerva and Daniel DeLand House, and Henry DeLand House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Most residents of the Town of Perinton reside within both the Fairport Central School District and the Fairport postal district; as a result, it is common for Perinton residents to describe their place of residence as "Fairport" even if they live outside of the village.[citation needed]

Geography[edit]

Fairport is located at 43°5'58" North, 77°26'35" West (43.099433, -77.443015).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), of which 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) is water. The total area is 3.09% water.

Although officially the name of only the village, "Fairport" is often used to refer to a large portion of the encompassing Town of Perinton as well. Both the Fairport Central School District and Fairport zip codes overlap closely with the borders of the Town of Perinton.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18801,920—
18902,55232.9%
19002,489−2.5%
19103,11225.0%
19204,62648.7%
19304,604−0.5%
19404,6440.9%
19505,26713.4%
19605,5074.6%
19706,47417.6%
19805,970−7.8%
19905,943−0.5%
20005,740−3.4%
20105,353−6.7%
20205,5012.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 5,740 people, 2,369 households, and 1,594 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,645.0 people per square mile (1,411.6/km2). There were 2,431 housing units at an average density of 1,543.7 per square mile (597.8/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.99% White, 0.73% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,369 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18, 53.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $53,375 and the median income for a family was $65,980. Males had a median income of $50,094 v. $30,431 for females. The per capita income for the village was $29,390. 3.3% of the population and 1.7% of families were below the poverty line. 2.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Sports[edit]

Notable athletes to come out of Fairport include Tim Soudan in lacrosse (UMass, Rochester Knighthawks), Shawn Johnson in football (Duke University, Tennessee Titans), Steve Soja (Coastal Carolina University, River City Rascals, Mid-Missouri Mavericks, Gateway Grizzlies and Yuma Scorpions)[10] and Ryan Szwejbka in baseball (University of South Carolina, Aberdeen Pheasants), Dave Cerny in lacrosse (SUNY Albany Hall of Fame), Dan Predmore in track and field (Cornell University Hall of Fame),[11] Chris Collins in hockey (Boston College, Providence Bruins), Olympic Trial Finalist swimmer Jon Roberts (University of Minnesota), tennis player Marcus Fugate, Dhruv Tyagi in diving (Stanford University) and Ryan Kavanaugh in rowing (Columbia University). Skiers include Alpine Skier Brett Grabowski[12][13] (NCAA All- American, University of Vermont); and Cross Country Skiers Bruce Likly[14] (1984 Olympian; 4 time NCAA All-American, University of Vermont) and Sue Randall[15] (St Lawrence University, NCAA finalist). Over the past 13 years, Fairport has become a regional center for adaptive paddling and cycling along the canal-way. Erie Canal Boat Company and Rochester Accessible Adventures have transformed the area to provide inclusive recreation to people of all abilities.

Culture[edit]

The Colonial Belle, a canal tour boat.

Much of the activity of Fairport revolves around the Erie Canal waterfront. The Fairport Village Landing, opened in 1977, and Packett's Landing, built in the early 1980s, are two of the main shopping, dining and gathering spots in the village. Both developments resulted from a controversial decision to raze much of the core of historic buildings in the center of the village in favor of the style of urban development then coming into vogue.

The Colonial Belle is a popular tour boat that offers canal cruises from Packett's Wharf on the south bank of the Erie Canal in downtown Fairport.

Fairport is the home of Fairport Canal Days <Fairport Canal Days Home Page>. This festival takes place the first full weekend of June each year and features many Rochester, Monroe County, New York area performers, including The Perinton Concert Band, The Rochester Scottish Pipe Band, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Artists and artisans from more than a dozen states and Canada flock to Fairport to show their goods at the three-day festival. During Canal Days, a large portion of Main Street is blocked off and reserved for vendors and stands. The parking lot of Fairport Village Landing is also blocked off and used strictly for stands.

Fairport's calendar is filled with numerous other family-oriented activities. Each Tuesday during the summer the village hosts live entertainment. Thursday evenings see hundreds gather at the canalside gazebo at Kennelley Park to enjoy live music of a variety of musical styles and genres. Center Stage at Center Park, a large outdoor amphitheater just minutes from the village, hosts live stage performances, festivals and concerts throughout the summer. The village also hosts numerous seasonal festivals throughout the year as well, such as the Fairport Music and Food Festival.

Fairport also has its own Farmer's Market that takes place in the parking lot behind Bank of America at 58 South Main Street. It opens the first Saturday of May and closes the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It's open from 7 am to Noon, however it is not open the weekend of Canal Days.

The Erie Canal towpath is a popular walking/biking path. The section from Rochester's Genesee Valley Park to the village of Fairport is one of the most popular sections on the entire 340 miles (550 km) of the Erie Canal. In the Rochester area the towpath is a mix of pavement and crushed gravel.

Although less popular, the section heading east from Fairport is high quality and an excellent trail. Hikers, bikers, dog-walkers, and runners are common on this section. It takes about 30 minutes to cycle from Route 250 to Canandaigua Road on the towpath.

Perinton Park is a popular family-oriented park located on the banks of Erie Canal at Fairport Road (Route 31F) - the traditional east/west gateway into the village. The park is a short walk on the canal from the village. Nearby is the rowing boathouse for the Fairport Crew Club, an independent rowing club for local residents. The FCC boathouse is used to store rowing shells, whose teams can be seen practicing on the canal most days during the traditional canal season. Each September Fairport hosts the "Lift Bridge Regatta", a popular crew event featuring some of the top crew clubs in the Northeast.

The Fairport Red Raiders represent Fairport High School in all varsity sports. For decades their traditional rivals in football were the East Rochester Bombers, whom they played annually for the famed Little Brown Jug beginning in 1939. The tradition finally came to an end on October 30, 1987 when it was acknowledged by both districts that because Fairport's student enrollment had grown significantly larger than that of East Rochester, a competitive balance between the two schools was no longer sustainable.

The village of Fairport owns and operates a municipal power corporation called Fairport Electric. Incorporated in 1901, Fairport Electric provides electric power to its customers at lower rates than those charged by neighboring utilities. Fairport Electric has purchased power from the New York Power Authority since 1961.

Village of Fairport Parks[edit]

  • Kennelley Park
  • Perinton Park
  • Packett's Landing Wharf
  • Potter Park
  • Indian Hill Trail

Government[edit]

Fairport village hall

The Village Board is the local legislative body, consisting of the Mayor and four Trustees. Board members are elected in the November general elections and serve a term of four years.

The Village Justice, also elected in the November general elections for a four-year term, presides over the village court which settles criminal, civil, small claims, parking, vehicle and traffic cases that occur within the Village.

The Village Board selects a Village Administrator with responsibility for directing Village operations, including those of the Fairport Municipal Commission and for serving as budget director, zoning officer and public safety officer.

Serving under the Village Administrator and appointed by the mayor with Board of Trustees approval, are the clerk/treasurer, deputy clerk, deputy treasurer and building inspector/fire marshal.[16]

Village presidents and mayors
Name Title Term Name Title Term Name Title Term
C. H. Dickingson President 1866 Edward L. Dudley President 1894 Lewis W. Hollander Mayor 1933–1935
A. C. Hill President 1867–1869 Joseph Duncan President 1895–1896 Irving R. Neiss Mayor 1935–1944
George R. Sanford President 1870 Nathan A. Rightmire President 1897 Harry F. VanHorn Mayor 1945–1954
Thomas B. V. Durand President 1871 James E. Russell President 1898 Charles J. Stauber Mayor 1955–1962
William P. Close President 1872 Charles H. Howe President 1899 Albert H. Knapp Mayor 1963–1966
Joseph Y. Parce President 1873 John Zollman President 1900–1902 Gordon T. Murphy Mayor 1967–1970
W. K. Goodrich President 1874 Theron R. Pritchard President 1903 Peter J. McDonough Mayor 1971–1982
George R. Sanford President 1875 George E. Cobb President 1904 Vincent T. Kennelly Mayor 1982–1989
W. K. Goodrich President 1876 Irving B. Eldridge President 1905 Clark T. King Mayor 1989–2006
Levi J. DeLand President 1877 S. J. Robbins President 1906–1907 Frederick H. "Fritz" May Mayor 2006 – 2018
Ezekiel Davidson President 1878–1879 George C. Taylor President 1908 Julie M. Domaratz Mayor 2019–Present
Levi J. DeLand President 1880 Frank M. Kurtz President 1909
F. A. Defendorf President 1881–1882 Richard L. Saunders President 1910
Nelson Lewis President 1883 Charles W. Butler President 1911
F. W. Howard President 1884 Gordon H. Kellogg President 1912
G. L. G. Seeley President 1885 J. H. Cotter President 1913–1914
F. A. Defendorf President 1886 E. L. Dudley President 1915–1916
A. Worth Palmer President 1887 J. D. McGartney President 1917–1919
F. W. Howard President 1887 James W. Welch President 1920
Egbert L. Hodskin President 1888 T. J. Bridges President 1921
W. M. DeLand President 1889 Harry T. Tinney President 1922–1923
Patrick McAuliffe President 1890 Stewart S. Pierce President 1924
J. Wesley "Wes" Osborn President 1891 Henry Steiger President
Mayor		 1925–1927
1928
Ephrium J. Fisk President 1892 Herman L. Steffen Mayor 1929–1930
Ezra B. Pratt President 1893 Glezen G. Wilcox Mayor 1931–1932

Education[edit]

While the Fairport Central School District serves the village of Fairport (as well as the town of Perinton), only Brooks Hill Elementary School, Johanna Perrin Middle School and Minerva Deland are actually situated in the village. The town of Perinton contains Fairport High School, Martha Brown Middle School, Jefferson Avenue Elementary and Dudley/Northside Elementary School.

The Fairport Central School District has eight schools in total. Dudley Elementary School educates students in grades K - 2, and is attached to Northside Elementary School which educates students in grades 3 - 5. Jefferson Avenue Elementary and Brooks Hill Elementary Schools school serves students in grades K - 5 as well. Martha Brown Middle School and Johanna Perrin Middle School are for students grades 6 - 8. All of the students come together for grade 9 at Minerva Deland School. Then they all move on to Fairport High School to continue grades 10 - 12. The "Fairport Family" prides itself for being very close and integrating programs for all of the schools to participate in together. The beloved program, "Brotherhood Sisterhood Week," takes place in March every year for one week. It focuses on Civility, Awareness, Respect, and Embrace (CARE) in each of the schools. At the end of the week, high school students, who have been pen pals with elementary school students for about a month, visit their buddies to teach about CARE and do fun activities.

Fairport High School ranked 548 out of the 2,000 schools in Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools for 2013.[17]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Village of Fairport:About Fairport". Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  3. ^ "Best places to live 2005: Fairport, NY snapshot". Money Magazine. Cabel News Network. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 123.
  5. ^ Merriman, Marjorie Snow (1944-06-08). "EARLY DAYS IN FAIRPORT". Fairport Herald-Mail. Perinton Historical Society. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ Kinmartin, Patrick (2007-06-21). "GBL's (First) Players of the Week - Outlawed Baseball". Norcalblogs.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  11. ^ "Cornell University Athletics - Hall of Fame". Cornellbigred.com. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  12. ^ "Vermont Skiing History & Records". University of Vermont Athletics. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  13. ^ "Milot Real Estate | About Us". milotrealestate.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  14. ^ "Bruce Likly (1998) - University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame". University of Vermont Athletics. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  15. ^ NCAA news archive. "NCAA news archive" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ This section was copied from Fairport Village Government official website: Link Archived 2006-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "2013 America's Best High Schools". Newsweek. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  18. ^ Roth, Leo. "After 230 minor league games and several injuries, Fairport's Cole Bardreau makes NHL debut". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
  19. ^ "Dr. Ralph Bown, 80, Bell Lab. Official". The New York Times. 1 August 1971. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  20. ^ "B.O.T.A. Builders of the Adytum". www.bota.org. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Henry Addison DeLand obituary - founder of DeLand, FL - Newspapers.com". newspapers.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  22. ^ writer, Bethany Young, staff. "Fairport filmmaker earns Oscar nomination for documentary". Monroe County Post.
  23. ^ "Andrea Nix". IMDb.
  24. ^ Carey, Matthew (January 23, 2020). ""There Was Whooping And Shouting": 'Walk Run Cha-Cha' Director Laura Nix On Reaction To Earning Oscar Nomination".
  25. ^ "Fornieri Joins AHI as Senior Fellow". July 10, 2013.
  26. ^ "Philip Seymour Hoffman's hometown reflects year after death". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Fairport's Vijay Iyer coming home for jazz fest". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  28. ^ "June 20 - The Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies". www.rockwell-center.org. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  29. ^ "Leo Lyons Player Register - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Internet funds another Julia Nunes album". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  31. ^ "From orphan to NFL owner". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  32. ^ "Dr. Sian Proctor – Explorer | Analog Astronaut| GeoScientist | Science Communicator". Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  33. ^ "Funeral arrangements set for Rep. Louise Slaughter". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  34. ^ "RocJocks: Lacrosse star Tim Soudan got his start at Fairport". democratandchronicle.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

External links[edit]

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