Geneva | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Geneva Location within the state of New York | |
| Coordinates:42°52′44″N76°59′35″W / 42.87889°N 76.99306°W /42.87889; -76.99306 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Ontario,Seneca |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Stephen Valentino (D) |
| • City Manager | Amie Hendrix |
| • City Council | |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.85 sq mi (15.14 km2) |
| • Land | 4.21 sq mi (10.91 km2) |
| • Water | 1.63 sq mi (4.23 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,812 |
| • Density | 3,040.2/sq mi (1,173.84/km2) |
| ZIP code | 14456 |
| Area codes | 315 and585 |
| FIPS code | 36-28640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978993 |
| Website | www |
Geneva is acity inOntario andSeneca counties in theU.S. state ofNew York. It is at the northern end ofSeneca Lake; all land portions of the city are within Ontario County; the water portions are in Seneca County. The population was 12,812 at the2020 census.[2] The city is supposedly named after the city and canton ofGeneva inSwitzerland.[3] The main settlement of the Seneca was spelled Zoneshio by early European settlers, and was described as being two miles north of Seneca Lake.[4]
The city borders the town ofGeneva and was once a part of it. The city identifies as the "Lake Trout Capital of the World."[5]
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The area was long occupied by theSeneca tribe, which had established a major village ofKanadaseaga here by 1687.[6] The British helped fortify the village against the French of Canada during theSeven Years' War (locally known as theFrench and Indian War); later they added defensive fortifications against the Americans during theRevolutionary War. During the latter warfare, the punitiveSullivan Expedition of 1779 mounted by rebel forces destroyed many of the dwellings, as well as the winter stores of the people, and they abandoned the ruins. Following the war and the forced removal of the Seneca from their native land,European-Americans settled here about 1793. They developed a town encouraged by thePulteney Association, which owned the land and was selling plots.
At the end of the Revolutionary War, Lt. Col. Seth Reed (né Read), who had fought at Bunker Hill, was one of many pioneers who moved from Massachusetts into Ontario County. By trade with the Seneca, he bought a tract of land eighteen miles in extent. (This was illegal, as only the US government was authorized to make land deals with the Native Americans.) This occurred in 1787, while his wife Hannah stayed inUxbridge, Massachusetts with their family.[7] "Seth Read moved his wife Hannah and their family to Geneva,Ontario County, New York in the winter of 1790".[8]
The settlement at Geneva was not yet permanent; the European Americans continued to harass the Seneca on the frontier. In 1795 Read and his family removed toErie, Pennsylvania, where they became the earliest European-American settlers.[9]
The "Village of Geneva" was incorporated in 1806, formally separating it from the surrounding area of Geneva Town. Later the village became a city through a 1871 charter.[10]
In the 1830s, a government surveyor named John Brink named bothGeneva Lake andLake Geneva in Wisconsin after Geneva, New York.Geneva, Nebraska, founded in 1871, is considered to have been named after the one in New York, rather than directly for the Swiss city.
The town is at the 2 miles (3.2 km) wide northern outlet ofSeneca Lake, a lake that spans 38 miles (61 km)[11] south toWatkins Glen. Geneva is in theFinger Lakes region, the largest wine-producing area in New York State. TheCayuga-Seneca Canal is part of the watershed ofKeuka Lake. It flows north through Geneva, connecting to theErie Canal, which was completed in 1825, giving access for the region to the Great Lakes and midwestern markets for their produce, as well as to buy natural resource commodities.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km2). 4.3 square miles (11 km2) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) of it (27.18%) is water.
Geneva is connected via the east–westUS 20, concurrent withNY 5.NY 14 is a north–south highway through the city. It is approximately equidistant fromRochester andSyracuse, each being about 45 miles away.
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Geneva has awarm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Geneva was 99 °F (37.2 °C) on July 22, 2011, while the coldest temperature recorded was −16 °F (−26.7 °C) on February 18, 1979, and January 22, 2005.[12]
| Climate data for Geneva, New York, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1969–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 69 (21) | 84 (29) | 89 (32) | 93 (34) | 96 (36) | 99 (37) | 97 (36) | 95 (35) | 86 (30) | 78 (26) | 70 (21) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 55.3 (12.9) | 52.8 (11.6) | 64.8 (18.2) | 78.9 (26.1) | 85.4 (29.7) | 89.5 (31.9) | 90.8 (32.7) | 89.3 (31.8) | 87.4 (30.8) | 78.3 (25.7) | 68.0 (20.0) | 56.6 (13.7) | 92.5 (33.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 32.2 (0.1) | 40.0 (4.4) | 53.7 (12.1) | 66.6 (19.2) | 75.1 (23.9) | 79.4 (26.3) | 77.8 (25.4) | 71.2 (21.8) | 58.5 (14.7) | 46.4 (8.0) | 35.9 (2.2) | 55.6 (13.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 31.9 (−0.1) | 44.2 (6.8) | 56.5 (13.6) | 65.6 (18.7) | 70.0 (21.1) | 68.4 (20.2) | 61.3 (16.3) | 49.9 (9.9) | 38.9 (3.8) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 47.0 (8.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 16.7 (−8.5) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 34.8 (1.6) | 46.4 (8.0) | 56.0 (13.3) | 60.6 (15.9) | 59.0 (15.0) | 51.5 (10.8) | 41.3 (5.2) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 38.4 (3.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −2.8 (−19.3) | −0.5 (−18.1) | 6.7 (−14.1) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 34.1 (1.2) | 43.8 (6.6) | 51.0 (10.6) | 48.9 (9.4) | 38.9 (3.8) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 6.9 (−13.9) | −5.5 (−20.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) | −16 (−27) | −7 (−22) | 10 (−12) | 27 (−3) | 36 (2) | 44 (7) | 40 (4) | 30 (−1) | 21 (−6) | 4 (−16) | −12 (−24) | −16 (−27) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.79 (45) | 1.58 (40) | 2.40 (61) | 2.76 (70) | 3.27 (83) | 3.63 (92) | 3.73 (95) | 3.49 (89) | 3.26 (83) | 3.83 (97) | 2.55 (65) | 2.32 (59) | 34.61 (879) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.5 (34) | 13.3 (34) | 12.8 (33) | 1.8 (4.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 4.7 (12) | 10.4 (26) | 56.6 (143.85) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 9.7 (25) | 9.9 (25) | 10.5 (27) | 1.4 (3.6) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 3.1 (7.9) | 6.2 (16) | 15.5 (39) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.9 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 12.5 | 13.2 | 12.7 | 12.0 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 15.5 | 12.3 | 12.7 | 152.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.9 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 33.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[13] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[12] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 5,521 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,878 | 6.5% | |
| 1890 | 7,557 | 28.6% | |
| 1900 | 10,433 | 38.1% | |
| 1910 | 12,446 | 19.3% | |
| 1920 | 14,846 | 19.3% | |
| 1930 | 16,053 | 8.1% | |
| 1940 | 15,555 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 17,144 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,286 | 0.8% | |
| 1970 | 16,793 | −2.9% | |
| 1980 | 15,133 | −9.9% | |
| 1990 | 14,143 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 13,617 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 13,261 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,812 | −3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 13,617 people, 5,014 households, and 2,933 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,199.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,235.3/km2). There were 5,564 housing units at an average density of 1,307.4 units per square mile (504.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.52%White, 10.22%African American, 0.25%Native American, 1.23%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 3.39% fromother races, and 3.34% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 8.50% of the population.[15]
There were 5,014 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% weremarried couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.03.[15]
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 18.9% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.[15]
The median income for a household in the city was $31,600, and the median income for a family was $41,224. Males had a median income of $31,315 versus $23,054 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,609. About 13.7% of families and 17.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[15]
One of the major industries in and around Geneva iswinemaking. The area is becoming increasingly popular foragritourism: there are over 100 wineries in theFinger Lakes Region, and theSeneca Lake wine trail provides easy access to many of these from Geneva. As Geneva grows as a tourist destination, so does the number of rooms available. Along with this growth, FLX Table opened in 2016 under the vision of a mastersommelier, soon after winning theUSA Today recognition of best new restaurant in the country.[16]
In 2015, theNational Civic League chose Geneva as one of ten cities from across the country to receive its annualAll-America City Award.[17] In June 2017, it was announced Geneva would receive $10 million fromNew York (state) as part of a downtown revitalization initiative as well as an additional $5 million for a welcome center.[18]
Geneva uses a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected at large. The council consists of eight members. Six are elected from one of six wards. The other two are elected at large. Former Ward 3 councilor Steve Valentino[19] is the Mayor of the City of Geneva and Amie Hendrix serves as the City Manager.[20] The current mayoral and council term runs from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2024.[21]
TheGeneva City School District operates the local public primary and secondary schools. The district has two elementary schools, North Street School[22] (3rd-5th)[citation needed] and West Street School[22] (K-2).[citation needed] The district's secondary schools are Geneva Middle School andGeneva High School.[22]
Private schools include:
Colleges and universities include:
The Dove Block is a notable art center in Geneva. Having been commissioned by William G. Dove, it was designed and built by Rochesterarchitect Andrew Jackson Warner in 1878.[28] It was once the workshop of notable American modernist and abstract painterArthur Dove,[29] but has since been renovated to serve the community by offering lessons, promoting local artists, and serving as a for-rent venue space.[28]
Historic Geneva is ahistorical society overseeing the Geneva History Museum,Rose Hill Mansion, and the John Johnston House. Dating back to 1883, the society first received a provisional charter as the Geneva Historical Society in 1905, before being granted a permanent charter in 1957. In 2021, it was renamed Historic Geneva.[30]
The Smith Opera House, often referred to simply as "The Smith" is a theater with a capacity of 1,400 spectators located in Geneva's downtown. Its construction was originally commissioned by notable Geneva residentWilliam Smith, and opened its doors for the first time in 1894.[31] Despite the name, the theater is not limited to opera productions, but instead frequently hosts a myriad of plays, orchestral performances, and films.
buford mary hunter 1895 seth read.
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Municipalities and communities ofOntario County, New York,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Villages | ||
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| Other hamlets | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofSeneca County, New York,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDP | ||
| Hamlets | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| Geographic | |
| Other | |
