Irondequoit, New York | |
|---|---|
 Location inMonroe County and the state ofNew York | |
.svg) Location of New York in the United States | |
| Coordinates:43°12′40″N77°34′55″W / 43.21111°N 77.58194°W /43.21111; -77.58194 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Monroe |
| Founded | March 27, 1839; 186 years ago (1839-03-27)[1] |
| Government | |
| • Town supervisor | Andraé Evans (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.83 sq mi (43.6 km2) |
| • Land | 15.02 sq mi (38.9 km2) |
| • Water | 1.81 sq mi (4.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 368 ft (112 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 51,043 |
• Estimate (2021) | 50,548 |
| • Density | 3,399.2/sq mi (1,312.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
|
| Area code | 585 |
| FIPS code | 36-055-37726 |
| Website | www |
Irondequoit (/ɪˈrɒndəkɔɪt/) is atown (andcensus-designated place) inMonroe County,New York, United States. As of the2020 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a population of 51,043.[3] Irondequoit is a suburb of the city ofRochester, lying just north and east of the city limits. The name is ofIroquois origin and means "where the land meets the water".[4]
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In 1687 theMarquis de Denonville led an army of French soldiers andHuron warriors on apunitive expedition against theIroquois through Irondequoit Bay, beginning the long enmity between the Iroquois and the French.
After theAmerican Revolution, this area was part of thePhelps and Gorham Purchase. The Town of Irondequoit was founded in 1839 when it separated from the town ofBrighton.
During the last part of the 19th century, the north edge of the town was developed as a tourist and vacation area for Rochester residents, and was once known as the "Coney Island of Western New York".
After World War II, Irondequoit experienced significant population growth, with returning veterans looking for housing. Irondequoit became the first suburb in Monroe County to see substantial migration of residents from the city of Rochester, with the population growing from 23,376 in 1940 to 55,337 in 1960, an increase of 136%. Irondequoit remained the most-populated suburb in Monroe County until the 1970s, when it was surpassed by the town ofGreece, a community with three times the land area of Irondequoit.
In 1965, Irondequoit became part of civil rights history by being part of the first totally voluntarydesegregation program in U.S. history. The Urban Suburban Interdistrict Transfer Program,[5] which still operates today, was begun with 25 first graders from the inner city of Rochester who embarked on their K-12 education in the West Irondequoit school district. Ultimately, 15 of the original 25 students graduated together in 1977 as part of the first graduating class ever to go through a full 12 years of voluntary desegregation. The achievement was acknowledged in a letter from the White House and a notation in the U.S.Congressional Record. The program has continued to expand and now includes additional suburban districts that are part of the Rochester metropolitan area.
In 1991, Irondequoit established asister city relationship withPoltava, inUkraine. Poltava is an Eastern Ukrainian city once known as "the Soul of Ukraine". The initiative was spearheaded by Irondequoit Town Supervisor Fred Lapple.[6][better source needed] His appointed committee chair, Tamara Denysenko, identified Poltava, Ukraine as Irondequoit's chosen Sister City.[7] This was supported by the larger Ukrainian community in Irondequoit, including Bogdan Khomiakov, a small business owner living in Irondequoit whose father had immigrated from Poltava.
The town is in north-central Monroe County, lying between theGenesee River on the west andIrondequoit Bay on the east. The north border of the town is defined by the shoreline ofLake Ontario. Because it is bounded by water on three sides, it is considered a geographicalheadland. Irondequoit is bordered by the city ofRochester to the south and west, the town ofBrighton at Irondequoit's southeast corner, and the towns ofPenfield andWebster to the east. The eastern boundary of the town follows the center of Irondequoit Bay from the mouth ofIrondequoit Creek north to Lake Ontario.
An unusual boundary exists between the Town of Irondequoit and the adjacent City of Rochester. On the western border of Irondequoit, the city limits include a thin strip of land that extends northward along the east bank of the Genesee River from Seneca Park toLake Ontario, at some points less than 50 yards (46 m) from the shore. The result is that the City of Rochester claims the entire eastern shore of the Genesee, and the border of the Town of Irondequoit never reaches the river.
Similarly, the northern half ofDurand-Eastman Park (including Durand Beach) lies within the city's borders, along with a narrow strip running along Culver Road for approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) southward to Norton Street. This leads to much confusion, even among long-term residents, about whether places such as Seneca Park or Durand Park lie within the Town of Irondequoit or the City of Rochester. Seneca Park was annexed by the City of Rochester in 1891, and Durand Eastman Park was given to the city in 1908.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the town of Irondequoit has a total area of 16.8 sq mi (44 km2), of which 15.0 sq mi (39 km2) are land and 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2), or 10.75%, are water.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,252 | — | |
| 1850 | 2,397 | 91.5% | |
| 1860 | 3,547 | 48.0% | |
| 1870 | 3,990 | 12.5% | |
| 1880 | 1,986 | −50.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,415 | 21.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,863 | 18.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,526 | 23.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,123 | 45.3% | |
| 1930 | 18,024 | 251.8% | |
| 1940 | 23,376 | 29.7% | |
| 1950 | 34,417 | 47.2% | |
| 1960 | 55,337 | 60.8% | |
| 1970 | 64,897 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 57,648 | −11.2% | |
| 1990 | 52,377 | −9.1% | |
| 2000 | 52,354 | 0.0% | |
| 2010 | 51,692 | −1.3% | |
| 2020 | 51,043 | −1.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 50,548 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
As of thecensus[9] of 2000, there were 52,354 people, 22,247 households, and 14,327 families residing in the coterminous town-CDP. The population density was 3,447.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,331.0/km2). There were 23,037 housing units at an average density of 1,516.9 per square mile (585.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.03%White, 3.55%Black orAfrican American, 0.15%Native American, 0.98%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.02% fromother races, and 1.25% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.06% of the population.
There were 22,247 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% weremarried couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,276, and the median income for a family was $55,493. Males had a median income of $41,463 versus $30,937 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $23,638. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
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Irondequoit is governed by a Town Board consisting of a Supervisor and four councilpersons. All members of the Town Board serve the entire town, and are electedat-large by voters. The Supervisor serves a two-year term, while councilpersons serve a four-year term.[10]
Irondequoit is known for its colonial-style Town Hall, built in 1951. It was completed with funds that had been previously set aside for two decades. It was listed on the historical registry in 2010 by the Irondequoit Historical Preservation Commission.[citation needed]
Current members of the Town Board
| Name | Tenure | Name | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Shepherd | 1839 – 1840, 1842 | Joseph Aman | September 24, 1900 – 1905 | |
| William Blossom | 1841 | Chauncey W. Porter | 1906 – 1909, 1920 – 1925 | |
| Jonah Brown | 1843 – 1844 | Louis Dubelbeiss | 1910 – 1919 | |
| John McGonegal | 1845 – 1846 | William S. Titus | 1926 – 1927 | |
| James Mandeville | 1847 | Thomas E. Broderick | 1928 – October 1, 1949 | |
| James Swayne | 1848 – 1849, 1856 – 1857 | Frederick Hussey | October 2, 1949 – December 31, 1949, 1958 – 1959 | |
| Benjamin Wing | 1850 | Walter G. Lauterbach | 1950 – 1957 | |
| Samuel W. Bradstreet | 1851 – 1852 | Harold L. Knauf | 1960 – May 23, 1967, 1968 – 1969 | |
| John Smyles | 1853, 1858 – 1859 | Julian Underhill | May 24, 1967 – December 31, 1967, 1970 | |
| James Sherry | 1854 – 1855, 1863 | Donald A. Deming | 1972 – 1979 | |
| George McGonegal | 1860 – 1861 | Stephen R. Johnson | 1980 – 1983 | |
| Jedediah White | 1862 | Eugene C. Mazzola, Jr. | 1984 – 1989 | |
| Albert C. Hobbie | 1864 – 1866 | Frederick W. Lapple | 1990 – 1993 | |
| Richard D. Cole | 1867 – 1870 | Suzanne Masters | 1994–1995 | |
| Samuel Dubelbeiss | 1871 – 1872 | William S Dillon | 1996 – 1997 | |
| Henry Walzer | 1873 – 1876 | David W. Schantz | 1998–2005 | |
| Alexander H. Wilson | 1877 | Mary Ellen Heyman | 2006 – 2009 | |
| Winfield R. Wood | 1878 – 1879 | Mary Joyce D'Aurizio | 2010 – 2014 | |
| John Evershed | 1880 – 1882 | Adam Bello | 2014 - 2016 | |
| Richard Hill | 1883 – 1884 | David Seeley | 2016 – 2022 | |
| William H. Sours | 1885 – 1891 | Rory Fitzpatrick | 2022 – 2023 | |
| John D. Whipple | 1892 – 1897 | Andraé Evans | 2024 – present | |
| Rudolph Dubelbeiss | 1898 – September 11, 1900 |
The following notable people were either born in Irondequoit or were long-time residents:
Irondequoit is served by theWest Irondequoit andEast Irondequoit central school districts.
Additionally, there are several schools with religious affiliations:
Irondequoit is also the home of satellite campuses of two institutions of higher learning:
Municipalities and communities ofMonroe County, New York,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other hamlets | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
