1. Bristol, 1789 2. Canandaigua, 1789. 4. Farmington, 1789. 6. Naples, 1789. 7. Phelps, 1789. 8. Richmond, 1789. Rivers. a. Mud Creek. b. Canandaigua Outlet. c. Flint Creek. d. Honeoye. Lakes. BB. Seneca. h. Canandaigua. e. Honeoye. f. Caneadea or Canadice. g. Hemlock. Colleges. Geneva. Villages. CANANDAIGUA. Geneva. Vienna. Port Gibson. BOUNDARIES. North by Monroe and Wayne counties; East by Seneca county and Seneca lake; South by Yates and Steuben counties; and West by Livingston and Monroe counties. SURFACE. The surface of Ontario county is diversified, being naturally divided by a north and south line, taking the Canandaigua lake in its course. The whole eastern portion is spread out in beautiful plains and gentle undulations. The western portion comprises numerous swells of rich rolling land, interspersed with fertile vales. In the southwestern portion of the county, these swells form some bold elevations, towering into highlands, having an altitude of twelve or fourteen hundred feet. RIVERS. Mud creek, Canandaigua outlet, Flint creek and Honeoye, are the principal streams. LAKES. Canandaigua lake is fourteen miles long, from one to two broad, and surrounded by diversified and beautiful scenery. The other lakes are Seneca, Honeoye, Caneadea and Hemlock. CANALS. The Erie canal just touches the county at Port Gibson, and the Seneca and Cayuga canal commences at Geneva. RAILROADS. The Auburn and Rochester railroad has a circuitous course, from east to west, through the county. CLIMATE. The climate is mild and equable. In some sections remittent and intermittent fevers prevail in autumn, but the county, as a whole, is decidedly healthy.. It is well adapted to the growth and perfection of the peach, apple and other fruits. GEOLOGY AND MINERALS. Slate is the underlying rock of the county, but it is generally covered with limestone, and, on the higher hills, with graywacke. In the southern part, the clay slate sometimes appears on the surface. In the west it alternates with the limestone, forming an excellent soil. The county lies mostly within the limits of the Ontario group. Water lime, gypsum and marl are abundant. Iron ore is also found in large quantities. Sulphur springs exist in Manchester. One of the most interesting features in the mineralogical history of this county, is the carburetted hydrogen or inflammable gas, in Bristol and Canandaigua. The gas forces its way through fissures in the rocks, and in Bristol through the waters of a stream, where it is most abundant; when lighted it burns with a steady, brilliant flame, till extinguished by storms, or by design. The gas has the odor of pit coal, and burns without smoke, but deposits a small quantity of bituminous lampblack. The hillocks where it appears are destitute of verdure, and no plant will live within its influence. There are similar springs in East Bloomfield and Richmond. SOIL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS. The constituents of the soil render it quite fertile, and the northern and central towns are peculiarly adapted to the raising of wheat and other grains. It also yields grass and fruits abundantly. The timber is principally oak, chestnut, hickory, with beech, maple, and some pine in the southern part. PURSUITS. The people generally are engaged in tilling the earth, and find a rich return for their toil, in the abundance it produces. More wheat is raised in this county, than in any other in the state. It also produces more wool. All kinds of fruit congenial to the climate, are produced in large quantities. The manufactures of the county are limited, as it has comparatively little water power. They are chiefly flour, the various woollen fabrics, leather, malt and distilled liquors. Its commerce is confined to the transportation of its produce, and that principally on the Seneca lake. STAPLES. These are, wheat, wool, oats, barley and butter. SCHOOLS. In 1846, there were 220 district schools, which were taught an average period of eight months, and contained 14,617 pupils. The amount paid for tuition was $21,519. There were 27,106 volumes in the school libraries. There were in addition, thirty-five select schools, with 706 scholars, two academies, and one female seminary, with 246 pupils, and one college with eight professors, and, including both departments, 260 students. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Friends, Universalists, Dutch Reformed, Unitarians and Roman Catholics. Total churches seventy-six-clergymen ninety-five. HISTORY. The whole of this county, as well as the counties of Steuben, Genesee, Allegany, Niagara, Chautauque, Monroe, Livingston, Erie, Yates, and the western half of Wayne and Orleans, was included in the lands ceded by New York to Massachusetts, and by that state to Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, in 1787. In 1788 Oliver Phelps, one of the proprietors, left Granville, Massachusetts, to explore this far distant and unknown country, amid the tearful adieus of his family and friends, who parted with him, not expecting his return. On his arrival at Canandaigua, he assembled the chiefs of the Six Nations, and purchased from them their title to two and a half millions of acres of land. In 1789, he opened, at Canandaigua, the first land office in America, for the sale of forest lands to settlers. His system of surveys by townships was subsequently adopted by the United States government, in their surveys of new lands. Almost the whole of the lands of this county were thus sold to actual settlers, a large proportion of whom were from New England. With a soil of extraordinary fertility, and a thrifty and industrious population; possessing scenery of unrivaled beauty, and removed from the danger of hostile incursions, the growth of this county has been rapid and prosperous, since its first settlement. VILLAGES. CANANDAIGUA VILLAGE in the town of Canandaigua, was laid out by Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, in 1788, and is the county seat. It is delightfully situated, on an ascent, at the northern extremity of the lake of the same name, commanding a fine view of that beautiful sheet of water. Its buildings, many of them handsome, are principally situated on a single broad street, running north and south, and are surrounded by highly cultivated gardens. The Canandaigua academy, located here, was founded by the munificence of Messrs. Gorham and Phelps, and is amply sustained by the liberality of the inhabitants. It is also the seat of the Ontario female seminary, an ancient and respectable institution. Population about 3000. Geneva, in the town of Seneca, was founded by Messrs. Annin and Barton, in 1794. In the beauty of its situation, it is unrivaled among the many beautiful villages of western New York. Situated at the northwest extremity of Seneca lake, its principal street runs parallel with the shore of the lake, at an elevation of about 100 feet, and from many of its residences terraced gardens extend to the banks of the lake. It has some manufactures, but is chiefly distinguished for its refined society, and for the advantages it affords as a retreat for the scholar, the retired merchant, or the gentleman of fortune. The college, here, has an able corps of instructors, and is rising in reputation and usefulness. In beauty of location it is not surpassed by any institution in the United States. It has a flourishing medical department. There is also in this village a female seminary. Population about 4000. East and West Vienna, in the town of Phelps, are thriving villages, situated one mile distant from each other, on the outlet of Canandaigua lake. They are in the midst of a fine agricultural region and have some manufactories, East Vienna has a female seminary. The Auburn and Rochester railroad passes through the village. Population 1500. Rushville, partly in this county and partly in Yates, is a village of some importance. Population about 800. Port Gibson, in the town of Manchester, is the only place where the Erie canal touches the county. |