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Irondequoit, New York

Coordinates: 43°12′40″N 77°34′55″W / 43.21111°N 77.58194°W / 43.21111; -77.58194
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Irondequoit
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°12′40″N 77°34′55″W / 43.21111°N 77.58194°W / 43.21111; -77.58194
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyMonroe
FoundedMarch 27, 1839; 185 years ago (1839-03-27)[1]
Government
 • Town supervisorAndraé Evans (D)
Area
 • Total16.82 sq mi (43.57 km2)
 • Land14.99 sq mi (38.82 km2)
 • Water1.83 sq mi (4.75 km2)
Elevation
368 ft (112 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total51,043
 • Estimate 
(2021)
50,548 Decrease
 • Density3,372.65/sq mi (1,302.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14609, 14617, 14621, 14622
Area code585
FIPS code36-055-37726
Websitehttp://www.irondequoit.org/

Irondequoit (/ɪˈrɒndəkɔɪt/) is a town (and census-designated place) in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,043. Irondequoit is a suburb of the city of Rochester, lying just north and east of the city limits. The name is of Iroquois origin and means "where the land meets the water".[3]

History

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In 1687 Marquis de Denonville led an army of French soldiers and Huron warriors on a punitive expedition against the Iroquois through Irondequoit Bay, beginning the long enmity between the Iroquois and the French.

After the American Revolution, this area was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The Town of Irondequoit was founded in 1839 when it separated from the Town of Brighton.

During the last part of the 19th century, the north edge of the town was developed as a tourist and vacation area for the City of 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, a remarkable 136% increase. Irondequoit remained the most-populated suburb in Monroe County until the 1970s, when it was surpassed by the Town of Greece, 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 voluntary desegregation program in U.S. history. The Urban Suburban Interdistrict Transfer Program, 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 a sister city relationship with Poltava, in Ukraine. Poltava is an Eastern Ukrainian city once known as "the Soul of Ukraine". The initiative was spearheaded by Irondequoit Town Supervisor Fred Lapple.[4][better source needed] His appointed Committee Chair, Tamara Denysenko, identified Poltava, Ukraine as Irondequoit's chosen Sister City.[5] 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.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.8 sq mi (44 km2), of which 15.2 sq mi (39 km2) is land and 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2) (9.69%) is water.

The town lies between the Genesee River on the west and Irondequoit Bay on the east. The north border of the town is defined by the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Because it is bounded by water on three sides, it is considered a geographical headland. Irondequoit is bordered by the city of Rochester to the west and south, the town of Brighton southeast, and the towns of Webster and Penfield to the east.

An unusual boundary exists between the Town of Irondequoit and the adjacent City of Rochester. On the western border of Irondequoit, the city claims a thin strip that extends northward along the banks of the river from Seneca Park to Lake 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 of Durand-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.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18401,252
18502,39791.5%
18603,54748.0%
18703,99012.5%
18801,986−50.2%
18902,41521.6%
19002,86318.6%
19103,52623.2%
19205,12345.3%
193018,024251.8%
194023,37629.7%
195034,41747.2%
196055,33760.8%
197064,89717.3%
198057,648−11.2%
199052,377−9.1%
200052,3540.0%
201051,692−1.3%
202051,043−1.3%
2021 (est.)50,548−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[7] 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 or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the town was $23,638. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Irondequoit town hall

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 elected at-large by voters. The Supervisor serves a two-year term, while councilpersons serve a four-year term.[8]

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

Supervisors
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

Notable people

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The following notable people were either born in Irondequoit or were long-time residents:

Monument to the 100 years of Ukrainian Settlement in the area – Located on the grounds of the Irondequoit Town Hall

Education

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Irondequoit is served by the West Irondequoit and East 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:

References

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  1. ^ Hanford, Franklin (1911). On the origin of the names of places in Monroe County, New York (PDF). Scottsville, New York: Isaac Van Hooser. p. 9. OCLC 866011722. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. ^ Richens, Thomas Cole; Wayne, Patricia (November 15, 2006). Irondequoit (NY) (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738549185.
  4. ^ Denysenko, Tamara. "Irondequoit-Poltava SC History". Facebook. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  5. ^ Denysenko, Tamara (September 3, 1991). "Lapple Official Irondequoit Letter on SC Committee". Facebook.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. ^ "Town Board". Town of Irondequoit. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "Councilwoman Kimie Romeo Resigns from Irondequoit Town Board". News Flash. Town of Irondequoit. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Irondequoit High School grad earns prestigious award Archived February 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine www.mpnnow.com. Retrieved January 30, 2009
  11. ^ MLB.com 'Yanks stay close to home by tabbing Culver'
  12. ^ Golisano Foundation.org Retrieved January 30, 2009
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