Irondequoit, New York

Irondequoit
Town
Location in Monroe County and the state of New York.
Location of New York in the United States
Coordinates: 43°12′40″N 77°34′55″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Monroe
Founded	March 27, 1839 (1839-03-27)
Government
• Town supervisor	Andraé Evans (D)
Area
• Total	16.82 sq mi (43.57 km2)
• Land	14.99 sq mi (38.82 km2)
• Water	1.83 sq mi (4.75 km2)
Elevation	368 ft (112 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	51,043
• Estimate  (2021)	50,548
• Density	3,372.65/sq mi (1,302.15/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	14609, 14617, 14621, 14622
Area code	585
FIPS code	36-055-37726
Website	http://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".

History

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. His appointed Committee Chair, Tamara Denysenko, identified Poltava, Ukraine as Irondequoit's chosen Sister City. 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

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

Historical population

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

As of the census 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

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.

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.

Current Members of the Town Board

• Supervisor: Andraé Evans (Democrat) - 2024–Present
• Councilperson: John Perticone (Democrat) - 2007–Present
• Councilperson: Peter Wehner (Democrat) - 2016–Present
• Councilperson: Kimie Romeo (Democrat) - 2018–2023
• Councilperson: Patrina Freeman (Democrat) - 2020–Present

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

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

• Richard Brookhiser - historian and biographer of various American founding fathers, is a 1973 graduate of Irondequoit High School.
• Cito Culver - first round draft pick for the New York Yankees
• Steve Gadd - drummer who has played with Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, and others. His most famous work was his drum work on Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover.
• Tom Golisano - founder of Paychex and a three-time New York State gubernatorial candidate is a graduate of Irondequoit High School. He was also the owner of the Buffalo Sabres hockey team from 2003 to 2011.
• Kent Syverud - 12th Chancellor and President of Syracuse University

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

Education

Irondequoit is served by the West Irondequoit and East Irondequoit central school districts.

Additionally, there are several schools with religious affiliations:

• Archangel School (Roman Catholic) operated by private individuals
• Bay Knoll School operated by the Seventh-day Adventists
• Derech Hatorah for Jewish education
• Bishop Kearney High School (independently owned) but affiliated with the Diocese of Rochester.
• Two schools operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester:
  • Saint Kateri School
  • Saint Ambrose Academy

Irondequoit is also the home of satellite campuses of two institutions of higher learning:

• Empire State College's Genesee Valley Learning Center
• Everest Institute's Rochester campus

External links

• Official website