Caledonia, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caledonia, New York
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The Genesee Valley Greenway in Caledonia
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 Caledonia, New York
Location in New York
Caledonia, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Livingston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.13 sq mi (114.29 km2) |
| • Land | 43.88 sq mi (113.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,154 |
| • Density | 94.131/sq mi (36.346/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14423
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| Area code(s) | 585 |
| FIPS code | 36-051-11715 |
Caledonia is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. It's home to about 4,154 people, according to the 2020 census. The town also includes the smaller village of Caledonia. You can find Caledonia in the northwestern part of Livingston County, southwest of the big city of Rochester. It's part of the wider Rochester area.
Contents
A Look Back: Caledonia's History
Long ago, the Seneca people lived in much of what is now western New York. They had a village called "Canawaugus" right here, on the west side of the Genesee River. A famous Seneca leader, Chief Cornplanter, was born near here around 1750. He was known as a wise leader and a war chief. He even invited Quakers to teach children on his land.
European-American settlers didn't arrive until the 1790s. This was after the Revolutionary War. The Seneca, who had sided with the British, had to give up most of their land. The first permanent white settlement started in 1797.
The town of Caledonia was officially created in 1803. It was first called "Southampton," and before that, "Northampton." But in 1806, settlers from Scotland decided to rename it "Caledonia." This is the old Latin name for Scotland.
Over the years, parts of Caledonia were used to form other towns:
- In 1812, part of the town became "Bellona," which later changed its name to Le Roy in Genesee County.
- In 1819, another section was used to create part of the town of York.
- In 1821, the town of Wheatland in Monroe County was formed from Caledonia.
Important Historical Places
Caledonia has some cool historical spots that are recognized nationally:
- Caledonia Fish Hatchery: This was the very first fish hatchery in the United States!
- Caledonia House Hotel: An old hotel with a lot of history.
- Clark-Keith House: Another historic building in the area.
Famous People from Caledonia
Many interesting people have connections to Caledonia:
- Governor Blacksnake (1700s-1859): A Seneca war chief and leader who lived in Canawaugus.
- Matt Cappotelli (1979–2018): A professional wrestler.
- Paul Cook (1863–1905): A Major League Baseball player.
- Cornplanter (c. 1730s-1836): A Seneca war chief and important diplomat.
- Seth Green (1817–1888): A pioneer in fish farming. He started the first fish hatchery in North America right here in Caledonia in 1864.
- Handsome Lake (1735–1815): A significant Seneca religious leader.
- Vivika Heino (1910–1995): A famous ceramic artist who was born in Caledonia.
- Elizabeth Martha Olmsted (1825–1910): A poet.
Where is Caledonia?
Caledonia covers about 114.3 square kilometers (or 44.13 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The northern border of the town touches Monroe County. The western border is next to Genesee County.
Several important roads run through Caledonia:
- New York State Route 5 goes from east to west.
- US Route 20 also crosses the southeastern part of the town.
- New York State Route 36 runs north to south and crosses both Route 5 and US 20.
The Genesee River forms part of the town's eastern border.
Neighboring Towns
Caledonia is surrounded by these towns:
- To the north: Wheatland
- To the east: Rush and Avon
- To the south: York
- To the west: Pavilion and Le Roy
Population and People
The population of Caledonia has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,645 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,618 | −38.8% | |
| 1840 | 1,987 | 22.8% | |
| 1850 | 1,804 | −9.2% | |
| 1860 | 2,014 | 11.6% | |
| 1870 | 1,813 | −10.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,927 | 6.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,188 | 13.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,072 | −5.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,248 | 8.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,988 | −11.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,305 | 15.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,009 | −12.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,529 | 25.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,067 | 21.3% | |
| 1970 | 3,832 | 24.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,034 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,441 | 10.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,567 | 2.8% | |
| 2010 | 4,255 | −6.8% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 4,153 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 4,567 people living in Caledonia. About 39.4% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in the town was 37 years old.
Places and Communities in Caledonia
Here are some of the smaller communities and locations you can find within the town of Caledonia:
- Baker: A small community in the northeastern part of the town.
- Caledonia: This is the main village, located near the northern town line where NY-5 and NY-36 meet.
- Caledonia Fish Hatchery: A state facility for raising fish, located north of Caledonia village on NY-36.
- Canawaugus: A community in the southeastern part of town on NY-5. This was once a Seneca village.
- Maxwell: Another small community in the northeastern part of the town.
- Menzie Crossing: A community northeast of Caledonia village, close to the northern town line.
- Taylor: A community south of Caledonia village on NY-36.
- Toggletown: A community on the southern town line, along US-20.
Community Life and Services
Caledonia has its own high school, called Caledonia-Mumford Central School, or "Cal-Mum." Their sports teams are known as the Raiders.
The Caledonia Fire Department has been helping the community since 1887. Today, the Caledonia Fire District oversees the emergency services. The fire department members volunteer their time and also hold events to support their work. In 2013, they responded to 233 calls for help! You can learn more at caledoniafiredistrict.org.
Ambulance services are provided by CHS Mobile Integrated Healthcare. They offer ambulance transport and advanced medical support for everyone in the village and town. Their station is at 3338 Caledonia-Avon Road.
