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Caledonia, New York facts for kids

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For the village located within this town, see Caledonia (village), New York.
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Caledonia, New York
Town
The Genesee Valley Greenway in Caledonia
The Genesee Valley Greenway in Caledonia
Caledonia, New York is located in New York
Caledonia, New York
Caledonia, New York
Location in New York
Caledonia, New York is located in the United States
Caledonia, New York
Caledonia, New York
Location in the United States
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)
 • Total 4,154
 • Density 94.131/sq mi (36.346/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14423
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.

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:

Population and People

The population of Caledonia has changed over the years:

Historical population
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.

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