Geneva, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geneva
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| City of Geneva | |
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 Geneva
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Ontario, Seneca |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.85 sq mi (15.14 km2) |
| • Land | 4.21 sq mi (10.91 km2) |
| • Water | 1.63 sq mi (4.23 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,812 |
| • Density | 3,040.34/sq mi (1,173.84/km2) |
| ZIP code |
14456
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| Area code(s) | 315 and 585 |
| FIPS code | 36-28640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978993 |
Geneva is a city located in New York, United States. It sits at the northern end of Seneca Lake. Most of the city's land is in Ontario County, while its water areas are in Seneca County.
In 2020, about 12,812 people lived in Geneva. The city is thought to be named after the city of Geneva in Switzerland. It is also known as the "Lake Trout Capital of the World."
Contents
History of Geneva, New York
Early Life and European Settlement
The area where Geneva is now was once home to the Seneca tribe. They had a large village called Kanadaseaga here by 1687. During the French and Indian War, the British helped the Seneca make their village stronger against the French. Later, during the American Revolutionary War, more defenses were added against the Americans.
In 1779, American forces attacked and destroyed many homes and food supplies in the village. The Seneca people then left the area. After the war, around 1793, European-Americans began to settle here. They were encouraged by the Pulteney Association, which owned and sold land plots.
One of the early settlers was Lt. Col. Seth Reed. He moved from Massachusetts to Ontario County in 1790 with his family. He had fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Becoming a Village and City
The settlement at Geneva became a formal "Village of Geneva" in 1806. This separated it from the larger area of Geneva Town. Later, in 1871, the village officially became a city.
Geneva, New York, also inspired the names of other places. In the 1830s, a surveyor named John Brink named Geneva Lake and Lake Geneva in Wisconsin after this city. Geneva, Nebraska, founded in 1871, was also named after Geneva, New York.
Geography and Climate of Geneva
Where is Geneva Located?
Geneva is in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York. This area is famous for its many lakes and is the biggest wine-producing region in New York State. The city is at the northern end of Seneca Lake, which stretches 34 miles south.
The Cayuga-Seneca Canal flows north through Geneva. This canal connects to the Erie Canal, which was finished in 1825. The Erie Canal helped the region trade goods with the Great Lakes and other markets.
Geneva's Size and Roads
The city of Geneva covers about 5.8 square miles (15.1 square kilometers). About 4.3 square miles (10.9 square kilometers) is land, and 1.6 square miles (4.2 square kilometers) is water.
Major roads like US 20 and NY 5 run through Geneva. NY 14 also passes through the city. Geneva is about 45 miles away from both Rochester and Syracuse.
Geneva's Weather Patterns
Geneva has a climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. This is known as a humid continental climate. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Geneva was 99°F (37°C) on July 22, 2011. The coldest temperature was -16°F (-27°C), recorded on February 18, 1979, and January 22, 2005.
| Climate data for Geneva, New York, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1969–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
69 (21) |
84 (29) |
89 (32) |
93 (34) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
95 (35) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
70 (21) |
99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 55.3 (12.9) |
52.8 (11.6) |
64.8 (18.2) |
78.9 (26.1) |
85.4 (29.7) |
89.5 (31.9) |
90.8 (32.7) |
89.3 (31.8) |
87.4 (30.8) |
78.3 (25.7) |
68.0 (20.0) |
56.6 (13.7) |
92.5 (33.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.4 (−0.9) |
32.2 (0.1) |
40.0 (4.4) |
53.7 (12.1) |
66.6 (19.2) |
75.1 (23.9) |
79.4 (26.3) |
77.8 (25.4) |
71.2 (21.8) |
58.5 (14.7) |
46.4 (8.0) |
35.9 (2.2) |
55.6 (13.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.1 (−4.9) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
44.2 (6.8) |
56.5 (13.6) |
65.6 (18.7) |
70.0 (21.1) |
68.4 (20.2) |
61.3 (16.3) |
49.9 (9.9) |
38.9 (3.8) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
47.0 (8.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.8 (−9.0) |
16.7 (−8.5) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
34.8 (1.6) |
46.4 (8.0) |
56.0 (13.3) |
60.6 (15.9) |
59.0 (15.0) |
51.5 (10.8) |
41.3 (5.2) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
22.9 (−5.1) |
38.4 (3.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −2.8 (−19.3) |
−0.5 (−18.1) |
6.7 (−14.1) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
34.1 (1.2) |
43.8 (6.6) |
51.0 (10.6) |
48.9 (9.4) |
38.9 (3.8) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
6.9 (−13.9) |
−5.5 (−20.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−16 (−27) |
−7 (−22) |
10 (−12) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
44 (7) |
40 (4) |
30 (−1) |
21 (−6) |
4 (−16) |
−12 (−24) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.79 (45) |
1.58 (40) |
2.40 (61) |
2.76 (70) |
3.27 (83) |
3.63 (92) |
3.73 (95) |
3.49 (89) |
3.26 (83) |
3.83 (97) |
2.55 (65) |
2.32 (59) |
34.61 (879) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 13.5 (34) |
13.3 (34) |
12.8 (33) |
1.8 (4.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
4.7 (12) |
10.4 (26) |
56.6 (143.85) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 9.7 (25) |
9.9 (25) |
10.5 (27) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
3.1 (7.9) |
6.2 (16) |
15.5 (39) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 13.9 | 11.3 | 12.0 | 12.5 | 13.2 | 12.7 | 12.0 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 15.5 | 12.3 | 12.7 | 152.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.9 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 6.6 | 33.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
People and Economy in Geneva
Geneva's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 5,521 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,878 | 6.5% | |
| 1890 | 7,557 | 28.6% | |
| 1900 | 10,433 | 38.1% | |
| 1910 | 12,446 | 19.3% | |
| 1920 | 14,846 | 19.3% | |
| 1930 | 16,053 | 8.1% | |
| 1940 | 15,555 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 17,144 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,286 | 0.8% | |
| 1970 | 16,793 | −2.9% | |
| 1980 | 15,133 | −9.9% | |
| 1990 | 14,143 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 13,617 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 13,261 | −2.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,812 | −3.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 13,617 people living in Geneva. The city had 5,014 households. About 29.5% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.35 people.
The median age in the city was 32 years old. About 23.2% of the population was under 18. The median income for a household was $31,600.
Tourism and Local Businesses
One of the main industries in Geneva is winemaking. The area is very popular for agritourism, which means visiting farms and wineries. There are over 100 wineries in the Finger Lakes Region. The Seneca Lake wine trail makes it easy to visit many of them from Geneva.
Geneva is becoming a popular place for tourists. In 2016, a restaurant called FLX Table opened. It was soon recognized as the best new restaurant in the country by USA Today.
In 2015, Geneva won the All-America City Award from the National Civic League. This award recognizes cities that work together to solve problems. In 2017, New York State gave Geneva $10 million to help improve its downtown area. An extra $5 million was given for a new welcome center.
Education in Geneva
Local Schools for Kids
The Geneva City School District runs the public schools in the area. There are two elementary schools:
- North Street School (for grades 3-5)
- West Street School (for grades K-2)
The district's schools for older students are:
- Geneva Middle School
- Geneva High School
Private Schools in the City
Geneva also has several private schools:
- Children's Hours School: This school is for pre-school and elementary students.
- St. Francis-St. Stephen's School: A Roman Catholic elementary school for grades PreK-6.
- Rose Academy: This school focuses on "Experiential Learning" for grades 1-5. It includes subjects like GLOBAL Science, Reading, Math, Art, Music, and Physical Education.
Colleges and Universities
Geneva is home to several higher education institutions:
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges: These are private liberal arts colleges.
- The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station: This is part of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
- Finger Lakes Community College: This college has two campuses in Geneva, including a Viticulture and Wine Center.
Arts and Culture in Geneva
The Dove Block Art Center
The Dove Block is an important art center in Geneva. It was built in 1878 and was once the workshop of famous American painter Arthur Dove. Today, it has been updated to serve the community. It offers art lessons, promotes local artists, and can be rented for events.
Historic Geneva Society
Historic Geneva is a historical society that looks after Geneva's history. It manages the Geneva History Museum, Rose Hill Mansion, and the John Johnston House. The society started in 1883 and was officially recognized in 1905. In 2021, it changed its name to Historic Geneva.
Notable People from Geneva
Many interesting people have connections to Geneva:
- Elizabeth Blackwell: The first woman to become a medical doctor in the United States. She studied here in 1849.
- Travie McCoy: The lead singer of the hip-hop group Gym Class Heroes.
- Arthur Dove: A well-known American artist.
- Steve Golin: A film producer who won an Oscar for the movie Spotlight.
- Gym Class Heroes: A popular music group.
- Robert Holley: A scientist who won the Nobel Prize in 1968.
- Lauren Holly: An actress.
- Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly: A famous Indian scout and adventurer. He was born in Geneva in 1849.
- Scott LaFaro: An influential jazz bassist.
- Christine Lavin: A folk singer.
- Seth Reed: An early settler of Geneva who fought at Bunker Hill.
- William Smith: An entrepreneur who helped found William Smith College.
- Otto Stern: The inventor of Miracle-Gro.
- Marshall P. Wilder: A well-known humorist.
- John Zakour: A novelist and humorist.
See also
In Spanish: Geneva (Nueva York) para niños
