Portageville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portageville, New York
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 Portageville, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Wyoming |
| Elevation | 1,115 ft (340 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14536
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| Area code(s) | 585 |
| GNIS feature ID | 960982 |
Portageville is a small community, called a hamlet, located in Wyoming County, New York. It's part of the town of Genesee Falls. This quiet place is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, especially the stunning Genesee River gorge and its waterfalls. Portageville is the only named community within the town of Genesee Falls.
About Portageville
Where the Name Comes From
The name Portageville comes from the Native American people who used to travel by canoe. When they reached the Genesee River gorge, they had to take their canoes out of the water. This was to avoid three large waterfalls, which are now called Portage Falls.
To continue their journey downriver, they had to portage their canoes. This means carrying them several miles overland to a place where they could safely put them back in the water. This spot was near what is now Mount Morris.
The Genesee River Gorge
The Genesee River Gorge is a very scenic area with impressive waterfalls. It's sometimes called The Grand Canyon of the East because of its dramatic cliffs and deep valley. This gorge was formed after the last ice age. A huge glacier left behind a lot of rock and dirt, burying the original river valley. The Genesee River then had to cut a new path through the Devonian rock, creating the gorge we see today.
This beautiful area is now part of Letchworth State Park, which is a very popular place for tourists to visit. The lower entrance to the park is located right in Portageville.
Historic Church
Portageville is home to a historic building called the First Universalist Church of Portageville. It is also known as The Portageville Chapel. This church was built in 1841. It has a special architectural style called Greek Revival, but it also includes some Gothic and Federal design elements. A unique feature of the church is its two-stage square tower, which stands above the north end of the building.
