Richmond, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richmond
Town
Richmond, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Ontario
Named for	Abigail Richmond Pitts
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	44.39 sq mi (114.98 km2)
• Land	42.43 sq mi (109.90 km2)
• Water	1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2)
Elevation	833 ft (254 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,380
• Estimate  (2021)	3,368
• Density	77.39/sq mi (29.88/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	36-61544
GNIS feature ID	0978648

Richmond is a small town located in Ontario County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 3,380 people lived there. The town was named after Abigail Richmond Pitts, who was an important early settler. Richmond is found on the western edge of Ontario County, south of the city of Rochester.

History of Richmond

How Richmond Got Its Name

Richmond was first settled around 1790. It was part of a large land deal called the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. When it became a town in 1796, it was called "Pittstown" after Captain Peter Pitts.

Later, in 1808, its name changed to "Honeoye." Then, in 1815, it was renamed "Richmond." This final name honors Abigail Richmond Pitts, Peter Pitts' wife, who is seen as a "founding mother" of the town.

Changes in Town Borders

Over the years, Richmond's borders changed a few times. In 1836, some land from the Town of Canadice was added. Later, in 1848, parts of the Towns of Bristol and South Bristol joined Richmond. However, these parts were returned to their original towns in 1852.

Forests and Early Industries

Around the year 1600, the area around Honeoye Lake was almost completely covered in thick forests. These forests had huge trees. Early settlers used these trees for many things. One of the first products they sold was potash, which was made from the ashes of burned trees.

Later, sawmills were built. From 1830 to 1890, lumber from Richmond's forests helped build big cities like Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. To move logs from hard-to-reach areas, a special rail line was built in Briggs Gully in 1885.

Farming and Reforestation

Around 1885, most of New York State's land was used for farming, even in places where it wasn't ideal. After this time, farming in the Honeoye Lake area slowly decreased. This change sped up during the Great Depression (1929-1943). As farming stopped, the forests in the area started to grow back naturally.

Growth and Development by Honeoye Lake

In the 1920s and 1930s, cars became more common and roads improved. This made cottages by Honeoye Lake very popular. By the mid-1900s, almost all the lakefront land had summer cottages on it.

After World War II, farming became less important in the area. Instead, more homes were built in the hills around Richmond and Canadice, overlooking the lake. While less farming helped reduce soil erosion, more homes meant less natural plant life and more paved surfaces. These changes have affected both the beauty and the water quality of the lake.

The Winter Carnival

In 1962, the Honeoye Chamber of Commerce started a "Winter Carnival." It became very popular! By 1971, over 50,000 visitors came, causing long traffic jams. Even though it was a big success, the Winter Carnival eventually stopped because there weren't enough places for all the tourists to stay and visit.

Geography of Richmond

Richmond covers about 114.98 square kilometers (44.39 square miles). Most of this area, about 109.90 square kilometers (42.43 square miles), is land. The rest, about 5.08 square kilometers (1.96 square miles), is water.

The western edge of the town borders Livingston County. Most of Honeoye Lake, which is one of the smaller Finger Lakes, is located within Richmond. Honeoye Creek, which flows out of the lake, runs north through the town. US 20A is a main road that goes through Richmond.

Population of Richmond

How Many People Live Here?

According to the 2010 US Census, Richmond had 3,361 people living in 1,421 households. Most residents (98.19%) were White. About 0.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Age and Family Life

In Richmond, about 21.1% of the people were under 19 years old. The median age was 47.3 years. This means half the people were younger than 47.3 and half were older.

Many households (56%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.37 people. The average family had 2.81 people.

Communities and Places in Richmond

Richmond is made up of several smaller communities and interesting places:

• Allens Hill – A small village in the northeast part of town. It's named after the Allen family, who settled there around 1797.
• Curtis Corner – Another small village located in the western part of Richmond.
• Denison Corner – A village in the northwest, named after Asa Denison, an early settler from 1795.
• Frost Hollow – A small village also found in the northwest part of the town.
• Honeoye – A village north of Honeoye Lake, where Honeoye Creek flows.
• Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area – A protected area in the northwest of the town, important for nature.
• Honeoye Park – A village on the east side of Honeoye Lake.
• Richmond Center – A village near the middle of the town, north of Honeoye.
• Richmond Mills – A location close to Denison Corner in the northwestern part of town.
• Willow Beach – A village south of Honeoye Park, right on the eastern shore of Honeoye Lake.

See also

In Spanish: Richmond (Nueva York) para niños