Irondequoit, New York
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| Irondequoit | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Monroe |
| Area | 16.8 sq mi (43.5 km²) |
| - land | 15.2 sq mi (39.4 km²) |
| - water | 1.6 sq mi (4.1 km²), 9.52% |
| Center | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 368 ft (112.2 m) |
| Population | 52,354 (2000) |
| Density | 3,444 /sq mi (1,329.7 /km²) |
| Founded | 1839 |
| Supervisor | Mary Ellen Heyman (first elected 2005) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 14617, 14621, 14622 |
| Area code | 585 |
  Location of Irondequoit in New York
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 Location of New York in the United States
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| Website : http://www.irondequoit.org/ | |
Irondequoit is a town (and census-designated place) in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 52,354.
The Town of Irondequoit is a major suburb of the City of Rochester, New York, lying just north and east of the city limits.
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[edit] History
In 1687 Marquis de Denonville led an army of French soldiers and Huron warriors on a punitive expedition against the Iroquois through Irondequoit Bay, beginning the long enmity between the Iroquois and the French.
After the American Revolution, this area was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The Town of Irondequoit was founded in 1839.
During the last part of the 19th Century the north edge of the town was developed as a tourist and vacation area for the City of Rochester residents, and was once known as the "Coney Island of Western New York."
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 16.8 square miles (43.6 km²), of which, 15.2 square miles (39.3 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it (9.69%) is water.
The town lies between the Genesee River on the west and Irondequoit Bay on the east. The north border of the town is defined by the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Because it is bounded by water on three sides, it is considered a geographical headland.
An unusual boundary exists between the Town of Irondequoit and the adjacent City of Rochester. On the western border of Irondequoit, the city claims a thin strip that extends northward along the banks of the river from Seneca Park to Lake Ontario, at some points less than 50 yards from the shore. The result is that the City of Rochester claims the entire eastern shore of the Genesee, and the border of the Town of Irondequoit never reaches the river.
Similarly, the northern half of Durand-Eastman Park (including Durand Beach), lies within the city's borders, along with a narrow strip running along Culver Road for approximately five miles southward to Norton Street. This leads to much confusion, even among long-term residents, about whether places such as Seneca Park or Durand Park lie within the Town of Irondequoit or the City of Rochester. In fact, Seneca Park was annexed by the City of Rochester in 1891, and Durand Eastman Park was given to the city in 1908. These various boundary peculiarities are illustrated by this town map.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 52,354 people, 22,247 households, and 14,327 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,447.4 per square mile (1,330.7/km²). There were 23,037 housing units at an average density of 1,516.9/sq mi (585.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.03% White, 3.55% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.06% of the population.
There were 22,247 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,276, and the median income for a family was $55,493. Males had a median income of $41,463 versus $30,937 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,638. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
In 1965, Irondequoit became part of civil rights history by being part of the first totally voluntary desegregation program ever. The Urban Suburban Program, which still operates today, was begun with 25 first graders from the inner city of Rochester who peacefully began a 12 year educational process mostly in West Irondequoit while other cities all over the country wrestled with fear and chaos due to inner city riots and violent confrontations over forced busing programs. Although small in number of students involved, the program became a model for other similar programs around the country.
[edit] Famous Citizens
The following notable people were either born in Irondequoit or were long-time residents:
- Richard Brookhiser, noted historian and biographer of various American founding fathers, is a 1973 graduate of Irondequoit High School.
- Stanley Diamond is a distant blood relative of the American classical music composer David Leo Diamond and a convicted Lucchese crime family mob associate who served in The Vario Crew under Paul Vario
- Michael Critelli - Pitney Bowes CEO, is a 1966 graduate of Bishop Kearney High School.
- Tom Golisano - founder of Paychex and a three-time New York State gubernatorial candidate is a graduate of Irondequoit High School.
- Don Holleder - All-American end on Army's 1954 football team, which led the nation in offense, grew up in Irondequoit. He died at age 33, killed in Vietnam by a sniper's bullet while attempting to rescue wounded comrades.
- Sean Lahman - Sportswriter and historian, is a graduate of Irondequoit High.
- Cal Ripken, Sr. - lived in the Seabreeze neighborhood off Culver road for several years in the late sixties and early seventies while he was managing the Rochester Red Wings baseball team. Two of his sons, Billy and Cal, Jr. went on to play in the major leagues.
- A number of students from Irondequoit High School have played professional sports at the major league level, including defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick (NHL's Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks); Linebacker Andy Hendel (Jacksonville Bulls, USFL; Miami Dolphins); Matt Kerwick, a professional lacrosse All-Star with the Major Indoor Lacrosse League's Baltimore Thunder; and Joe Walters, a professional lacrosse player for the Rochester Rattlers.
- Steve Gadd, drummer.
[edit] Communities and locations in Irondequoit
- Bayview -- A community on the west shore of Irondequoit bay in the southeast part of the town.
- Culver Meadows -- A community immediately northwest of the interchange between Route 104 and Route 590.
- Durand-Eastman Park -- A large park geographically surrounded by the town on three sides and Lake Ontario on the other. The park is part of the City of Rochester and is connected to the city by an easement along Culver Road.
- German Village -- A location in the northeast part of the town.
- Glen Haven -- A community on the west shore of Irondequoit bay in the southeast part of the town and south of Bayview.
- Heyer - Bayer Park named after longtime Irondequoit residents Arthur F. Heyer and George Bayer who donated the land to the town
- Irondequoit Cemetery -- A cemetery along the west side of Culver Rd.
- Joshua Park -- new park and soccer fields named for Joshua Rojas, an 11-year old boy who died during soccer practice in 2005. It was formerly "Irondequoit Plaza Park."
- McAvoy Park -- A Park with playing fields and playground equipment.
- Newport -- A community south of Route 104 by Irondequoit Bay.
- Orchard Park -- A neighborhood, situated in a former apple orchard, north of Empire Blvd., Route 404, and east of Irondequoit Bay.
- Autumn View Estates--A neighborhood on a private road along Bayshore blvd.
- Seabreeze Amusement Park -- Locally owned and run amusement park, one of the oldest in the nation.
- Parkside -- A location in the south western part of town that is densely populated and in close proximity to the river.
- Summerville -- A neighborhood along the lakefront of Lake Ontario, formerly summer cottages, now year-round homes. Summerville is in the northwest corner of the town.
- White City -- A shoreside neighborhood near Summerville.
- Windsor Beach -- A shoreside neighborhood near Summerville.
[edit] Buildings, institutions, and other places of note
- Bishop Kearney High School -- A co-educational Catholic High School.
- Dake Jr. High School
- Camp Eastman --
- Eastridge High School
- Helmer Nature Center -- An outdoor learning facility visited by local school districts. Also open to general public with hiking trails and a pond with boardwalk
- House of Guitars -- A famous local business noted for its strange commercials on TV.
- Irondequoit High School -- Nickname recently changed from Indians to Eagles.
- Irondequoit Public Library - Helen McGraw Branch --
- Irondequoit Public Library - Pauline Evans Branch --
- Medley Centre -- formerly called the Irondequoit Mall.
- Parkside Whispering Pines - the oldest miniature golf course still in existence. First opened in 1930. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Seabreeze Amusement Park -- The Fourth Oldest amusement park in the country.
- The Flats -- A valley by the Genesee River.
[edit] Sports
- East vs. West Rivalry -- IHS football beat the Eastridge football team several times in a row, but the 9 year[citation needed] streak came to an end when the Eastridge Lancers defeated IHS 48-10 in week 2 of the 2007 Section V football season. This is one of the most heated rivalries in Monroe County.
- Irondequoit High School Football -- The football team has won back-to-back Section V Div. III titles in 2005 and 2006.
- Irondequoit Lacrosse -- The IHS lacrosse program has won 30 league titles and 13 Section V championships since 1957. It was the subject of a documentary, titled "Irondequoit: Lacrosse Town, USA".
- The girls volleyball program has won 2 class A finals in a row.
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Town of Irondequoit Official Website
- Irondequoit Public Library
- Town of Irondequoit.biz Business Portal
- Bishop Kearney High School
- Irondequoit Historical Society
- Dedication of Joshua Park
- Vintage Postcards with images of Irondequoit
- Article on plans for town center
- Newspaper series on history of Irondequoit
- Irondequoit Lighthouse Trail
- Medley Centre Website
- Transcript of WXXI news story and panel discussion on Urban Suburban Program (2003)
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