GENESEE COUNTY
County Offices
15 Main Street
Batavia 585-815-7802
www.co.genesee.ny.us
Chamber of Commerce
8276 Park Road
Batavia 585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
Ideally located just 35 minutes from the metropolitan centers of Rochester and Buffalo, rural Genesee County welcomes newcomers to fresh country air and small-town living. Situated in the heart of Western New York, the county is well-connected to regional amenities and attractions via major highways that include Interstate 90 and the New York Thruway as well as State Routes 5 and 20. Both the Greater Rochester International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport are just a short commute from home.
Services
Education is a lifelong pursuit in Genesee County, home to first-rate public schools that enjoy strong local support and play a major role in community life. Opportunities for higher education begin close to home at Genesee Community College or SUNY GCC, part of the State University of New York system. SUNY GCC maintains campus centers in a four-county region, with its flagship residential campus in Batavia. Regarded as one of the most attractive of the SUNY campuses, GCC enriches the community in countless ways including a radio station called “The Music” that broadcasts for a 25-mile radius. Taking the Cougars as its mascot, the college supports 14 different intercollegiate teams for both men and women. Recent decades have seen tremendous expansion, from residential dorms and a wonderful arts center to the 42,000-square-foot Conable Technology Building. The Wolcott J. Humphrey III Student Union was a more recent addition. Choosing from more than 60 academic programs, many GCC students enjoy an affordable start on their degree and a seamless transfer to any number of four-year colleges and universities. In fact, SUNY GCC is among more than 20 public and private colleges and universities encompassed within the Rochester Area Colleges consortium. Nearby Buffalo adds a number of institutions of higher education to this list for a full range of degree options within a reasonable commute from any Genesee County address.
Genesee County residents need look no further than the United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia to meet all routine and many specialized healthcare needs. As part of the Rochester Regional Health System, United Memorial balances the personalized care of a smaller community hospital with first-rate clinical expertise. The hospital attracts top primary care talent through its Family Medicine Residency Program and maintains a full range of services. A partial list includes advanced imaging and diagnostic centers, physical and occupational therapy, corporate health, wellness programs, women’s health, cardiac services and rehabilitation, outpatient services, and urgent care centers. United Memorial has added a new Pain Center to relieve chronic and acute pain through minimally invasive surgical and non-surgical techniques, a Sleep Center, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine centers. Emergency medicine physicians are on hand around the clock at the main Batavia campus. The United Memorial Cancer and Infusion Center, in association with Rochester General’s Lipson Cancer Center, allows Genesee County residents to remain close to their homes and families during outpatient cancer and infusion treatments. Should highly specialized treatment be indicated, the regional hospitals and medical centers of Greater Rochester and Buffalo are easily accessible.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Genesee County will discover a peaceful country paradise where neighbors become friends. Small towns, charming villages, and unspoiled landscapes form the backdrop for family living. Wide porches, backyard gardens, farm-fresh produce, evening walks, and local storekeepers who know their customers by name are all hallmarks of Genesee County. Restaurants thrive in a friendly atmosphere of farm-fresh cuisine and family recipes. The entire community enjoys the Genesee County Farmer’s Market and the Batavia Public Market with more than 50 vendors, great food, and live entertainment. Ideally located just 35 minutes from the bright lights of Rochester and Buffalo as well as Toronto, Canada, this area attracts many commuters who want to return to a quiet, beautiful home each evening. Quaint Main Streets dot the county with unique shopping opportunities, while elegant malls and shopping centers are just minutes from home. Within the county, the City and Town of Batavia serve as the hub of education, healthcare, government, and attractions. Cultural enrichment includes a symphony orchestra, a concert band, community theatres, and an art museum. Genesee Community College is home to the Roz Steiner Gallery and Stuart Steiner Theater, hosting a wide variety of productions.
Those who appreciate outdoor activity will discover a paradise in Genesee County, from winter sports to summer rafting down the Genesee River through Letchworth State Park—often called the Grand Canyon of the East. The entire family will love Darien Lake Amusement Park, New York’s largest water and theme park. Golfers will find challenging courses and affordable golf packages that keep players returning year after year. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the Area 51 Motocross facility, Batavia Motor Speedway, and Batavia Sports Park with its soccer, rugby, and kickball facilities. Batavia Downs Gaming and Racetrack is a local favorite, along with minor league baseball action at the 2,200-seat Dwyer Stadium—home to the Batavia Muckdogs affiliated with the Miami Marlins. Bowling lanes, a fencing club, and a first-class ice arena add to the list of local sports venues. In addition to great schools and well-managed services, new residents will appreciate the variety of attractive housing options in every imaginable residential setting. You really can have in all in Genesee County!
COMMUNITIES
Batavia City/Town
City Offices
585-345-6330
www.batavianewyork.com
Town Hall
585-343-1729
www.townofbatavia.com
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
The very heart of Genesee County is home to approximately 16,000—a small town by many standards. However, in this rural area, Batavia is a bustling, full-service community with a respected hospital and a residential two-year college campus. The City and Town offer fine and casual restaurants, local shopping, wonderful markets, cultural events and permanent companies, gallery exhibitions, and a host of sports venues and family entertainment options. One point of pride is the Batavia Peace Garden that commemorates the War of 1812 and Batavia’s major role in holding back the British after the City of Buffalo burned. Modeled after the International Peace Garden, this breathtakingly beautiful flowering strip of land along the Tonawanda Creek is also a reminder of the goodwill that has prevailed between the U.S. and Canada for the past two centuries.
Bergen Town/Village, Byron Town
Bergen Town Hall
585-494-1121
http://bergenny.org
Bergen Village Hall
585-494-1513
www.villageofbergen.com
Byron Town Hall
585-548-7123
www.byronny.com
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
The towns of Bergen and Byron are so closely aligned that they share a wonderful public library, a full-service community center, and a central school district. The Village of Bergen adds a charming historic downtown and magnificent Victorian homes canopied by old-growth trees. The Byron-Bergen Public Library provides a wealth of services to the community, including computers and Wi-Fi, copy and fax services, summer reading and story time programs, interlibrary loans, and book discussion groups. The Gillam-Grant Community Center is another valuable resource, providing space for programs and activities that include a Learning Center that offers academic help to students of all ages. This area also features one of the county’s popular attractions: Rose Garden Bowl and the adjacent Viking Valhalla dining room. For the best of small-town living, explore Bergen-Byron.
Oakfield Town/Village, Elba Town, Alabama Town
Oakfield Town Hall
585-948-5835
www.townofoakfieldny.com
Oakfield Village Hall
585-948-5862
www.oakfield.govoffice.com
Elba Town Hall
585-757-2762
www.elbanewyork.com
Alabama Town Hall
585-948-9341
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
The peaceful community of Oakfield enjoys an ideal location just five miles north of the New York Thruway or Interstate 90. With residents who know each other by name and many local businesses, this area also provides easy access to the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge—described as one of Western New York’s best-kept secrets. Oakfield is well known for its “Days in the Park” Labor Day celebration and the Oakfield Hotel with a popular restaurant and adjacent bowling lanes. To the east of Oakfield, the charming community of Elba is home to multigenerational families, active churches, family farms, and outstanding local artists. The town boasts two of the nation’s “Top 100 Farms” and one of America’s most highly praised community-supported organic farms. The local bounty has earned Elba the title of “Onion Capital of the World.” Situated in the far northwestern corner of the county, Alabama Town preserves a rural atmosphere.
Pavilion Town, Bethany Town, Alexander Town
Pavilion Town Hall
585-584-3850
www.townofpavilion.com
Bethany Town Hall
585-343-1399
www.townofbethany.com
Alexander Town Hall
585-591-2455
www.townofalexander.com
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
The neighboring rural communities in the southern section of Genesee County—Pavilion, Bethany, and Alexander towns—have retained a strong agricultural base over the centuries. In Pavilion, farming has evolved into big business. Only a few dairy operations remain from the days when the landscape was covered by the fields of many small, independent farms. Pavilion offers a public library and recently updated schools, convenient services and eateries, the Pavilion Livestock Market, a golf course, and other locally owned businesses. The Town of Bethany is home to the regional attraction of the Genesee County Park & Forest Interpretive Center, preserving New York’s oldest county forest. Sprawling over 430 acres, the park offers well-maintained trails, self-guided hiking, playgrounds, ball fields, a toboggan hill, and picnic pavilions. The Town of Bethany has two points of pride, including North America’s only three-story cobblestone structure built for education and the only such building used as a Town Hall. The town also draws regional visitors to Alexander Central School’s “Field of Dreams,” a venue that hosts a variety of outdoor events.
Pembroke Town, Corfu Village, Darian Town
Pembroke Town Hall
585-599-4892
www.townofpembroke.org
Corfu Village Hall
585-599-3327
www.corfuny.com
Darian Town Hall
585-547-2274
www.townofdarienny.com
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
With four major highways—Routes 5, 33, 77 and Interstate 90—passing through its borders, Pembroke offers quick commutes to Rochester and Buffalo. Little wonder that this former farming town is evolving into a bedroom community for those who work in neighboring cities. Along the south border of Pembroke, the historic Village of Corfu actually extends into adjacent Darien Town. Founded in 1832, Darien has also progressed into a beautiful and well-spaced community that welcomes newcomers to a relaxed lifestyle apart from urban bustle. Conveniently located just minutes from the Pembroke entrance to the New York Thruway, Darian offers a panoramic landscape that ranges from gentle slopes to rolling hills. Regional attractions in this area include Darien Lake Theme Park and the 1,846-acre Darien Lake State Park with a 12-acre lake. Hunting and fishing area allowed by permit in season.
LeRoy Town/Village, Stafford Town
LeRoy Town Hall
585-768-6910
www.leroyny.org
Village Hall
585-768-2527
www.leroyny.org
Stafford Town Hall
585-344-1554
www.townofstafford.com
Chamber of Commerce
585-343-7440
www.geneseeny.com
Situated along the eastern border of the county, LeRoy Village is regarded as one of the most picturesque communities in Upstate New York. Settled in 1797, the village nestles against beautiful Oatka Creek and offers charming residential streets lined with stately Victorians shaded by old-growth trees and mature greenery. Located at the intersection of Routes 5 and 19, LeRoy is only three miles from Interstate 90 for quick commutes to Rochester and Buffalo. Support for school athletics runs strong and has resulted in several championships. LeRoy Town maintains Bunnel Park but also features the attraction of the Barn Quilt Trail, showcasing more than 100 exquisite quilts that represent the epitome of craftsmanship and heritage pride. Sandwiched between Batavia and LeRoy, Stafford is an agricultural community with scores of small businesses that enjoy immediate access to Route 5 and nearby Interstate 90.
