Wayne County, New York

100 Years of Dramatics A French Inspired Flotilla A Memorial to All A Memorial to Our Men Who Answered our County's Call A Pillar of Strength / The Light of Freedom A Vast Enterprise Admiral William T. Sampson Memorial Apple Dry House Arcadia War Memorial Baptist Meeting House Battle of Sodus Point Bear Creek Harbor Big Sodus Light Black Community Blockhouse Creek British Raids Bullis House Clyde Blockhouse Historical Site Clyde Downtown Historic District Clyde Historical Highlights Cobblestone Architecture Conflagration Creating a Farm Crombe Exhibit Barn Cumorah Davis Cemetery Doty Home East Palmyra Church Emma B. Sweet Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 55 Enlarged Erie Canal Lock 60 Historic Site Erie Lock 60 Erie Mansion B&B Fencing the Land Fire of 1885 First Church First Log Cabin First Log House First Meeting First School First School House First Settlers of Macedon First Tavern First White Men First Zion Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church Former POW Camp Former Railbed Freewill Baptist Church From the Nearby Ravine Fruitland Mill G. Winston Dobbins Memorial Park G.A.R.-W.R.C. memorial Grandin Print Shop Gratefully Dedicated H.G. Hotchkiss H.G. Hotchkiss Peppermint Mural H.G. Hotchkiss/Hotchkiss Essential Oils Have You Wondered Heritage Corners Hill Cumorah Monument Historic Sites Historic Sodus Point Honor Roll In Memory of Our Fallen Civil War Soldiers In Memory of Those from This Community In Memory, World Wars 1 - 2 Indian Trail Iron Furnace Iron Ore Bed Iron Works It is 1880 and You are Riding on a Packet Boat Jackson School John and Rhoda Swift Joseph Miller Lake Stone House Lockville Log Cabin Macedon Academy Macedon's Honor Roll Marion Market Street Historic District Martin Harris Farm May 29, 1800 Memorial Memorial Point at Bear Creek Harbor Mildred Taylor Mora Motor Car Naming of Lyons New York State Barge Canal Northrup Park Old Post Road Paint Mill Palmer Homestead Palmyra Area Palmyra in History Palmyra War Memorial Pioneer Cemetery Pioneer Home Pioneer Settler Pultneyville Historic District Rear Admiral Leslie E. Gehres Replica Blockhouse Roe Cobblestone Schoolhouse Roll of Honor Rope Walk Sampson House Sarah Mills Site of 1825 Keeper's Dwelling House Site of Daniel Dorsey Warehouse Site of First Log House Site of the Original Sodus Bay Lighthouse Site of Union Church Taylor Memorial Park The 26 Erie Canal Laborers The Bank The Battle of Pultneyville The Birthplace of Modern Spiritualism The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints The Eight Witnesses The First Academy The Fox Sisters The Galen Historical Society Museum The Lockville Locks in Newark The Log Home The Lyons Drydock The Sacred Grove The Sodus Point Coal Trestle The War of 1812 This House This House This Tank Town of Macedon Town of Ontario Timeline Towpath and Aqueduct / Father of the Iron Bridge Train Wreck Underground Railroad Station Underground Railroad Terminus Underground RR Underground RR Walworth War of 1812 Warner House Wayne County Historical Society Wayneport Historic Area Wilcoxen Home Wolcott Falls World War Cannon World War I Mortar Wreck of the St. Peter Yeomans Wedding "Hojack" Train Station
Wayne County, located in the western part of New York State, has a rich and diverse history that dates back long before the arrival of European settlers. Before the 18th century, the region was inhabited by indigenous peoples, primarily the Seneca and Cayuga tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy. These tribes lived off the land, engaging in agriculture, hunting, and gathering activities, and their presence is still felt in the county today.

In the late 18th century, European settlers began to arrive in what is now Wayne County. The region became part of the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign during the American Revolutionary War, as General Sullivan's troops marched through the area, destroying the Native American villages and crops. Following the war, the area experienced rapid growth, and in 1823, Wayne County was officially established.

Agriculture played a vital role in the county's development, with fertile soil and access to the Erie Canal making it an ideal location for farming. The county became known as the "Breadbasket of the Empire State" due to its productive farmland and abundant crop yields. It became a leading producer of apples, cherries, and onions, with orchards and farms dotting the landscape.

During the mid-19th century, Wayne County's economy expanded beyond agriculture. The construction of the Erie Canal and later the railroad brought increased commerce, and industry began to thrive. Mills, factories, and ironworks sprang up, contributing to the county's growth and prosperity.

Wayne County continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, adapting to changes in agriculture and industry. Today, it remains an agricultural hub while also embracing tourism, with its charming small towns, historic sites, and natural beauty attracting visitors from near and far. Its rich history and vibrant communities make Wayne County a unique and significant part of New York's heritage.
Brief timeline of the history of Wayne County, New York:

  • 1683 - Wayne County is part of Albany County in the Province of New York.
  • 1766 - Ontario County is formed, including present-day Wayne County within its boundaries.
  • 1789 - Wayne County is established as a separate county from Ontario County.
  • 1805 - Lyons is chosen as the county seat of Wayne County.
  • 1810 - Wayne County gains its current boundaries.
  • 1823 - The Erie Canal opens, bringing economic growth to Wayne County.
  • 1850 - The population of Wayne County reaches over 35,000.
  • 1906 - The first commercial fruit farm is established in Wayne County.
  • 1952 - Wayne County Airport is opened.
  • 2002 - Wayne County celebrates its bicentennial.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Wayne County, New York.