Historical Markers in
Livingston County, New York

1668-1709 17 Locks 1837 Cobblestone 5 Arch Bridge A 17th-Century Iroquois Village A-cn-do-wa-nuh Albert C. Burke Jr. Ambuscade Avon Civil War Monument Berry's Tavern Big Springs Big Tree Lodge Birthplace of Francis Bellamy Bisbeetown Boyd & Parker Park Boyd – Parker Boyd-Parker Brevet Major General James S. Wadsworth Brick School Ca-Na-Wau-Gus Cabin Area C & Caretaker's Cabin Caledonia Caledonia Camp Portage Civil War Parade Ground Cobblestone School Conesus Amusement Hall County Poorhouse Courthouse D. L. & W. Depot Dalton RR Depot Dam Facts Dansville Civil War Monument Dansville Honors Its Veterans of All Wars Dansville Library Deep Cut Early Cemetery East Avon Elias H. Geiger Erected 1826 Erected 1827 First Bank First Local Red Cross First New York Dragoons / 136th New York Infantry Fowlerville Francis Bellamy Memorial Park Francis M. Dalton Gambrel Roofed Barn Gandichiragou Ganson's Mill Gardeau Tract Genesee Castle Genesee Valley Canal Genesee Wesleyan Seminary Geneseo Historic District Gravesite of Captain Daniel Shays Groveland Ambuscade Monument Groveland Ambuscade Park Groveland Hill Groveland Hill Hemlock World War II Memorial History and Architecture History of Mining in the Genesee Valley Home - 1850 In Honor of the Mount Morris Veterans In Memory In Memory of In Memory of a Soldier In Memory of Those Men and Women Indian Cabin Isaac Hampton Jacksonville John Hubbard Forsyth John Hugh McNaughton John W. Powell Kelleman Log Cabin Kenneth B. Keating Kish-A-Wa Leicester Civil War Memorial Letchworth State Park's first major CCC project Lima Bank Robbed Lock 42 Mary S. Howell Military Route Military Route Mount Morris Dam Commemorative Kiosk Mt. Morris Dam Murray Hill National Hotel North Avon Nunda Soldiers' Monument O-ha-gi Oakwood Cemetery Old Genesee Valley Canal One Room School Ossian Center Ossian in WWI Parade Grounds picnic area Phantom Indian of Conesus Lake Poetry Pioneer Protected Farmland Repulse Fire Co. Routes of the Armies Routes of the Armies of General John Sullivan and General James Clinton Routes of the armies of General John Sullivan and General James Clinton - 1779 School Site Seth Green Shaw Sisters Site of Ca-Na-Wau-Gus Site of Camp 23, Sp 5 - Letchworth State Park's first camp Site of Camp Union Site of De-Yu-It-Ga-Oh Site of First Church Site of First House in Dansville Site of Old South Church Site of Original Wadsworth Cabin Site of Ska-Hase-Ga-O Site of the First Church Site of the Groveland Shaker Community Solomon Woodruff Sonyea Shaker Community South Avon Sparta First Presbyterian Church State Hatchery Telegraph Road Temple Hill The Civilian Conservation Corps The First Presbyterian Church of Ossian The Genesee Valley The Genesee Valley Canal The History of the Yard of Ale Bell The International Society of Arboriculture and the National Arborist Association The Largest Dry Bed Dam East of the Mississippi River This Park Dedicated to the Men of 3rd U.S. Marines This wayside shrine marks the place Treaty of Big Tree Union Cemetery Union Lodge No. 45 Village Square Warner House Where President Millard Fillmore Worked When a Boy Why Was This Dam Built? Williamsburg Williamsburgh Yellow Wasp Inn "Da-Yo-It-Ga-O" "Nunda Valley"
The first American chess tournament was held in New York City in 1843, and it was won by a 21-year-old named Paul Morphy.
Livingston County, located in western New York, has a rich history that dates back to its establishment in 1821. The area was originally inhabited by the Seneca Nation, part of the Iroquois Confederacy, who used the Genesee River as a vital waterway for transportation and trade. European exploration of the area began in the 17th century, with French and British settlers establishing trade networks and alliances with the Native American tribes.

In the aftermath of the American Revolution, the Sullivan Campaign of 1779 against the Iroquois Confederacy led to the displacement of the Seneca people from their ancestral lands. This opened up the area for settlement by European-Americans, and Livingston County was named after Robert R. Livingston, a prominent Founding Father and landowner in the region.

The early 19th century saw the establishment of towns and villages within Livingston County, including the county seat, Geneseo. The construction of the Genesee Valley Canal in the 1830s further facilitated settlement and economic growth, with the canal serving as a crucial transportation route for the agricultural and manufacturing industries.

During the mid-19th century, Livingston County played a significant role in the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad. Prominent abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and William Morgan used the county as a base of operations, and many residents were involved in helping enslaved individuals escape to freedom.

Today, Livingston County is known for its scenic landscapes, historic sites, and strong sense of community. The region has embraced its agricultural heritage, with farming and agribusiness remaining important economic sectors. The county also boasts educational institutions, such as the State University of New York at Geneseo, that contribute to the cultural and intellectual life of the area.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Livingston County, New York.

  • 1683 - Livingston County is part of Albany County, which includes all of present-day New York State.
  • 1781 - Albany County is divided, and Livingston County is part of Tryon County.
  • 1784 - Tryon County is divided, and Livingston County is part of Ontario County.
  • 1802 - Genesee County is formed from parts of Ontario County, and Livingston County is part of Genesee County.
  • 1821 - Livingston County is officially established as a separate county.
  • 1823 - Avon, the first town in Livingston County, is incorporated.
  • 1825 - Mount Morris, Caledonia, Livonia, and Lima are incorporated as towns in Livingston County.
  • 1831 - Geneseo is incorporated as a town in Livingston County.
  • 1850s - The railroad reaches Livingston County, spurring growth and economic development.
  • 1870s - Livonia Station becomes a major railroad hub in the county.
  • 1920s - The Great Depression hits Livingston County, causing economic decline.
  • 1940s - Livingston County experiences a resurgence in agriculture and manufacturing industries.
  • 1990s - Tourism becomes an important part of the county's economy.
  • Present - Livingston County continues to thrive with a diverse economy and a rich history.