MONROE COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of the Genesee Country (Western New York) Comprising the Counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates by Lockwood R. Doty (1925) – 662 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.17.1916.AR

History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York by The Pioneer Publishing Co. (1908) – 582 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.16.1904.AR

History of Monroe County, New York by Mcintosh, W. H. (1877) – 972 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.16.1908.AR

Landmarks of Monroe County, New York by William F. Peck, Thomas Raines, Herman Leroy Fairchild (1895) – 1148 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.17.2004.AR

Monroe County, New York: A Genealogical Overview

Located in Western New York on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Monroe County is a region defined by innovation, commerce, and social progress. Centered on the city of Rochester, the county’s history was forged by the power of the Genesee River and the transformative impact of the Erie Canal, which turned it into a 19th-century industrial powerhouse known first as “The Flour City” and later “The Flower City.” It was also a national epicenter for major social reform movements, including abolition and women’s suffrage. For genealogists, the county’s records tell the story of New England pioneers, waves of European immigrants, and visionary leaders who shaped American industry and society.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Monroe County was created from the lands of the massive Phelps and Gorham Purchase during a period of intense settlement in Western New York. Identifying its parent counties is the first step for any pre-1821 research.

  • 1821: County Formed: Monroe County was officially established on February 23, 1821.
  • Parent Counties: The county was created from the eastern portion of Genesee County and the western portion of Ontario County. Research for settlers and land transactions prior to 1821 must be conducted in the records of these two parent counties.
  • Subsequent Formations: The boundaries of Monroe County have remained generally stable since its formation in 1821.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, who was in office at the time of its creation.
  • County Seat History: The City of Rochester has served as the county seat since Monroe County was established. Its strategic location at the High Falls of the Genesee River, and later its intersection with the Erie Canal, made it the undisputed economic and administrative center of the region.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The land was the traditional territory of the Seneca Nation, the “Keepers of the Western Door” of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy.
  • Pioneer Settlement: Following the American Revolution, the region was opened to settlement through large land deals like the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The first permanent American settlers, primarily from New England and eastern New York, began arriving in the 1790s, drawn by the exceptionally fertile land of the Genesee Valley.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • The Erie Canal: The completion of the canal in 1825 was the single most important event in the county’s history. The canal’s crossing of the Genesee River via a massive aqueduct in Rochester created a transportation hub that fueled an economic boom, making the city the largest flour-producing center in the world.
    • Industrial Innovation: Rochester and Monroe County became a center for invention and industry. It was the founding home of iconic American companies including Eastman Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Western Union, and Xerox, which attracted skilled workers and engineers from around the globe.
    • Abolitionism and Suffrage: The county was a hotbed of social reform. Rochester was home to abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass, who published his influential newspaper, The North Star, from the city. It was also the longtime home and headquarters of Susan B. Anthony, a pivotal leader in the women’s suffrage movement.
    • Immigration: The county’s industrial growth was powered by successive waves of immigrants, beginning with Irish and Germans in the mid-19th century, followed by Italians, Poles, and other Eastern Europeans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, many of which are housed in Rochester.

  • County Clerk’s Office: The Monroe County Clerk’s Office, located in the County Office Building in Rochester, is the main repository for property and court records. This includes land records (deeds, mortgages) and Supreme and County Court records from 1821.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Statewide registration in New York began around 1880. For records prior to this date, researchers must consult non-governmental sources like church registers, cemetery transcriptions, newspapers, and family Bibles. For records after 1880, requests for genealogical copies should be directed to the New York State Department of Health or, more directly, to the city or town clerk where the event took place (e.g., the Rochester City Clerk).
  • Surrogate’s Court: The Monroe County Surrogate’s Court, located in the Hall of Justice in Rochester, holds all probate records, including wills, estate administrations, and guardianship papers, from 1821 to the present.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Rochester Public Library (Central Library): The Local History & Genealogy Division, located in the Rundel Memorial Library Building, is an outstanding resource. It holds extensive collections of city directories, newspapers on microfilm, maps, local histories, and census records.
    • Rochester Genealogical Society: An active society that publishes research, maintains a database of local resources, and hosts educational events.
    • The Rochester Historical Society: Preserves artifacts and manuscript collections related to the city and county’s history.
    • Monroe County Historian’s Office: A county-appointed historian can provide guidance and access to a wealth of historical information and records.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Lake Ontario (north)
    • Wayne County (east)
    • Ontario County (southeast)
    • Livingston County (south)
    • Genesee County (west)
    • Orleans County (west)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks