Fairport

History

The town of Perinton was first settled in the two flat areas of Perinton Center (Turk Hill and Ayrault Roads) and Egypt. What was developed as the village of Fairport was a swampy area in the northern part of the town that was drained in the 1820s by construction of the new Erie Canal. With the opening of the canal, what was then known as Perrinsville quickly became a busy canal port with a reputation for being a "fair port". A further boon to the area's reputation as an industry and transportation center came with the construction of railroads in 1853. In the 19th century, industry moved into Fairport, including Deland Chemical (baking soda), Cobb Preserving (the predecessor to American Can), and the Trescott Company (fruit grading and packing systems). Deland Chemical later became Fairport Vinegar Works, makers of Certo brand pectin used to gel and preserve foodstuffs. In the early 20th century, the Erie Canal was expanded and renamed the Barge Canal. (It reverted to its original name in 1992). Barge transportation rapidly declined as automobiles and trucks became popular. The town began to expand away from the canal. The Erie Canal is now used mainly for recreation. Fairport acquired its name in the mid-19th century from a traveler on the Erie Canal who was overheard at Mallett's Tavern referring to the village as a fair port.

Geography

Fairport is in eastern Monroe County, in the northern part of the town of Perinton. It is southeast of downtown Rochester. New York State Route 31F passes through the village, leading west to East Rochester and east to Macedon. New York State Route 250 is Fairport's Main Street, continuing north to Webster and south to State Route 96 near the Victor town line. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village of Fairport has a total area of , of which , or 2.29%, are water. The water area is largely contained in the Erie Canal. Although officially the name of only the village, "Fairport" is often used to refer to a large portion of the encompassing town of Perinton as well. Both the Fairport Central School District and Fairport ZIP code area overlap closely with the borders of Perinton.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · PENFIELD · 1,424 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• WEBSTER-SCHROEDER HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WEBSTER · 1,314 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• FAIRPORT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · FAIRPORT · 1,304 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• RUSH-HENRIETTA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · HENRIETTA · 1,300 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WEBSTER · 1,258 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL
  High · ROCHESTER · 1,243 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• BAY TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · PENFIELD · 1,113 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
  High · ROCHESTER · 1,066 students · 11.2:1 ratio