Monroe County

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. stateOntario County, New York - southeast
of New York. As of 2000, the population wasLivingston County, New York - south
735,343. It is named after James Monroe, fifthOrleans County, New York - west
President of the United States of America. Its countyGenesee County, New York - west
seat is Rochester.Government
When counties were established in the Province ofThe current County Executive is Maggie Brooks, a
New York in 1683, the present Monroe County wasformer news anchor in Rochester.
part of Albany County. This was an enormousEconomy
county, including the northern part of New YorkRochester is a home to a number of international
State as well as all of the present State of Vermontbusinesses, including Eastman Kodak, Bausch & Lomb,
and, in theory, extending westward to the PacificConstellation Brands and Paychex, all of which make
Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3,Rochester their world headquarters. Xerox, while no
1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, andlonger headquartered in Rochester, has its principal
further on March 16, 1770 by the creation ofoffices and manufacturing facilities in Monroe County.
Gloucester County, both containing territory now inBecause of the high prevalence of imaging and optical
Vermont.science among the industry and the universities,
On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany CountyRochester is known as the world capital of imaging.
was split into three parts, one remaining under theThe University of Rochester's Institute of Optics is
name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryonranked number one in the country, and the
County, contained the western portion (and thus,Rochester Institute of Technology has one of the
since no western boundary was specified,best imaging science departments in the country.
theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). TheEastman Kodak has been going through successive
eastern boundary of Tryon County wasrounds of layoffs for years, which are a strain on the
approximately five miles west of the present city oflocal economy.
Schenectady, and the county included the westernRochester is also home to regional businesses such
part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area westas Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., Roberts
of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The areaCommunications, Inc., The Sutherland Group, PAETEC
then designated as Tryon County now includes 37Communications, and major fashion label
counties of New York State. The county was namedHickey-Freeman.
for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.Demographics
In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists inAs of the census2 of 2000, there were 735,343
Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following thepeople, 286,512 households, and 184,513 families
peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionaryresiding in the county. The population density was
War, the name of Tryon County was changed to431/km2 (1,115/mi2). There were 304,388 housing
Montgomery County in order to honor the general,units at an average density of 178/km2 (462/mi2).
Richard Montgomery, who had captured severalThe racial makeup of the county was 79.14% White,
places in Canada and died attempting to capture the13.75% African American, 0.27% Native American,
city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated2.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.44% from
British governor.other races, and 1.94% from two or more races.
In 1789, Ontario County was split off fromHispanic or Latino of any race were 5.31% of the
Montgomery. The actual area split off frompopulation. 4.64% of the population reported
Montgomery County was much larger than thespeaking Spanish at home, while 1.43% speak
present county, also including the present Allegany,Italian.[1]
Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston,There were 286,512 households out of which 31.80%
Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates,had children under the age of 18 living with them,
and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.47.40% were married couples living together, 13.40%
Genesee County was created by a splitting ofhad a female householder with no husband present,
Ontario County in 1802. This was much larger thanand 35.60% were non-families. 28.60% of all
the present Genesee County, however. It containedhouseholds were made up of individuals and 9.90%
the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie,had someone living alone who was 65 years of age
Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, and portions of Livingstonor older. The average household size was 2.47 and
and Monroe Counties.the average family size was 3.08.
Finally, Monroe County was formed from parts ofIn the county the population was spread out with
Genesee and Ontario Counties in 1821.25.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24,
Geography29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and
Monroe County is in northwestern New York State,13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The
northeast of Buffalo and northwest of Syracuse.median age was 36 years. For every 100 females
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county hasthere were 93.00 males. For every 100 females age
a total area of 3,537 km2 (1,366 mi2). 1,708 km218 and over, there were 89.20 males.
(659 mi2) of it is land and 1,829 km2 (706 mi2) of itThe median income for a household in the county
(51.72%) is water.was $44,891, and the median income for a family
With the City of Rochester's sizeable presence, andwas $55,900. Males had a median income of $41,279
an abundance of interstate highways (mainly I-90 andversus $29,553 for females. The per capita income
the connectors to Rochester), Monroe County hasfor the county was $22,821. About 8.20% of families
some very busy local courts.and 11.20% of the population were below the
Adjacent Countiespoverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18
Lake Ontario and Canada - northand 7.40% of those age 65 or over.
Wayne County, New York - east