Explore Monroe County

Monroe County is the heart of the Greater Rochester Nine County Region and is also considered one of the 14 counties in the Finger Lakes Region. The county includes the City of Rochester and its 19 surrounding towns and villages.

The Erie Canal crosses paths with the Genesee as the river courses north through the City of Rochester on its way toward the county’s northern border at Lake Ontario. The mighty Mount Morris Dam protects both Monroe County and Livingston County from river flooding.

Start exploring Monroe County

Major Festivals, Concerts and Events

Higher Education

Monroe County is home to ten colleges and universities:

Bryant & Stratton College in Greece and Henrietta

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in the city

Monroe Community College in Brighton, with a campus in the city

Nazareth College in Pittsford

Roberts Wesleyan College in Chili

Rochester Institute of Technology in Henrietta

St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Pittsford

St. John Fisher College in Pittsford

State University of New York at Brockport in Brockport, with a campus in the city

University of Rochester in the city

Monroe County Facts

The county runs along Lake Ontario’s southern shore and is named after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States.

The Monroe County seat is the City of Rochester. As of 2020, Monroe County’s population was 759,443.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county’s total area is 1,367 square miles, of which 657 square miles is land and 710 square miles (52%) is water. [source] That high percentage is mainly due to a county line extending into Lake Ontario, Irondequoit and Braddock Bay, the Erie Canal, Genesee River, and other large tributaries.

Where are your favorite places to visit around Rochester and Monroe County?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.