Monroe County is the heart of the Greater Rochester Nine County Region. The City of Rochester is surrounded by 19 towns and villages. The Genesee River crosses paths with The Erie Canal, flowing north through Center City on its way to Lake Ontario. Monroe County is also considered among the 14 counties in the Finger Lakes Region. Here are a few places to start exploring Monroe County.
19 Monroe County Towns and Villages
Each Monroe County town & village has something unique to offer. It’s impossible to list them all, so here is just a taste of what makes each one special.
5 Places in the City to Enjoy the Genesee River
At Genesee Valley Park, the Genesee River begins her journey through the city, racing over a dam and three waterfalls before emptying into Lake Ontario.
The Rochester Public Market is the place to grab the freshest local and wholesale fruit, veggies, seafood, beef, cheese, bread, flowers and spices.
9 Hidden Places Around Rochester
We drive past some of Rochester’s most unique features every day, completely unaware that these hidden places are just minutes away from where we live.
Jazz Fest: 14 Things to Do Nearby
Most Rochester International Jazz Fest performances begin early-evening, so you’ll have plenty of time during the day to explore the Rochester area.
22 Craft Breweries in Monroe County
It can be overwhelming to consider all of the craft beverage artisans that call Western NY home. So, let’s focus on the ones we have in our backyard.
30 Day Trips within 30 Minutes of Rochester
Sometimes you just need a fun, spontaneous adventure or quick getaway to refresh your day. Try one of these day trips within 30 minutes of Rochester.
30 More Day Trips within 30 Minutes of Rochester
Looking for things to do around Rochester that are close to home? Guests visiting from out-of-town? Here are 30 more day trips within 30 minutes.
Many of our City of Rochester parks have beginnings embedded in Rochester’s youth. Some were designed by (and later inspired by) notable landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Lawrence Halprin.
These town parks have a unique offering of woods, wildlife, and water features to explore using pavement, hard-pack dirt, wood chips, gravel and boardwalk.
Monroe County parks are free, so take advantage of 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical and geological experiences!
Rochester’s Olmsted Designed Parks
Rochester is fortunate to be one of a handful of American cities that have a park system comprised of Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks.
Street Art: Exploring Rochester’s Murals & Graffiti
The term street art means different things to different people. Here, we interpret street art to mean any outdoor, free, public wall art.
Monroe County Facts
The county is along Lake Ontario’s southern shore. As of 2017, Monroe County’s population was 747,642. Its county seat is the city of Rochester. The county is named after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States. 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]
A Brief History
Only 200 years ago, the area was largely unsettled; Ridge Road, a mere 12 inches wide, was an Indian path through dense forests. The remaining section of the original Merchants Road, with its nine twists and curves in one mile, reflects its beginnings as the well-traveled Indian link between Canandaigua and the Genesee River. Early settlers included the Algonquin, who were later taken over by the Seneca. The Seneca, who joined the League of the Iroquois, were known as the “Keepers of the Western Door” and controlled trade in all directions. The Indian Landing in Monroe County’s Ellison Park marks where their major east-west and north-south routes intersected. Seneca struggled against both the French and British to retain possession of the area, but once Revolutionary settlers returned home with stories of the good soil available here, settlement began in earnest. [read more]
Monroe county is home to nine 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
Festivals, Concerts and Events
- Lilac Festival
- Rochester International Jazz Festival
- High Falls Film Festival
- Corn Hill Arts Festival
- Monroe County Fair
- View more annual events around Rochester