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Historic Resources
Geneva is a city of many historic firsts.
Geneva was incorporated in 1806, making it the first official village in western New York. It was the first settlement in the region to have a college, a public hotel, a dedicated church building, an official post office and postmaster, a Community Chest, a YMCA, a water company, a glass factory, and a free public library. It was also the first place in western New York to be served by a completed canal. Geneva College (now Hobart & William Smith Colleges) holds the distinction of being the first institution in the United States to grant a medical degree to a woman, awarded to Elizabeth Blackwell in 1849.
Geneva’s early development was fueled by water and rail transportation.
The Erie Canal opened in 1825, creating a water route from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and New York Harbor. The Cayuga-Seneca Canal was completed a few years later, and Geneva soon joined the prosperity of the canal trade. During this time, agriculture was Geneva’s primary industry. The transportation of agricultural products heightened when the canal system became fully operable.
Rail transportation came to Geneva in the 1840s. New industries arose in the commercial district and others expanded. Retail establishments were built along Seneca, Castle, and Exchange Streets, and this area became known as the bottom lands. Residences and cultural, educational, and religious institutions remained on the hill above the commercial district.
During the mid-19th century, the commercial base of Geneva expanded considerably. Services for the growing population were provided by shoe manufacturers, carriage makers, printers, bakeries, grocery stores, stocking weavers, millinery shops, and factories. During the post-Civil War era, Geneva continued to grow as an industrial center and soon became known for its production of optical equipment, boilers, and iron stoves. The tourism industry was also bustling, as visitors flocked to Geneva to enjoy mineral springs and many fine hotels.
The 20th century has brought many changes, but Geneva has emerged triumphant.
During the first five decades of the 20th century, business activity in
the City flourished. Industrial development focused on the Seneca Lake
waterfront and included boat works, malt houses, foundries, and grain
processors. Geneva continued to benefit from the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and an
extensive network of rail lines, making the City the center of business and trade in the Finger Lakes region.As canal and rail transport industries declined, Geneva began to decline economically. In the 1940s and 1950s, the industrial decline was partially offset by the commercial activity generated from the nearby Sampson Military Base. As many as 40,000 servicemen were housed at Sampson for training during World War II. This base became a major market for Geneva businesses and greatly supported economic growth in the downtown area. After World War II a portion of the base was converted to a state park.
By the mid-1950s, automobile and truck transport had become the key to economic growth, and Geneva responded by constructing the Routes 5 & 20 lakefront arterial. The arterial improved access and alleviated problems of congestion, but caused traffic to bypass the central business district and isolated the area from the City’s lakefront. During the 1980s, Routes 5 & 20 were relocated away from the lakefront, thus opening the area to public and private development and providing stimulus for downtown revitalization.
By 1990, Geneva’s economy had become service-oriented. Only 24 percent of
Geneva employees worked in the services sector in 1950, but by 1990
this figure had risen to 46 percent. During the same time period, the share
of employees in manufacturing dropped from 30 percent to 14 percent.
Geneva’s top employers now include Finger Lakes Regional Health System,
Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and the New York State Agricultural
Experiment Station.City officials have taken significant actions in recent years to stimulate economic growth and provide incentives for new business and industry. These actions have proven effective and many important goals have been achieved. The City scored a major victory in 1997 when Guardian Industries of Auburn Hills, Michigan, began construction of a $120 million glass plant in Geneva’s industrial park. The Guardian plant--the first large plant built in New York by an out-of-state company in the last 20 years--will create over 350 well-paying jobs. Other victories have followed, and Geneva’s economic outlook appears bright.
Geneva, once the Hub of the Finger Lakes, is again moving successfully forward. Prentice Hall recently named the City as one of The 100 Best Small Towns in America. It is just one of two communities in New York State to be listed in The Nationwide Guide to the Best in Small Town Living.
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