History of Livingston County, New York in Timeline

Livingston County, New York, with a population of 61,834 as of 2020, is located within the Finger Lakes region. Geneseo serves as its county seat. The county is named in honor of Robert R. Livingston, a key figure in American history known for his role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and his involvement in the Louisiana Purchase.

1900: Decline of Avon Springs

By 1900, most of the numerous hotels and spas in Avon Springs were gone. Before the Civil War era, the springs were a popular destination for health cures, relaxation, and recreation.

1929: Macfadden Buys Dansville Resort

In 1929, bodybuilder Bernarr Macfadden bought the resort in Dansville and named it the Physical Culture Hotel. He boosted the popularity of the place into the 1950s with his larger-than-life personality and national magazine with the same name.

1930: State Seeks Site for Sanatorium

By 1930, New York State was seeking a site in the area for one of three new tuberculosis sanatoriums to help control and prevent a disease that was the cause of nearly 4000 deaths in upstate New York that year.

1932: Governor Roosevelt Decides to Build Hospital

In 1932, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt made the final decision to build a hospital on the Murray Hill site in Livingston County. The decision was based on its central location, favorable weather, easy accessibility to rail lines and state roads, proximity to advanced healthcare centers, the restorative nature of the surroundings, and strong community support.

1936: 200-Bed Facility Construction Completed

In 1936, construction of the 200-bed Livingston County tuberculosis hospital facility was completed and it opened.

1941: Genesee College Operation End

In 1941, Genesee College, one of the first coeducational schools in the country, founded by the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, stopped operating. Genesee College, which was founded on the same site in the 1840s, eventually relocated and became Syracuse University.

1964: Democratic Presidential Vote

1964 was the only time in history that Livingston County voted for the Democratic presidential candidate.

1971: County Flag Adoption

In 1971, the County Flag was adopted for Livingston County's 150th anniversary. The colors and design signify the history and features of the county.

1971: Tuberculosis Hospital Closes

In 1971, the tuberculosis hospital in Livingston County was closed by the state due to preventative efforts and advances in the use of antibiotics impacting the spread of tuberculosis.

1972: County Acquisition

Livingston County acquired the site and bordering park lands for $1.00 in 1972, using the main hospital building as a skilled nursing facility until 2004.

1994: Retsof Mine Collapse

In 1994, the Retsof mine, the largest salt-producing mine in the United States and the second largest in the world, collapsed and flooded.

1996: Close Presidential Vote

In 1996, Bill Clinton lost to Bob Dole by just 113 votes in Livingston County, marking the closest a Democratic presidential candidate has gotten to winning the county since Johnson's win in 1964.

1997: American Rock Salt Mine Opens

In 1997, American Rock Salt opened a new mine at Hampton Corners in the Town of Groveland, becoming the largest operating salt mine in the U.S. shortly afterwards.

2000: 2000 Census Racial Makeup

According to the 2000 Census, the racial makeup of Livingston County was 94% White, 3% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races.

2000: Land Investment

In 2000, Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth offered his cousins James and William Wadsworth 2000 acres of prime farmland in and around what is now Geneseo.

2004: New Nursing Facility

In 2004, Livingston County determined that a more modern skilled nursing facility was required, replacing the main hospital building. The adjacent Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation was built to accommodate the growing needs of the area.

2010: 2010 Census Data

According to the 2010 Census, there were 65,393 people, 24,409 households, and 15,943 families residing in Livingston County. The population density was 103.5 people per square mile.

June 16, 2017: Archived Sullivan's Army Information

On June 16, 2017, information about General Washington's instruction to Sullivan's army was archived. The army was instructed to destroy more than 40 Indian settlements and food supplies throughout the Finger Lakes, and the mission was considered successful and helped to lessen the threat to white settlers across the state.

2017: 2017 American Community Survey

In 2017, the American Community Survey reported that 26.3% of Livingston County residents were of German, 21.2% Irish, 14.2% Italian, 13.5% English and 5.6% American ancestry.