YATES COUNTY
County Offices
417 Liberty Street
Penn Yan 315-536-5120
https://www.yatescounty.org/
Chamber of Commerce
2375 Route 14A
Penn Yan 315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
Picturesque Yates County is strategically located 45 miles southeast of Rochester and 50 miles southwest of Syracuse and features three of New York State’s Finger Lakes: Seneca, Canandaigua, and Keuka. Recreational attractions and a thriving wine industry make tourism a major economic driver along with world-class agricultural production. Only four incorporated villages join nine townships in this rural area for a total population of less than 25,000. Major highways include State Routes 14, 54, 245, and 364 with nearby metropolitan airports providing air travel.
Services
Newcomers will discover first-class healthcare services and facilities in Yates County thanks to the presence of Finger Lakes Health. This vast 660-bed system provides a full range of acute care, primary care, and long-term care on three major campuses including one in Wayne County. Wayne County residents are a quick commute from the 132-bed Geneva General Hospital in Geneva, with a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 12-bed telemetry unit, six pediatric beds, a 14-bed Family Birth Center, and the Garnsey Rehabilitation Center. However, most routine needs and many specialized services can be met at the 25-bed Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan Village, where a multidisciplinary approach considers each patient’s unique situation. Greater Rochester is home to some of America’s leading health organizations, including facilities for the University of Rochester Medical Center: Strong Memorial, Highland, and FF Thompson hospitals. Strong Memorial Hospital is nationally recognized for excellence in cardiac care among other specialties and offers the only heart transplant program in Western New York.
Access to outstanding educational opportunities begins with highly respected local school districts that offer a strong traditional core and abundant opportunities for extra-curricular activities. The county is home to Keuka College, an independent liberal arts institution that emphasizes experiential learning along with career and pre-professional education. The beautiful lakeside campus features a private beach and boathouse, a 34-acre community athletic complex, the Weed Physical Arts Center, and Lightner Library with two art galleries. The surrounding Finger Lakes Region is home to Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC), part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, with its main campus in Hopewell and centers in Victor and Geneva. SUNY Empire State College also maintains a center on the FLCC campus. Nearby Geneva is the proud home of the private liberal arts institutions of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In less than an hour’s drive, Yates County residents can access many fine public and private colleges and universities including the University of Rochester, Syracuse University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Cornell University of Ivy League fame.
Lifestyle
Picturesque Yates County features a rural landscape that changes from steep hills and valleys to relatively flat land, then moves again into gently rolling hills and valleys. The county’s unique harmony of water, wine, and wilderness gives creates a distinctive appeal for residents and visitors alike. Three of the Finger Lakes—Canandaigua, Keuka, and Seneca—provide breathtaking scenery, moderate the year-round climate, and create abundant opportunities for recreation and business. Outside of California, Yates County is the largest wine grape growing county in the nation, home to more wineries than any other New York State county. Across the vast landscape, a number of pristine Mennonite farms blend with award-winning wineries, farmer’s markets, and a cornucopia of locally grown products. This area is also recognized as the Northeast’s Organic Center, with scores of certified organic farms and New York’s only organic grain facility. While the Finger Lakes Region is filled with opportunities to shop in historic districts, suburban centers, factory outlet centers or sprawling malls, Yates County has its own retail treasure along Route 14A. In fact, the Windmill Farm & Craft Market draws from 8,000 to 10,000 visitors each week.
Throughout the countryside, historic buildings and vintage homes combine with fascinating museums that celebrate, preserve, and interpret the region’s past. One of the most popular is the Glenn H. Curtis Aviation Museum in Hammondsport, commemorating the aviator and motorcycle enthusiast who received the first U.S. Pilots License in 1911. World-class outdoor adventures are waiting around every corner in Finger Lakes country, including hiking, cycling, jogging, horseback riding, golfing, boating, watersports, fishing, hunting, camping, and winter sports. Forests and state parks close to home feature such jewels as Watkins Glen State Park with breathtaking views of gorges and waterfalls. Newcomers to Yates County will find quaint villages with a friendly hometown atmosphere that provides basic services and local retail activity. In the sprawling area that surrounds these small villages, picturesque towns retain unspoiled rural landscapes dotted with agricultural enterprises. Home choices range from rustic farmhouses and historic properties to newer construction on generous lots or handsome manors on multi-acre properties. Few places can match Yates County for an enviable quality of life that includes easy access to a major metropolitan center.
COMMUNITIES
Penn Yan Village
Village Hall
315-536-3015
https://www.villageofpennyan.com/
Chamber of Commerce
315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
The largest of the county’s four villages, Penn Yan serves as the county seat and hub of commerce, healthcare, and education. Situated at the north end of the east branch of beautiful Keuka Lake, the village was incorporated in 1833 and proudly preserves reminders of its rich history. In fact, Penn Yan is well-known for architectural grandeur and uncommon charm while the surrounding area is famous for scenic beauty, bountiful harvests, and lakefront recreation. Frequently recognized among America’s “Best Small Towns,” the village offers public parks with swimming beaches, playgrounds, tennis courts, and boat dockage. Main and Lake streets host a medley of shops and services including pubs and restaurants. A six-mile linear park is ideal for hiking, jogging, and cycling or just enjoying nature. Other highlights include a local hospital, Keuka College, and the regional attraction of Windmill Farm & Craft Market.
Milo Town, Jerusalem Town, Italy Town
Milo Town Hall
315-536-8911
http://www.townofmilo.com/
Jerusalem Town Hall
315-595 2287
www.jerusalem-ny.org
Italy Town Hall
585-374-5035
Chamber of Commerce
315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
Adjacent to the leading village of Penn Yan, Milo Town is located on the eastern border of Yates County. Along with hosting a general aviation airport south of the village, the town is home to a number of small hamlets that enjoy waterfront locations. Seneca Mills, Milo Mills, and Mays Mills are located east of Penn Yan on Keuka Lake Outlet while Willow Grove nestles against the shore of Keuka Lake to the southwest. This rural area features many wineries and a strong hospitality industry that includes delicious cuisine. Outdoor recreation is available around the four seasons with boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, cycling, camping—and winter sports when the snow flies. Residents in the nearby rural towns of Jerusalem and Italy enjoy an unspoiled rural setting and easy access to Penn Yan. With several sites on the historic register, Italy is noted for sharp hills and upland areas traversed by Flint Creek and West River in a location at the southern end of Canandaigua Lake.
Dundee Village, Starkey Town, Barrington Town
Village Hall
607-243-5551
Starkey Town Hall
607-243-5410
Barrington Town Hall
607-243-5323
https://www.townofbarrington.org/
Chamber of Commerce
315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
Located along Route 14A between the busting Village of Penn Yan and Watkins Glen, the quaint village of Dundee is surrounded by vineyard-clad hills, picturesque dairy farms, and sparkling lakes. Within the village are tree-canopied streets shading historic architecture, wonderful antique and specialty shops, and an atmosphere that reflects the charm of early America. Nearby lakes are famous for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports while popular summer events include stock car races at Black Rock Speedway and Dundee Day’s “24 miles of yard sales.” During the winter months, residents enjoy cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The surrounding towns of Starkey and Barrington add options for country living in a region of rolling farmland, scenic hardwood forests, bountiful vineyards, and miles of Keuka Lake shoreline.
Dresden Village, Torrey Town, Benton Town
Village Hall
315-536-2477
https://townoftorrey.org/town_government.php
Torrey Town Hall
315-536-6376
https://www.townoftorrey.org/
Benton Town Hall
315-536-7236
https://townofbenton.us/
Chamber of Commerce
315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
Nestled on the western shore of Seneca Lake, Dresden has managed to preserve its rich history and traditions in harmony with the natural environment. The village is advantageously situated at the eastern end of the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, an ideal area for hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and white-water kayaking. The Robert Ingersoll Museum in Dresden preserves the lovely home, artifacts, and legacy of a famous American agnostic during the Golden Age of Freethought. Dresden and the towns in this area are havens for boating and fishing enthusiasts as well as those who appreciate fine wines and gourmet cuisine. Benton town provides easy access to Dresden and Penn Yan Village, while Torrey Town encompasses 17 miles of Seneca Lake shoreline. Nearly three-fourths of Torrey is devoted to farms and vineyards famous for award-winning wines that are collected by connoisseurs. The Torrey and Benton areas are home to many family owned enterprises and support a strong Mennonite community.
Rushville Village, Gorham Town, Potter Town, Middlesex Town
Village Hall
585-554-3415
https://www.villageofrushville.org/
Gorham Town
585-526-6317
https://www.gorham-ny.com/
Potter Town Hall
585-554-6758
Middlesex Town Hall
585-554-3607
https://www.middlesexny.org/
Chamber of Commerce
315-536-3791
https://www.yatesny.com/
The charming village of Rushville is cradled in the Finger Lakes Region, straddling the county line of Ontario and Yates. The village falls within the boundaries of Gorham and Potter towns, providing a quaint village center and a small local business district for both rural communities. The village also offers a park where the Community Days celebration is hosted by the Rushville Lions Club. The towns of Gorham, Potter, and Middlesex are situated in northwestern Yates County less than 20 minutes from bustling Canandaigua Village. In addition to a well-developed business community, the Canandaigua area is home to Finger Lakes Community College with the Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center and a full-service hospital. Other attractions include Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Site, the New York Wine & Culinary Center, Bristol Mountain Winter Resort, a local airport, and the third-largest Finger Lake.
