Monroe County, Administrative county in western New York, United States
Monroe County is an administrative division in western New York that stretches along the southern shore of Lake Ontario and includes the city of Rochester as its largest population center. The area combines urban districts with rural townships and lakefront landscapes, with several smaller communities scattered throughout the territory.
The area was created as an administrative unit by the New York State Legislature in 1821 and named in honor of James Monroe, who was serving as president of the country at the time. Development was shaped by the position along Lake Ontario and the proximity to the Erie Canal, which turned Rochester into a commercial hub.
The University of Rochester and Monroe Community College provide higher education opportunities while supporting research initiatives and workforce development across the region.
Public facilities such as health centers, libraries and parks are distributed across the region and accessible from individual communities. The area can be navigated using main roads that connect Rochester with surrounding towns.
The proximity to Lake Ontario creates weather conditions where cold winds move over warm lake water and produce heavy snowfall patterns. These local snow belts can vary greatly within just a few miles, depending on how far a community sits from the shore.
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