The schools in both town and village are highly regarded and progressive, providing diverse programs to both primary and secondary students. Pittsford prides itself on offering many quality parks and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages to enjoy. The Town of Pittsford also hosts numerous annual community events. Unique and charming, Pittsford is an outstanding place for families of all shapes and sizes to live and grow.

A land of glacial deposits and rolling hills, Pittsford’s geography is a product of the last great Ice Age. The rolling hills are mostly composed of sand and gravel, with a thin layer of soil and vegetation covering the entire region. The area was once tropical with extensive coral reefs and sponge banks. Pittsford’s modern appearance only began to take shape during the past several thousand years. Animal and plant fossils can now be found in the rocks underlying Pittsford, providing a physical reminder of the area’s warm and watery past.

Pittsford’s earliest recorded residents were the Seneca Indians, the westernmost tribe of the mighty Iroquois nation. In 1788, Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham of Connecticut received approximately 2 ½ million acres of land in western New York. Two cousins from Salem, New York -- Simon and Israel Stone -- heard about this fertile land and subsequently arranged to purchase 13,296 acres of their own. In 1789, the land was settled. The cousins began developing the area and by 1792, seven townships had been created northeast of the Genesee River. The small communities were organized into the District of Northfield. The town later divided into many smaller divisions and the remaining part was named Pittsford.

By the turn of the century, large country estates were being established in the Pittsford area, providing a mere hint of the residential development to come. Suburban development peaked in the 1950s when construction of residential subdivisions began to accelerate. Before long, Pittsford had evolved from a rural farming community into a thriving suburb.

The Village of Pittsford also has a rich history. The oldest of Monroe County's 10 incorporated villages, Pittsford initially gained recognition as a local trading center, thanks to its central location. In 1816, Samuel Hildreth established the area's first stagecoach line. The village eventually ended up at the center of a large stage network covering much of western New York. A few years later, the Erie Canal made its way through the area, creating employment opportunities and a steadily increasing population. In 1827, the village was incorporated.

Historic canal warehouses, mills and silos -- many of which have been renovated and are now used as boutiques and restaurants -- enhance the Village of Pittsford’s charming waterfront district. Schoen Place, a shopping area along the banks of the Erie Canal, is an outstanding example of adaptive reuse. Buildings originally designed as canal and railroad warehouses have been adapted for retail uses, including a coal tower that has been reincarnated as a restaurant.

The Pittsford Parks and Recreation department sponsors many athletic clubs and youth groups such as the All-American Baseball Camp, Pins 'n Pals Youth Bowling and Horseback Camp. Pittsford is also home to The Genesee Waterways Center, a premier non-profit organization that promotes paddling and rowing in Monroe County. The center offers lessons in whitewater, sea and sprint kayaking, rowing, and canoeing to nearby residents.

Pittsford students are served by the Pittsford Central School District. This progressive district is dedicated to fully developing the potential of each student and encourages hands-on experience in order to maximize students’ academic, artistic, social, emotional, and physical growth. Post-secondary education can be found nearby at the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College and Pittsford based Nazareth and St John Fisher Colleges. There are also a large number of prestigious universities located throughout the state of New York, including the University of Albany, Columbia University and Syracuse.

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