Overview - Genesee County

Often touted for its location, Genesee County is roughly the halfway point from Buffalo and Rochester, the second and third largest cities in New York State (after the metropolis of New York City). Genesee County is mainly wide-open farmland, with a population of roughly 60,000 residents.

The political, cultural and geographic center of Genesee County is Batavia, which is roughly 36 miles from Rochester and 41 miles from Buffalo. Batavia is the only city in Genesee County and home to a bevy of activities, like Batavia Downs Casino and Racetrack, the Holland Land Office Museum, Genesee Community College, a variety of retail shopping options and the Batavia Muckdogs professional baseball team. Palm Island Indoor Waterpark is a relatively new attraction that is popular with families.

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, on the western edge of the county, includes the largest amusement park in New York state and an amphitheater that hosts several big-name concerts every summer. Darien Lakes State Park offers camping, swimming, and other outdoor activities.

On the east side of the county, the town of LeRoy has the Jell-O Museum. The jiggly dessert was invented in LeRoy.

For outdoor lovers, there’s the spacious Genesee County Park in Bethany, the Bergen Swamp in Bergen, and the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, which just opened in 2012. The Oatka Creek flows through LeRoy and offers fly-fishing for trout from spring to fall. About half a dozen alpaca farms also are in Genesee County and open to the public. The county also has several well-regarded golf courses.

For thrill-seekers of the otherworldly variety, Rolling Hills Asylum in Bethany offers ghost hunts.

Genesee County is largely undeveloped, away from Batavia, offering visitors and residents a chance to get in touch with nature and lovely, winding country roads to enjoy traveling.