Pittsford dates its founding to 1827 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1820.
First census: 1,582 in 18202020 census: 1,419199 years
How did Pittsford get its name?
Pittsford was named by Colonel Caleb Hopkins, a War of 1812 hero and subsequently Pittsford town supervisor, for the town of his birth, Pittsford, Vermont.
How historic is Pittsford?
A+
Among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Pittsford is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its age lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Pittsford’s overall grade.
New York towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New York town has 12.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Pittsford’s 3,864 sits above most of its state (100% of New York towns have fewer) while its 643 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±10.1 points). Two sources give 1827.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Pittsford’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The town is situated within the region subject to the Marquis de Denonville's expedition of 1,600 French soldiers, 400 Canadian colonials, and 983 Native American allies in 1687, for the purpose of punishing the Seneca tribe, the foremost nation of the Iroquois Indian Confederacy, for their connection with the English and their interference in the lucrative French fur trade.
Passages that mention Pittsford, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve1851 · page 528Read the page →
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town was changed to Boyle. In 1813, the town of Boyle was divided into three towns, Penfield, Perrinton and Smallwood , and in 1814 the town of Brighton was erected ; and in the same year, what is now Pittsford and Henrietta, was made to constitute a town which was called Pittsford. Henrietta was erected in 1818. There was no such town as " Stonetown ;'" this was the early designation of the settlement ; as in the case of " Boughtontown," " Pittstown," &c.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York1908 · page 773Read the page →
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father was employed by the H. E. Hooker Nursery Company of Rochester and subsequently purchased one of their nursery farms located in the extreme northerly corner of the township of Pittsford. It was at the family home there that Ailing S. De- Forest and his twin brother and two sisters and two older brothers were all born. The father continued to grow nursery stock in a limited way, but
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History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York1908 · page 974Read the page →
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Richard H. Smead is living retired in Pittsford, where he owns and occupies a comfortable home, but for many years he was actively associated with agricultural interests of Pittsford township, still having valuable landed possessions, from which he derives a good annual income. Mr.
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History of the pioneer settlement of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, and Morris' reserve1851 · page 430Read the page →
Read the text
Hopkins, of Pittsford, and Mr. Maybee was the father of John and James Maybee, who were pioneer settlers of Royalton, Niagara county, and of Suffrenus Maybee, a pioneer settler at Buffalo, and the mouth of Cattaraugus creek ; a daughter was the wife of Orange Stone, another of Caleb Hopkins, another of Griffin, of Pittsford. Dr. Fassett, of Lockport, and a brother of his in Rochester, are grand-sons of Gen. Fassett.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Pittsford, 1819 to 2002
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1827, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1820 counted 1,582 people here.
How does Pittsford rank for history?
Pittsford is among the most historic 1% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Pittsford?
57% of Pittsford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±10.1 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1938.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (6), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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