Medina's F^requentlyA^skedQ^uestions
This page updated Monday, February 06, 2006

WHERE/WHEN?
The Village of Medina is located in the Towns of Ridgeway & Shelby and was incorporated on March 3, 1832. After it was decided in 1823 that the Erie Canal would come through Medina, Mr. Ebenezer Mix surveyed and laid out the village and named it Medina. Medina is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and within a 400-mile radius of 14 north-eastern states, two of the most populated Canadian provinces, New York State's capital city of Albany, and the nation's capital of Washington, D.C.

GEOGRAPHY?
Medina enjoys a particularly scenic geography and a basin on the Historic Erie Barge Canal waterway enlarged in 1913 for pleasure boating. Located on the Glacier Plains of Lake Ontario (one of the five Great Lakes), Medina is home to Oak Orchard Creek, Medina Falls, plus hundreds of streams, tributaries, sandstone Quarry's and ponds that offer recreation and enjoyment.

IDENTITY?
Our motto is "The Eyes in the Future, Roots in the Past". There are few are spots in the world where one might find Chinook Salmon as large and plentiful as found in Orleans County. Experience a ride on one of the few packet boat mule drawn trips on the Scenic Erie Barge Canal (Clinton's Ditch), savor our history with cobblestone architecture and museums recalling the rail era or sample the harvest of farms settled nearly 200 years ago.

HISTORY?
The area of western New York State around Rochester first belonged to the Iroquois, a Native American people. When in 1824, it was decided to carve a new county from the northeastern section of the Holland Land Purchase, a dispute arose over the name it was to bear. The Whigs chose Adams, namesake of their leader John Quincy Adams while supporters of Old Hickory preferred Jackson. A compromise was stricken in 1825 with the Old World name of Orleans. Many of the present Medina Area residents trace their roots back to the time when the canal was built. Laborers of various ethnic backgrounds came, built the canal, and remained here to raise their families. Sandstone from Medina area quarries was shipped all over the country. Some dark varieties were shipped down the canal to New York City where it became the building material for the famous 'Brownstone Houses'.

GETTING HERE?
Visitors can reach Medina FROM THE South: Exit NYS Thruway, travel North on Route 77, Roads will change to Route 63 till you arrive at the Traffic Signal at Route 31 (This has been about 14 miles) Follow Route 63 into Downtown Medina. FROM THE East: There are Two Route 31's. It is easier to Approach Medina via Route 31E (closest to the Erie Canal) into Downtown Medina FROM THE West: There are Two Route 31's. It is easier to Approach Medina via Route 31 and Turn Left (north) on to Salt Works Road on the West Side Of Medina. There is a large direction sign for the Apple Grove Restaurant a short distance before Salt Works Road. Make the First right at the Stop Sign onto West Center Street. Downtown Medina .7 mile straight ahead.

WEATHER?
Medina New York is a four-season community that enjoys an average temperature of 78? in the summer and 32? in the winter. Adjacent to Lake Ontario, the extremes of Weather Patterns are rare in Orleans County.