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Finger Lakes Region

Location

The Finger Lakes Region consists of nine counties spreading from the fertile farmland on the Lake Ontario border to the north, to the low, rolling hills of the south, carved by 11 slender bodies of water that gave the region its name. The region encompasses 4,692 square miles.

Weather

Mean Daily Temperature:
  January 24.0° F
  July 71.2° F

Workforce

Business and Industry

Manufacturing is the largest source of employment in the region, accounting for about one out of every four non-farm jobs, and embracing about 1,600 establishments. The production of photographic equipment and supplies is a major industry, largely represented by the Eastman Kodak Company and Xerox Corp., but supported by numerous other smaller companies. There is also significant employment in the manufacture of transportation equipment, biomedical instruments and metal fabrication.

The Rochester/Finger Lakes Region is a world center for advanced optics and imaging industries, employing more than 100,000 workers in about 90 companies large and small, from Fortune 500 companies like Bausch & Lomb to small firms exploring niche technologies.

The agricultural sector is noted for its apples, cherries, grapes and wine, and the large volume of locally grown produce supports one of the State's largest food processing industries.

Transportation

Highways: The New York State Thruway (I-90) provides the major east-west access, and I-390 is the primary route to the south.

Air Service: The Greater Rochester International Airport provides direct and connecting flights to domestic and international destinations for about 2.5 million passengers annually.

Rail Service: More than 550 miles of track are operated throughout the region, with Amtrak offering service east and west of Rochester.

Bus Service: Intercity transportation is provided by Greyhound and Trailways. The Regional Transit Service operates in and around the city of Rochester, and outlying counties are serviced by four other bus services.

Higher Education Institutions

More than 64,000 students are enrolled in the region's two-year and four-year public and private colleges and universities. Below are the major institutions, with those that offer teacher education programs in bold.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Keuka College
Monroe Community College
Nazareth College
Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester Institute of Technology
St. John Fisher College
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College at Geneseo
University of Rochester

Health Care-major hospitals

Highland Hospital, Rochester
Genesee Hospital, Rochester
Geneva General Hospital, Geneva
Park Ridge Hospital, Rochester
St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester
Rochester General Hospital
Strong Memorial Hospital/University of Rochester Medical Center
VA Hospital, Canandaigua

Quality of Life

Excellent educational opportunities, affordable housing, an advanced health care system and a wide range of cultural and recreational offerings make the Finger Lakes a highly desirable region in which to live and work. The region's scenic highlights include the 11 slender "finger lakes," 100 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and several state parks, including Letchworth State Park, also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." Water sports and fishing in the warmer months give way to alpine and nordic skiing in the winter. Cultural opportunities abound at a variety of art galleries, historic sites, theaters and museums, including the highly acclaimed International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House. Horse racing, zoos, winery tours, minor league sports and amusement parks are part of the array of entertainment that attracts residents and visitors alike.

Information obtained from numerous New York State sources.