New York State Route 251
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 251 (NY 251) is an east–west state highway
in western New York
in the United States. It extends for 17.79 miles (28.63 km) from NY 383
in Scottsville
, Monroe County
, to NY 96
in the town of Victor
, Ontario County
. NY 251 connects to Interstate 390 (I-390) in Rush
and serves the village of Honeoye Falls
(via NY 65
) and the hamlet of Mendon within the town of the same name
. The route, a two-lane, rural highway for much of its length, also intersects NY 15
and NY 64
, two north–south highways leading to the Southern Tier
and the Finger Lakes
, respectively. Two sections of the route—from south of Scottsville to Rush and from Mendon to western Victor—follow linear east–west alignments. All but 3 miles (5 km) of the route are located in Monroe County.
From 1911 to 1921, the north–south section of modern NY 251 near Scottsville was part of Route 15, an unsigned legislative route
assigned by the New York State Legislature. The first portion of what is now NY 251 to receive a posted designation was the segment east of NY 64 in Mendon, which was part of the signed NY 15 from 1924 to 1930. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 251 was assigned to an alignment extending from Gates
to Victor via Scottsville, utilizing modern NY 386
north of Scottsville and its current alignment east of the village. NY 251 was truncated to begin at NY 383 in Scottsville in the late 1970s, at which time the former routing of NY 251 between Scottsville and Gates became part of an extended NY 386.
in the center of the village of Scottsville
, located within the town of Wheatland
. It departs Scottsville to the south as River Road and crosses over Oatka Creek
before meeting Quaker Road at a rural intersection just south of the village. While River Road continues southward as the unsigned NY 940H, NY 251 turns east to begin its east–west trek across the mostly undeveloped southern portion of Monroe County
. After roughly 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), it crosses over the Genesee River
and into the town of Rush
, becoming Rush–Scottsville Road in the process. Just inside the town line, NY 251 passes through the hamlet of Industry, a location centered around NY 251's grade crossing with the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
and the adjacent Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
.
Midway through the town of Rush, NY 251 widens from two to four lanes and meets I-390
at exit 11. Just east of the freeway, NY 251 intersects NY 15
, which is also served by exit 11 by way of a pair of short collector/distributor roads paralleling I-390 from NY 251 to NY 15. Past NY 15, the route reverts back to a two-lane highway and veers southeast to parallel Honeoye Creek
into the hamlet of Rush. Here, the route passes through a more populated area as it intersects NY 15A
in the center of the community, at which point it becomes Rush–Mendon Road. NY 251 continues to follow Honeoye Creek through progressively less developed areas and into the town of Mendon
, where the creek curves southward toward Honeoye Falls
at Rochester Junction. The highway, however, turns northeastward to meet NY 65
at a roundabout
. The northeasterly routing of NY 251 continues to Mendon Center, a small hamlet near the southern tip of Mendon Ponds Park
, where it turns eastward once more.
NY 251 continues across open fields to the densely-populated hamlet of Mendon, where it has a junction with NY 64
in the center of the community. East of the junction, NY 251 becomes Victor–Mendon Road as it heads out of Mendon. About 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from NY 64, the open surroundings return as the route crosses into the Ontario County
town of Victor
. NY 251 continues on a virtual east–west line for its first 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in the county, heading through slightly more developed but still sparsely populated areas. At Phillips Road, the route curves southeastward for 1 miles (1.6 km) before making one final turn to the northeast. On this last stretch, NY 251 crosses the Ontario Central Railroad
at a grade crossing and ends at a junction with NY 96
northwest of the village of Victor
.
in Scottsville
and the junction of River and Quaker Roads south of the village was once part of Route 15, an unsigned legislative route
assigned by the New York State Legislature. Route 15 was extended northward from its original terminus in Caledonia
to Scottsville via River Road on July 24, 1911; however, it was realigned on March 1, 1921, to enter Scottsville on modern NY 383 instead. When the first set of posted routes were assigned in New York in 1924, this piece of modern NY 251 did not receive a designation. Another section did, however, as the portion extending from Mendon
east to Victor
was designated as part of NY 15. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 15 was rerouted between Victor and Pittsford
to follow current NY 96
. The former routing of NY 15 from Victor to Mendon became part of NY 251, a new highway extending from NY 15 in Victor to NY 33
in Gates
via Chili
and Scottsville
. West of Scottsville, NY 251 was routed on modern NY 383
and NY 386
.
From 1930 to ca. 1938, the River Road section of NY 251 overlapped with NY 35
, which initially entered Monroe County
on the former routing of legislative Route 15 and continued north to Rochester
on current NY 383. Ca. 1938, the southwestern end of NY 35 was moved to Mumford
, shifting the location of the overlap to Main Street in Scottsville. The concurrency was replaced with one with NY 383 when it supplanted most of NY 35 in the early 1940s. In the late 1970s, NY 251 was truncated to begin at the eastern end of its overlap with NY 383 in Scottsville. The former routing of NY 251 from the west end of the concurrency in Scottsville to Gates became an extension of NY 386, which was a simple connector in northern Gates and southern Greece
prior to the change.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
in the United States. It extends for 17.79 miles (28.63 km) from NY 383
New York State Route 383
New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...
in Scottsville
Scottsville, New York
Scottsville is a village in southwestern Monroe County, New York, United States, and is in the northeastern part of the Town of Wheatland. The population was 2,128 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an early settler, Isaac Scott...
, Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, to NY 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
in the town of Victor
Victor (town), New York
Victor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
, Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
. NY 251 connects to Interstate 390 (I-390) in Rush
Rush, New York
Rush is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 3,478 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rush is a suburb of Rochester located in the southwest part of the county.-Geography:...
and serves the village of Honeoye Falls
Honeoye Falls, New York
Honeoye Falls is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 2,595 at the 2000 census. The village includes a small waterfall on Honeoye Creek, which flows through the village and gives it its name....
(via NY 65
New York State Route 65
New York State Route 65 is a north–south state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 in the Ontario County town of West Bloomfield to a junction with NY 96 in the Monroe County...
) and the hamlet of Mendon within the town of the same name
Mendon, New York
Mendon is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States, and an affluent suburb of Rochester, New York. The population was 9,152 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mendon is on the south border of the county...
. The route, a two-lane, rural highway for much of its length, also intersects NY 15
New York State Route 15
New York State Route 15 is a north–south state highway located in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is officially at Interstate 390 exit 3 south of the village of Wayland, although some signage indicating that NY 15 continues south to...
and NY 64
New York State Route 64
New York State Route 64 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 21 in the hamlet of Bristol Springs within the town of South Bristol, Ontario County...
, two north–south highways leading to the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
and the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
, respectively. Two sections of the route—from south of Scottsville to Rush and from Mendon to western Victor—follow linear east–west alignments. All but 3 miles (5 km) of the route are located in Monroe County.
From 1911 to 1921, the north–south section of modern NY 251 near Scottsville was part of Route 15, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
assigned by the New York State Legislature. The first portion of what is now NY 251 to receive a posted designation was the segment east of NY 64 in Mendon, which was part of the signed NY 15 from 1924 to 1930. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 251 was assigned to an alignment extending from Gates
Gates, New York
Gates is a town in Monroe County, New York. The town is named after General Horatio Gates. The population was 28,400 at the 2010 census. Gates-North Gates census-designated place is located within the town's boundaries....
to Victor via Scottsville, utilizing modern NY 386
New York State Route 386
New York State Route 386 is a north–south state highway located in the western suburbs of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 383 in the village of Scottsville. The northern end of the highway is...
north of Scottsville and its current alignment east of the village. NY 251 was truncated to begin at NY 383 in Scottsville in the late 1970s, at which time the former routing of NY 251 between Scottsville and Gates became part of an extended NY 386.
Route description
NY 251 begins at an intersection with NY 383New York State Route 383
New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...
in the center of the village of Scottsville
Scottsville, New York
Scottsville is a village in southwestern Monroe County, New York, United States, and is in the northeastern part of the Town of Wheatland. The population was 2,128 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an early settler, Isaac Scott...
, located within the town of Wheatland
Wheatland, New York
Wheatland is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 4,775 at the 2010 census. The town is home to Genesee Country Village and Museum.The Town of Wheatland is located in the southwest part of the county....
. It departs Scottsville to the south as River Road and crosses over Oatka Creek
Oatka Creek
Oatka Creek is the third longest tributary of the Genesee River, located entirely in the Western New York region of the U.S. state of New York. From southern Wyoming County, it flows to the Genesee near Scottsville, draining an area of that includes all or part of 23 towns and villages in...
before meeting Quaker Road at a rural intersection just south of the village. While River Road continues southward as the unsigned NY 940H, NY 251 turns east to begin its east–west trek across the mostly undeveloped southern portion of Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
. After roughly 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), it crosses over the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
and into the town of Rush
Rush, New York
Rush is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 3,478 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rush is a suburb of Rochester located in the southwest part of the county.-Geography:...
, becoming Rush–Scottsville Road in the process. Just inside the town line, NY 251 passes through the hamlet of Industry, a location centered around NY 251's grade crossing with the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad
The Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad is a short line railroad that operates in Livingston County and Monroe County in New York, United States...
and the adjacent Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
The Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is an operating railroad museum located in Industry, New York. The museum started in 1971 with the leasing of a former Erie Railroad Depot from the Erie Lackawanna Railroad...
.
Midway through the town of Rush, NY 251 widens from two to four lanes and meets I-390
Interstate 390
Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...
at exit 11. Just east of the freeway, NY 251 intersects NY 15
New York State Route 15
New York State Route 15 is a north–south state highway located in western New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is officially at Interstate 390 exit 3 south of the village of Wayland, although some signage indicating that NY 15 continues south to...
, which is also served by exit 11 by way of a pair of short collector/distributor roads paralleling I-390 from NY 251 to NY 15. Past NY 15, the route reverts back to a two-lane highway and veers southeast to parallel Honeoye Creek
Honeoye Creek
Honeoye Creek is a tributary of the Genesee River in western New York in the United States.Honeoye Creek emerges from the north end of Honeoye Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, in Richmond, Ontario County...
into the hamlet of Rush. Here, the route passes through a more populated area as it intersects NY 15A
New York State Route 15A
New York State Route 15A is a north–south state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It serves as an easterly alternate route of NY 15, beginning in the Livingston County town of Springwater and ending to the north in the Monroe County city of...
in the center of the community, at which point it becomes Rush–Mendon Road. NY 251 continues to follow Honeoye Creek through progressively less developed areas and into the town of Mendon
Mendon, New York
Mendon is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States, and an affluent suburb of Rochester, New York. The population was 9,152 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mendon is on the south border of the county...
, where the creek curves southward toward Honeoye Falls
Honeoye Falls, New York
Honeoye Falls is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 2,595 at the 2000 census. The village includes a small waterfall on Honeoye Creek, which flows through the village and gives it its name....
at Rochester Junction. The highway, however, turns northeastward to meet NY 65
New York State Route 65
New York State Route 65 is a north–south state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 in the Ontario County town of West Bloomfield to a junction with NY 96 in the Monroe County...
at a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
. The northeasterly routing of NY 251 continues to Mendon Center, a small hamlet near the southern tip of Mendon Ponds Park
Mendon Ponds Park
Mendon Ponds Park is a county park located southeast of Rochester, New York, within the suburban towns of Mendon and Pittsford. At over 2500 acres , it is the largest park in Monroe County...
, where it turns eastward once more.
NY 251 continues across open fields to the densely-populated hamlet of Mendon, where it has a junction with NY 64
New York State Route 64
New York State Route 64 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 21 in the hamlet of Bristol Springs within the town of South Bristol, Ontario County...
in the center of the community. East of the junction, NY 251 becomes Victor–Mendon Road as it heads out of Mendon. About 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from NY 64, the open surroundings return as the route crosses into the Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
town of Victor
Victor (town), New York
Victor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
. NY 251 continues on a virtual east–west line for its first 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in the county, heading through slightly more developed but still sparsely populated areas. At Phillips Road, the route curves southeastward for 1 miles (1.6 km) before making one final turn to the northeast. On this last stretch, NY 251 crosses the Ontario Central Railroad
Ontario Central Railroad
The Ontario Central Railroad is an American class III railroad company operating in Ontario County, New York. As of 2007, the ONCT has been under the ownership of the Finger Lakes Railway....
at a grade crossing and ends at a junction with NY 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
northwest of the village of Victor
Victor (village), New York
Victor is a village located in within the Town of Victor in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 2,433 at the 2000 census.The Village of Victor is in the southeast part of the town and is southeast of the City of Rochester.- History :...
.
History
The westernmost portion of what is now NY 251 between NY 383New York State Route 383
New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...
in Scottsville
Scottsville, New York
Scottsville is a village in southwestern Monroe County, New York, United States, and is in the northeastern part of the Town of Wheatland. The population was 2,128 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an early settler, Isaac Scott...
and the junction of River and Quaker Roads south of the village was once part of Route 15, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
assigned by the New York State Legislature. Route 15 was extended northward from its original terminus in Caledonia
Caledonia (village), New York
Caledonia is a village in Livingston County, New York, USA. The population was 2,327 at the 2000 census. The name refers to Scotland.The Village of Caledonia is located inside the Town of Caledonia and is southwest of Rochester, Monroe County....
to Scottsville via River Road on July 24, 1911; however, it was realigned on March 1, 1921, to enter Scottsville on modern NY 383 instead. When the first set of posted routes were assigned in New York in 1924, this piece of modern NY 251 did not receive a designation. Another section did, however, as the portion extending from Mendon
Mendon, New York
Mendon is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States, and an affluent suburb of Rochester, New York. The population was 9,152 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mendon is on the south border of the county...
east to Victor
Victor (town), New York
Victor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
was designated as part of NY 15. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 15 was rerouted between Victor and Pittsford
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
to follow current NY 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
. The former routing of NY 15 from Victor to Mendon became part of NY 251, a new highway extending from NY 15 in Victor to NY 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
in Gates
Gates, New York
Gates is a town in Monroe County, New York. The town is named after General Horatio Gates. The population was 28,400 at the 2010 census. Gates-North Gates census-designated place is located within the town's boundaries....
via Chili
Chili, New York
Chili is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 28,625 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the city of Rochester.The Town of Chili was established in 1822 from part of the Town of Riga....
and Scottsville
Scottsville, New York
Scottsville is a village in southwestern Monroe County, New York, United States, and is in the northeastern part of the Town of Wheatland. The population was 2,128 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an early settler, Isaac Scott...
. West of Scottsville, NY 251 was routed on modern NY 383
New York State Route 383
New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...
and NY 386
New York State Route 386
New York State Route 386 is a north–south state highway located in the western suburbs of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 383 in the village of Scottsville. The northern end of the highway is...
.
From 1930 to ca. 1938, the River Road section of NY 251 overlapped with NY 35
New York State Route 35 (1927 – early 1940s)
New York State Route 35 was a state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York, United States. The western terminus of the route was at NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its eastern terminus was at U.S. Route 104 in the hamlet of Ontario Center within...
, which initially entered Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
on the former routing of legislative Route 15 and continued north to Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
on current NY 383. Ca. 1938, the southwestern end of NY 35 was moved to Mumford
Mumford, New York
The hamlet of Mumford lies on the west side of the Town of Wheatland, south of Oatka Creek on NY 36 and south of the terminus of NY 383.-History:The story of Mumford has been written by several local historians...
, shifting the location of the overlap to Main Street in Scottsville. The concurrency was replaced with one with NY 383 when it supplanted most of NY 35 in the early 1940s. In the late 1970s, NY 251 was truncated to begin at the eastern end of its overlap with NY 383 in Scottsville. The former routing of NY 251 from the west end of the concurrency in Scottsville to Gates became an extension of NY 386, which was a simple connector in northern Gates and southern Greece
Greece (town), New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095. The town motto is "Discover the Promise."...
prior to the change.