New York State Route 31A
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 31A (NY 31A) is an east–west state highway
located in the western part
of New York
in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31
from the western part of Orleans County
to the far western part of Monroe County
. It diverges from NY 31 south of the village of Medina
and parallels NY 31 eastward until it reconnects to its parent route southwest of the village of Brockport
. While NY 31 passes through the villages of Medina, Albion, and Holley
, NY 31A bypasses all three, serving sparsely populated areas to their south instead. The route intersects NY 98
south of Albion and NY 237
in Clarendon
.
The origins of NY 31A date back to the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York when the section of modern NY 31 between Middleport
and Medina was designated as NY 3A. It was renumbered to NY 3B ca. 1932 and extended northeastward to Knowlesville via Millville by 1932 before becoming NY 31A ca. 1935. NY 31A was cut back to its current western terminus in the late 1940s and extended eastward to NY 19
and NY 31 in Brockport ca. 1963, replacing New York State Route 31D, a spur route linking NY 31 to the Monroe–Orleans county line. The route was truncated to its current eastern terminus in the early 1980s after NY 31 was altered to bypass Brockport to the southwest.
. At this junction, NY 31
travels to the west and to the north (eastbound), NY 63
travels to the north and to the south, and NY 31A travels to the east as Maple Ridge Road. It leaves the village shortly afterward, entering a rural area of Orleans County
dominated by open fields. The route heads due east to Millville, a small hamlet situated at the junction of NY 31A and East Shelby Road in northeastern Shelby
. At the eastern edge of the community, NY 31A meets West County House Road, the former routing of NY 31A toward Knowlesville.
Past Millville, NY 31A becomes West Lee Road and heads southeastward through farmland to the Barre
town line, at which point the route turns back to the east and follows a slightly northeasterly alignment for 5 miles (8 km) into the town of Albion
. Here, NY 31A passes the Benjamin Franklin Gates House
, situated on the north side of the route near a junction with Mix Road. Not far to the east, the highway meets NY 98
at a rural junction 3 miles (5 km) south of the village of Albion and 50 yards (46 m) north of the Albion town line. NY 31A, now East Lee Road, continues on a northeasterly line for another 2.5 miles (4 km) before curving southward for 1 miles (1.6 km) to avoid a marshy area near the eastern town line. The route briefly reenters Barre along this stretch, heading south and east across the town's northeastern corner on its way into the town of Clarendon
.
The highway retains an east–west alignment for 2 miles (3.2 km) to the outskirts of the hamlet of Clarendon, the largest community on the route since Medina. At this point, NY 31A turns southeast to serve Clarendon, where NY 31A intersects NY 237
in the center of the hamlet. Upon crossing NY 237, NY 31A changes names for the final time, becoming Fourth Section Road. The rural surroundings return outside of Clarendon hamlet as a mix of woodlands and fields, which NY 31A progresses generally northeasterly through to the hamlet of Bennetts Corners. Here, the amount of development along the route begins to increase, a change ushered in by a pair of large housing tracts in the eastern part of the community.
East of Bennetts Corners, the route takes on a more easterly alignment as it crosses into Monroe County
, which contains just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the 23 miles (37 km) NY 31A. In Monroe County, the highway passes through a slightly more populated area on its way to a junction with NY 31 and NY 19 Truck southwest of the village of Brockport
. Both NY 19 Truck and NY 31 enter the intersection from the north on Redman Road and turn east at Fourth Section Road, following the right-of-way of NY 31A eastward toward Brockport's business district. The junction completes the alternate loop of NY 31, which follows a parallel but more northerly routing between Medina and Brockport that takes it through the villages of Medina, Albion, and Holley
. Along the way, NY 31 passes the campus of SUNY Brockport, situated 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northeast of NY 31A's eastern terminus.
west of Rochester
—including the section between Gasport
and the outskirts of Brockport
—was originally designated as part of NY 3
when the first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 3 was realigned between Middleport
and Medina
to follow what is now NY 31E
. NY 3's former routing between the two villages was designated as NY 3A. NY 3A was redesignated as NY 3B ca. 1932 as part of a renumbering of NY 3's suffixed routes. NY 3B was also extended eastward along Maple Ridge, County House, and Taylor Hill Roads to meet NY 31 at Knowlesville Station (a hamlet in the town of Ridgeway
) by this time. The route was renumbered again ca. 1935, becoming NY 31A after NY 3 was replaced with a realigned NY 31 west of Rochester.
Farther east, the segment of modern NY 31A from Clarendon
to Brockport and what is now NY 31 from NY 31A to NY 19
became NY 3B in the 1930 renumbering. Like NY 3A, NY 3B was renumbered to NY 3C ca. 1932; however, it was also truncated to consist solely of the Monroe County
portion of its routing at this time. The route now began at the Monroe–Orleans
county line, where state maintenance of Fourth Section Road began, and ended at the junction of NY 63
(now NY 19) and NY 3 (NY 31) south of Brockport. NY 3C was redesignated as NY 31D ca. 1935 following NY 31's supplantation of NY 3 west of Rochester.
In the late 1940s, NY 31 was rerouted between Middleport and Medina to use NY 31A between the two locations. NY 31A was truncated to its current western terminus in Medina as a result. It was substantially extended ca. 1963, however, to a new eastern terminus in Brockport. The highway was rerouted east of Millville to follow a series of previously unnumbered roads through Barre
and Clarendon to Monroe County, where it supplanted NY 31D from the county line eastward. NY 31A was truncated slightly to its current eastern terminus in the early 1980s after NY 31 was rerouted to bypass Brockport to the west and south on NY 31A and Redman Road.
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...
located in the western part
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...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
from the western part of Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
to the far western part 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....
. It diverges from NY 31 south of the village of Medina
Medina, New York
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
and parallels NY 31 eastward until it reconnects to its parent route southwest of the village of Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
. While NY 31 passes through the villages of Medina, Albion, and Holley
Holley, New York
Holley is a village in the town of Murray in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The village of Holley was incorporated in 1850...
, NY 31A bypasses all three, serving sparsely populated areas to their south instead. The route intersects NY 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
south of Albion and NY 237
New York State Route 237
New York State Route 237 is a north–south state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Stafford. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with the Lake Ontario State Parkway...
in Clarendon
Clarendon, New York
Clarendon is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 3,392 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Clarendon, Vermont.The Town of Clarendon is in the southeast part of the county...
.
The origins of NY 31A date back to the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York when the section of modern NY 31 between Middleport
Middleport, New York
Middleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Medina was designated as NY 3A. It was renumbered to NY 3B ca. 1932 and extended northeastward to Knowlesville via Millville by 1932 before becoming NY 31A ca. 1935. NY 31A was cut back to its current western terminus in the late 1940s and extended eastward to NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
and NY 31 in Brockport ca. 1963, replacing New York State Route 31D, a spur route linking NY 31 to the Monroe–Orleans county line. The route was truncated to its current eastern terminus in the early 1980s after NY 31 was altered to bypass Brockport to the southwest.
Route description
NY 31A begins at a four-way intersection in the southern portion of the village of MedinaMedina, New York
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
. At this junction, NY 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
travels to the west and to the north (eastbound), NY 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
travels to the north and to the south, and NY 31A travels to the east as Maple Ridge Road. It leaves the village shortly afterward, entering a rural area of Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
dominated by open fields. The route heads due east to Millville, a small hamlet situated at the junction of NY 31A and East Shelby Road in northeastern Shelby
Shelby, New York
Shelby, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 5,420 at the 2000 census.The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.- History :...
. At the eastern edge of the community, NY 31A meets West County House Road, the former routing of NY 31A toward Knowlesville.
Past Millville, NY 31A becomes West Lee Road and heads southeastward through farmland to the Barre
Barre, New York
Barre is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Barre, Massachusetts.The Town of Barre is on the south border of the county.- History :...
town line, at which point the route turns back to the east and follows a slightly northeasterly alignment for 5 miles (8 km) into the town of Albion
Albion (town), Orleans County, New York
----Albion is a town in Orleans County, New York, USA. The population was 8,042 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a village in the town....
. Here, NY 31A passes the Benjamin Franklin Gates House
Benjamin Franklin Gates House
The Benjamin Franklin Gates House is a historic home and farm complex located on Lee Road in Barre, New York, United States. It is centered around a Greek Revival house built in the 1830s using the unusual stacked-plank structural system...
, situated on the north side of the route near a junction with Mix Road. Not far to the east, the highway meets NY 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
at a rural junction 3 miles (5 km) south of the village of Albion and 50 yards (46 m) north of the Albion town line. NY 31A, now East Lee Road, continues on a northeasterly line for another 2.5 miles (4 km) before curving southward for 1 miles (1.6 km) to avoid a marshy area near the eastern town line. The route briefly reenters Barre along this stretch, heading south and east across the town's northeastern corner on its way into the town of Clarendon
Clarendon, New York
Clarendon is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 3,392 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Clarendon, Vermont.The Town of Clarendon is in the southeast part of the county...
.
The highway retains an east–west alignment for 2 miles (3.2 km) to the outskirts of the hamlet of Clarendon, the largest community on the route since Medina. At this point, NY 31A turns southeast to serve Clarendon, where NY 31A intersects NY 237
New York State Route 237
New York State Route 237 is a north–south state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Stafford. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with the Lake Ontario State Parkway...
in the center of the hamlet. Upon crossing NY 237, NY 31A changes names for the final time, becoming Fourth Section Road. The rural surroundings return outside of Clarendon hamlet as a mix of woodlands and fields, which NY 31A progresses generally northeasterly through to the hamlet of Bennetts Corners. Here, the amount of development along the route begins to increase, a change ushered in by a pair of large housing tracts in the eastern part of the community.
East of Bennetts Corners, the route takes on a more easterly alignment as it crosses into 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....
, which contains just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the 23 miles (37 km) NY 31A. In Monroe County, the highway passes through a slightly more populated area on its way to a junction with NY 31 and NY 19 Truck southwest of the village of Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
. Both NY 19 Truck and NY 31 enter the intersection from the north on Redman Road and turn east at Fourth Section Road, following the right-of-way of NY 31A eastward toward Brockport's business district. The junction completes the alternate loop of NY 31, which follows a parallel but more northerly routing between Medina and Brockport that takes it through the villages of Medina, Albion, and Holley
Holley, New York
Holley is a village in the town of Murray in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The village of Holley was incorporated in 1850...
. Along the way, NY 31 passes the campus of SUNY Brockport, situated 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northeast of NY 31A's eastern terminus.
History
Most of modern NY 31New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
west of 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...
—including the section between Gasport
Gasport, New York
Gasport is a hamlet located in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from observed natural gas and the historic Erie Canal port at that location...
and the outskirts of Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
—was originally designated as part of NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
when the first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 3 was realigned between Middleport
Middleport, New York
Middleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Medina
Medina, New York
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
to follow what is now NY 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
. NY 3's former routing between the two villages was designated as NY 3A. NY 3A was redesignated as NY 3B ca. 1932 as part of a renumbering of NY 3's suffixed routes. NY 3B was also extended eastward along Maple Ridge, County House, and Taylor Hill Roads to meet NY 31 at Knowlesville Station (a hamlet in the town of Ridgeway
Ridgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
) by this time. The route was renumbered again ca. 1935, becoming NY 31A after NY 3 was replaced with a realigned NY 31 west of Rochester.
Farther east, the segment of modern NY 31A from Clarendon
Clarendon, New York
Clarendon is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 3,392 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Clarendon, Vermont.The Town of Clarendon is in the southeast part of the county...
to Brockport and what is now NY 31 from NY 31A to NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
became NY 3B in the 1930 renumbering. Like NY 3A, NY 3B was renumbered to NY 3C ca. 1932; however, it was also truncated to consist solely of the 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....
portion of its routing at this time. The route now began at the Monroe–Orleans
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
county line, where state maintenance of Fourth Section Road began, and ended at the junction of NY 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
(now NY 19) and NY 3 (NY 31) south of Brockport. NY 3C was redesignated as NY 31D ca. 1935 following NY 31's supplantation of NY 3 west of Rochester.
In the late 1940s, NY 31 was rerouted between Middleport and Medina to use NY 31A between the two locations. NY 31A was truncated to its current western terminus in Medina as a result. It was substantially extended ca. 1963, however, to a new eastern terminus in Brockport. The highway was rerouted east of Millville to follow a series of previously unnumbered roads through Barre
Barre, New York
Barre is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Barre, Massachusetts.The Town of Barre is on the south border of the county.- History :...
and Clarendon to Monroe County, where it supplanted NY 31D from the county line eastward. NY 31A was truncated slightly to its current eastern terminus in the early 1980s after NY 31 was rerouted to bypass Brockport to the west and south on NY 31A and Redman Road.