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Nunda History

Nunda pronounced to the out of towner as "none day", is a historic rural town in Livingston County, NY. If you decide to visit Nunda, signs welcome you as you enter our little village saying, "Welcome to Nunda, A Nice Place To Live." 

The name of our town, Nunda, is derived from Nunda-wa-ono, a Seneca Indian tribe that once lived in the hills and valleys along the Genesee river and Keshequa stream within the Township of Nunda. In the Seneca language, "Nunda" relates to hills and a popular translation is "Where the valley meets the hills". 

Nunda was first settled around 1806 near the village of Nunda. The town was formed in 1808 from the Town of Angelica (in Allegany County) before the creation of Livingston County. In 1827, part of Nunda used to found the new Town of Portage. Originally called the Village of the Nunda Valley, the name was shortened to Nunda by Charles H Carroll in 1824. The Village of Nunda, also part of the Keshequa Region of Western New York State, was incorporated as "Nunda Valley" and later Nunda in 1939. On March 11 2008, Nunda celebrated its Bicentennial.

In 1808, only three pioneer families lived in what is now the Town of Nunda. By 1830 the population had increased to 1,291 and by 1840 there were 2,636 residents. The population peaked at nearly 4,000 in the 1840s when the Genesee River Canal was built, which ran through the town until 1878. The population had fallen to less than 3,000 by the early 1880s. Today, the population of our town is about 3,000 people. 


 (Photo by S Paige)

Nunda also has many celebrations throughout the year that not only the people of the town partake in, but also people from surrounding areas too.  Each June the town celebrates, Nunda Fun Days with a carnival and parades.  Preceding the big parade, the Village hosts a small pet parade for children to display their beloved animals and livestock, bicycles and costumes. 

There are a number of historic places to visit and parks to hike and enjoy.  Among them is Letchworth State Park. Letchworth borders the Nunda Community and offers fall festivals, fine dining at the Glen Iris Inn and more. (Photo by J Malcom)

You can visit Letchworth State Park, (The Grand Canyon of the East).  You can learn more about the Seneca Indian Nation and enjoy the beautiful scenery while enjoying a hot air balloon ride. The park also offers miles of trails for hiking and bicycling as well as white water rafting and horseback trail rides.

Along both Letchworth and Nunda you will find the remains of the Genesee Valley Canal Locks. In 1825 internal navigation of New York State began through the construction of additional waterways. New York City had direct water communication both with the Great Lakes and with Lake Champlain by means of the Erie and Champlain canals. A system of branch or lateral canals, were built to help develop and connect the inland portions of NY State with these main waterways.  You can still visit and see these canal locks today.

In addition, another popular attraction is Swain Ski Center. Not only do they offer various skiing adventures, but in the summer time you can hike the trails and some of their mountain trails connect with the Finger Lakes Trail.  

Along with hiking the Finger Lakes Trail, another favorite spot just outside the Village of Nunda is, Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area– A state conservation area in the southeast part of the town. It is about 5,000 acres of upland where people may hike, hunt and horseback ride.  The area was named after the Timber Rattlesnake, which you might find in a remote area, but are unlikely to ever encounter. (Photo by Dennie Orson)

The area offers an interesting blend of upland habitats such as mature woodland, overgrown fields, conifer plantations, old growth apple orchards and open meadows. The area is inhabited by a variety of game species and is open to public hunting. The white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit and woodcock are found on the area. An occasional snowshoe hare may be observed adjacent to thick creek bottom brush or conifer plantation habitats.

A number of small marsh units have been developed and provide limited hunting for waterfowl. Some of the area's furbearing species such as mink, beaver and raccoon may be occasionally viewed at these marsh units. Several of the deeper water impoundments are stocked annually with trout, while those portions of Sugar Greek, Hovey Brook and Canaseraga Creek which are on or adjacent to the management area are known trout waters.


Enjoy more pictures of our town.

This is a picture of our fire station and villager clerks office on the main intersection of State Street and Mill Street.  

 

  (Photo by D.R. Pep)                                                      (Photo by S Paige)



The Bell Memorial Library is located on East Street.  You may visit their website by clicking here. 








 (Photo by Owwl)


This is the bell located in the middle of our town square.  It was part of the Centennial Celebration.
















(Photo by S Paige)











 


(Photo by D.R. Pep)