Lima, New York

{{for|the village located within this town|Lima (village), New York}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Lima, New York | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | total_type =  | motto =  | image_skyline = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size =  | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = USA New York inset | pushpin_label = Lima | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of New York | pushpin_mapsize = | coordinates = {{coord|42|54|17|N|77|36|42|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = New York | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Livingston  | government_footnotes = | government_type = Town Council | leader_title = Town Supervisor | leader_name = Mike Falk (C) | leader_title1 = Town Council | leader_name1 = {{Collapsible list |title = Members' List |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0; |title_style =  |list_style = text-align:left; |1 = • Mark Petroski (R) |2 = • Steve Werner (R) |3 = • Ron Blodgett (R) |4 = • Bill Carey (R) }} | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> | area_total_sq_mi = 31.94 | area_land_sq_mi = 31.89 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.05 | area_total_km2 = 82.73 | area_land_km2 = 82.60 | area_water_km2 = 0.14 | area_water_percent =  | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m =  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020"/> | population_note = | population_total = 4154 | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_density_sq_mi = 130.3 | population_density_km2 = 50.3  | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = ZIP Codes | postal_code = {{ubl|14485 (Lima)|14558 (South Lima)|14487 (Livonia)|14414 (Avon)|14472 (Honeoye Falls)}} | area_code = | website = {{URL|https://www.townoflimany.gov/}} | footnotes = | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 36-051-42333 }}

'''Lima''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aɪ|m|ə}}, the name is a shibboleth) is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 4,154 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?g=060XX00US3605142334| title=2020 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1: RACE), Lima town, Livingston County, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| access-date=June 11, 2025}}</ref> The town is in the northeast part of the county, south of Rochester. The village of Lima is located within the town.

==History== The town of Lima was organized in 1789 (before Livingston County was established) as the "Town of Charleston", but was renamed "Lima" in 1808 to reflect that many residents had come from Old Lyme, Connecticut, and to avoid confusion with the town of Charleston in Montgomery County, New York.

The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (1830) / Genesee College (1849) in Lima village was one of the first co-educational schools in the country when it first opened in 1822. Eventually, determined by a Methodist-Episcopal convention in 1870, the college was shut in favor of the newly developed Syracuse University (1871), over the protests of the residents of Lima.

The population of Lima was 1,890 in 1920.

The Ganoung Cobblestone Farmhouse, Godfrey House and Barn Complex, Leech-Lloyd Farmhouse and Barn Complex, Leech-Parker Farmhouse, Markham Cobblestone Farmhouse and Barn Complex, Martin Farm Complex, Ogilvie Moses Farmhouse, Zebulon Moses Farm Complex, and Thomas Peck Farmhouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

==Geography== Lima is in northeastern Livingston County. The northern town line is the border of Monroe County, and the eastern town boundary is the border of Ontario County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|82.7|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.1|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.17%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_cousubs_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 30, 2021}}</ref> Honeoye Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the Genesee River, defines the eastern town line.

New York State Route 5 (in part, Avon-Lima Road and East Main Street) conjoined with U.S. Route 20 is a major east-west highway. New York State Route 15A, a north-south highway, intersects NY-5/US-20 in Lima village.

==Education== Public schools in Lima are in the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District and include Honeoye Falls–Lima High School, Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School, and Manor Intermediate School. The Lima Primary School is in the district. The school mascot is the cougar.

As of June 2009, Genesee Community College had started construction for one of its satellite campuses.<ref>{{cite web |title = Kickoff Celebration and Lunch for Genesee Community College's Lima Campus Center |url = http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/Kickoff-Celebration-and-Lunch-for-Genesee-Community-Colleges-Lima-Campus-Center/791683  }} Press release formally announcing construction of the new campus.</ref> The campus was expected to be finished and open for the fall 2009 semester.

Elim Bible Institute and College is located in Lima village. It is a Christian college that offers a two-year degree and certifications in religious study.

Lima Christian School (est. 1974) is a private school representing 15 local districts, grades K-12.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://limachristian.org/|title=Home|website=Lima Christian School}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1820= 1963 |1830= 1764 |1840= 2176 |1850= 2433 |1860= 2782 |1870= 2912 |1880= 2782 |1890= 2438 |1900= 2279 |1910= 2068 |1920= 1890 |1930= 1900 |1940= 1986 |1950= 2336 |1960= 2716 |1970= 3445 |1980= 3859 |1990= 4187 |2000= 4541 |2010= 4305 |2020= 4154 |estyear= |estimate= |estref= |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> }} As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,541 people, 1,553 households, and 1,102 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|142.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,610 housing units at an average density of {{convert|50.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.87% White, 1.04% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

There were 1,553 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,774, and the median income for a family was $57,127. Males had a median income of $40,607 versus $26,316 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,972. About 2.7% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities and locations in the Town of Lima== *Commins Corners – A location in the northeast part of the town. *Idaho – A location in the southeast corner of the town. *Lima – A village on NY-5/US-20. *North Bloomfield – A hamlet at the east town line in the North-Eastern corner of the town. The North Bloomfield School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.<ref name="nris"/> *South Lima – A hamlet and census-designated place at the southwest corner of the town.

==Notable people== *Emily M. J. Cooley, religious and temperance leader *Kenneth Keating, U.S. senator *Ken O'Dea, Major League Baseball player *James Edward Quigley, former archbishop of Chicago *Henry Jarvis Raymond, journalist, politician, and founder of ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/genealogiesraym00raymgoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/genealogiesraym00raymgoog/page/n97 75] |quote=jarvis raymond and lavinia brockway. |title=Genealogies of the Raymond families of New England, 1630-1 to 1886 |first=Samuel|last=Raymond|publisher=J.J. Little & Co.|year=1886}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924027480379|page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924027480379/page/n24 15]|quote=henry jarvis raymond and jraymond genealogy.|title=Henry J. Raymond and the New York Press, for Thirty Years |first=Augustus |last=Maverick|publisher=A.S. Hale & Co.|year=1870}}</ref> *Joel Dorman Steele, educator and author *Andrew Jackson Thayer, U.S. congressman

==References== {{More citations needed|article|date=December 2008}} {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commonscat}} * {{Official website|https://www.townoflimany.gov/}} * [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyliving/town/lima.htm Brief history of Lima] {{adjacent communities |Center = Lima |N = Mendon |E = West Bloomfield |S = Richmond; Livonia |W = Avon; Rush }} {{Livingston County, New York}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lima, New York}} Category:Rochester metropolitan area, New York Category:Towns in Livingston County, New York Category:Towns in New York (state)