Editing Livingston County, New York (section)

=== Genesee Valley Canal ===
The opening of the [[Erie Canal]] in 1825 brought prosperity across the state and realization of the benefits of internal navigation. The Genesee Valley lacked access to broader markets other than via the [[Genesee River]], often too dangerous to navigate. Planners envisioned a lateral [[canal]], cutting through the core of Livingston County, as the means of uniting the Erie Canal with the [[Allegheny River|Allegany River]], thereby connecting the [[Ohio River|Ohio]] and [[Mississippi River]]s, allowing freight and passenger transportation all the way to [[New Orleans]].

Construction of the Genesee Valley Canal started in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] in 1837, reaching [[Mount Morris, New York|Mount Morris]] by 1840. A junction to [[Groveland, New York|Sonyea]] opened in 1841 and then a branch was built to [[Dansville, Livingston County, New York|Dansville]], completing 52 miles. Extending the canal through to Nunda and Portage was most challenging, as workers battled the area's most rugged terrain along the [[Letchworth State Park|Genesee River gorge]]. After years of delays, 17 locks between Nunda and [[Portageville, New York|Portageville]] were completed in 1851.

By the time that the last segment connecting to the [[Allegheny River|Allegany River]] was finally finished in 1862, however, railroad technology had outpaced canals.   This forced the Genesee Valley Canal to close by 1878; the [[towpath]] became the bed of the [[Genesee Valley Canal Railroad]]. Railroads rapidly became the primary mode of transportation as they criss-crossed the entire county. Although the Genesee Valley Canal was short-lived, the lasting effect expanded job opportunities for thousands of new immigrants, opened markets for the area's abundant goods, and overall enriched the quality of life for residents.

Today, the old Genesee Valley Canal Railroad bed has become part of the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail.