Gainesville’s deep farming roots shape its quiet lifestyle
In the early 1800s, Gainesville established itself as a farming community in upstate New York. Today, its residents still enjoy the rural life about an hour from Buffalo and Rochester . “If you’re a person of city life, it’s not your area," says David Granger, who has lived in Gainesville for more than 50 years. "It’s more of a mind-your-own-business community, but people still help each other.” David now serves as town supervisor, and his wife, Lisa, serves as town clerk. Most residents live in the namesake village of Gainesville or in the small village of Silver Spring, where the Morton Salt plant has been a major employer since the late 1800s. “It used to be a requirement that you live in the village of Silver Spring to work there. As time changed, that also changed, but there are still a lot of town residents who work at Morton Salt,” Lisa says.
Historic homes and manufactured options at varied prices
Bungalows and National-style houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s are common. Recently renovated homes range from around $130,000 to $400,000, while those needing work sell for $30,000 to $130,000. Homes in the countryside have more land, either in the woods or surrounded by farms. One custom home on 28 acres with a pond recently sold for $400,000. Manufactured homes are also available, selling for $20,000 to $190,000. The town has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. On average, Gainesville homes tend to stay on the market for 63 days, a bit longer than the national average of 52 days.
Nearby state parks feature boating, hiking and waterfalls
Letchworth State Park is about 8 miles away, featuring nature trails that lead to waterfalls and scenic overlooks in an area of the Genesee River sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the East. Nearby, the boat ramp at Silver Lake State Park provides access to its 800-acre lake. During the winter months, people head out on the lake to go ice fishing. Gainesville Village Park features an open, grassy field adjacent to a playground, a basketball court and ballfields. Silver Springs Moto Park hosts several motocross races throughout the year, plus a camping site and snack stand.
Getting to Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara Falls
Several state routes run through Gainesville. Rochester and Buffalo are about 50 miles away, and it takes about 90 minutes to drive to Niagara Falls, about 70 miles away. All three cities have international airports.
New Letchworth Innovation Center expands STEAM education
Most students are served by the Letchworth Central School District, with all three schools consolidated on one campus. Letchworth Elementary School receives a B-minus grade from Niche, Letchworth Middle School gets a C-plus, and Letchworth High School gets a B. With a student body of about 260, the high school has a student-teacher ratio of 8-to-1. In 2024, the school district opened the Letchworth Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art facility for middle school and high school STEAM classes such as robotics, 3D printing and welding.
Limited shopping and dining, but more in nearby Castile and Warsaw
Gainesville has limited shopping and dining options. On Main Street, The Gainesville Store serves as a convenience store while also offering pizza, subs and other comfort foods. The few other locally owned businesses on Main Street include the Braveheart Firearms gun shop, Greg’s Garage auto repair shop and Marquart Farm, which grows potatoes and manufactures New York Chips, a brand found in stores all over the state. Main Street is also home to a post office and offices for the Gainesville Town Clerk and Justice Court. The village of Silver Spring has its own Main Street, where locals can hit up Pizza Depot for lunch or dinner. Silver Spring also has a post office and the Gainesville Public Library. For everyday shopping, there’s a Dollar General in Castile , about 4 miles away. Warsaw is approximately 8 miles away, offering big-box retailers and grocery stores such as Walmart, Tops Friendly Markets and Save-A-Lot.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
