Manchester has a small-town setting near the New York Thruway
Manchester is a relatively rural town in New York’s Finger Lakes Region. Its large footprint spans the villages of Manchester and Shortsville, part of Clifton Springs and the hamlet of Port Gibson. From the late 1800s through the 1970s, the railroad industry fueled development in the town’s southern portion. Today, trains are rare and the community has “a quiet, nice environment,” says Sherry Cascini, a Realtor with Hunt Real Estate ERA and long-time Manchester resident. “We have beautiful scenery — trees, hills and farms.” Modern residents tend to seek out Manchester for its small-town feel and convenient access to the New York Thruway.
Rail-era homes, rural properties and cottages along the Erie Canal
In central Shortsville and Manchester, National-style residences from the late 1800s and early 1900s sit behind tree-shaded sidewalks. Cascini says that many of them were originally built for rail workers. Farther from the tracks, sidewalks are scarce, and newer ranch-style homes are prevalent. Clifton Springs has similar offerings, and Port Gibson features a few cottages overlooking the Erie Canal. Manufactured home parks also rest along some roadways and near the interstate. Beyond these areas, working farms and forests blanket the rolling landscape, and houses on multiacre properties are sprinkled in between. Most owners rely on private wells and septic systems.
Fixer-uppers may sell from $50,000 to $130,000, but most houses range between $140,000 and $310,000. Large, historical residences and newer builds on an acre or more of land may go for $320,000 to $450,000. Manufactured homes with land typically sell from $110,000 to $250,000, while those on rented lots can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $90,000, plus monthly site fees of about $500 to $650.
Most kids attend Midlakes or Red Jacket schools
Four different school districts serve local families, but most children attend schools within the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District or the Manchester-Shortsville Central School District. PCSCSD is also known as Midlakes Schools, and it gets an overall C rating from Niche. MSCSD, or Red Jacket Schools, earns a B-minus. Red Jacket Elementary School receives a B-minus. Red Jacket Middle School gets a C-plus, and Red Jacket High School scores a B. Red Jacket high schoolers can pursue their interests through extracurricular activities, which include theater, table tennis and clay target clubs.
Budd Park and the Manchester Gateway Trail offer outdoor recreation
Budd Park, in Shortsville, is the town’s main recreation area. It has multiple sports fields and a playground, and a large dog park is across the street. Residents also have access to the Manchester Gateway Trail, a paved multiuse path that links Shortsville and Manchester. Manchester Family Park offers additional green space, play structures and a picnic pavilion. There’s a private 18-hole golf course at the nearby Clifton Springs Country Club, and Winged Pheasant Golf Links is home to an 18-hole course and a nine-hole course, both of which are open to the public. About 10 miles south is Canandaigua Lake, one of the Finger Lakes and a popular destination for boating.
Some businesses in Manchester, and Victor has more
Most businesses are centered in the town’s villages. Residents can get groceries at Bliss Shurfine Food Mart or the Tops Friendly Markets in Clifton Springs. As far as dining, Cascini recommends the Depot 25 Restaurant, housed in the old train station. “They have the most wonderful French onion soup — the best I’ve ever had," she says. Many people head to Canandaigua or Victor for more retail and restaurant options. “Canandaigua has shopping centers, and Victor has a very large, well-kept mall,” Cascini says.
Annual events include the Wild Water Derby and a summer carnival
The town hosts gatherings throughout the year, and one of the longest-running events is the Wild Water Derby, a boating race that takes place in the Canandaigua Outlet each April. The Shortsville Fireman’s Carnival is a summer highlight. The three-day festival is held in Budd Park, and it features rides, food vendors and a fireworks display.
State Routes and I-90 link drivers to Canandaigua and Rochester
The County Area Transit System offers on-demand rides, and Cascini says that many residents prefer to use Uber. There are some sidewalks in town, but the area is relatively car dependent. State Route 21 connects drivers to Canandaigua, about 10 miles south. State Route 96 and Interstate 90 — the New York State Thruway — are the primary east-west thoroughfares. Victor is approximately 15 miles west, and Rochester is roughly 30 miles away.
Emergency care is available at the Rochester Regional Health Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic in Clifton Springs. The closest major airport is Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester. Although passenger trains once stopped at Manchester’s depot, now only freight trains pass. “They only come through maybe once a month,” Cascini says. “I’ve been here 30 years, and I’ve only seen the train go through maybe 20 times.”
Hiram Edison Farm and Hill Cumorah hold religious significance
The Hill Cumorah Visitor’s Center, in northern Manchester, draws members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who wish to learn about the origins of their faith. The Seventh-day Adventist Church also traces its roots to Manchester, and the Hiram Edison Farm is an important site for followers.
