Sweden blends rural living, recreation and convenience
Miles of expansive crop fields surround Sweden, a rural community along the Historic Erie Canal, 20 miles west of Rochester . “It has a nice country vibe, and it’s peaceful,” says Kimberly Drew, resident and owner of local alpaca farm, Ladue Alpacas. Much of the area’s lifestyle centers around the outdoors, from fishing on the canal to cross-country skiing. Home to the village of Brockport, residents also have quick access to local restaurants and big-box amenities. At the same time, the area’s vast farmland keeps the Monroe County community true to its agricultural roots. “It’s not a bunch of cul-de-sacs, which is how we want to keep it,” Drew says.
From Erie Canel kayaking to golf and cross-country skiing
Corbett Park is one of several green spaces situated along the canal. It has a playground, tennis and pickleball courts, and Erie Canal Heritage Trail access. “People who like history will come to town to boat or walk the canal,” Drew says. Arrowhead Golf Course and Marina sells boat and kayak rentals for getting on the water, and features an 18-hole public course. Sweden Town Park hosts youth sports across its athletic facilities, and Northampton Park offers a wide selection of outdoor activities. Its wooded trails are used for hiking and horseback riding during the warmer months, then transition into cross-country skiing in the winter. It's also a popular sledding destination following the region's annual snowfall. Other nearby attractions include Holley Canal Falls, known for its 35-foot cascades and adjacent fishing spots.
Sweden offers suburban lots and acreage up to 25 acres
Homes in Sweden feature build dates that span more than two centuries. These houses range from early-19th-century cottages and National Folk styles to 21st-century ranch and New Traditional styles. Streets fanning outward from downtown Brockport present a suburban setting, where homes sit close together on quarter-acre lots and mature trees provide spots of shade for locals taking the pup for a stroll. In the area’s more rural outskirts, homes rest farther back from the road at the end of long driveways. In these portions, properties back up to expansive crop fields or forests and can span more than 25 acres. Most homes sell between $100,000 and $400,000. Larger homes on more significant acreage can exceed $500,000 and sell up to $800,000.
Brockport High School offers dual credit coures
Children start at Ginther Elementary School, which enrolls prekindergarten through first grade and receives a B-minus from Niche. Barclay Elementary School welcomes second through third-grade students and also has a B-minus. Fred W. Hill Elementary School teaches fourth through fifth grades and has a B-plus. A.D. Oliver Middle School has a B-minus, and Brockport High School scores a B. The high school offers dual credit courses, ranging from Entrepreneurism and Sociology to Electronics. Students can continue their education at SUNY Brockport, a public liberal arts university located in the community
Residents do most of their shopping in and around downtwon Brockport
The area’s rural setting influences how residents shop and dine. “People sell their own locally sourced honey, produce and flowers,” Drew says. “Some nearby family-owned farms also let you come and pick peaches or apples.” Five Sons Bistro offers a farm-to-table style menu, locally roasted coffee and house-made gelato. More dining options are available in downtown Brockport. The Custom House pairs typical pub-style food with views of the canal. A collection of boutiques and specialty shops is also available along Main Street, where Brockport Farmers Market is held every Sunday morning from early June through mid-October. Shopping Centers on state Route 31 include Wegmans for groceries and big-box stores like Walmart Supercenter and T.J. Maxx. Runnings on Lake Road covers farming supplies, outdoor recreation and more.
State routes connect Sweden to Rochester and Buffalo
State Route 19 serves as the area’s main north-south throughway. State routes 260 and 31 are also accessible from within the community. Residents can use the latter to hop on state Route 531, which leads 20 miles east into Rochester. The neighboring city is home to Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport and RRH Unity Hospital. However, University of Rochester Medicine operates a local general hospital on West Avenue. Buffalo is about a 65-mile drive southwest.
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Written By
Matthew Simmons
