The history of Brown Square
Brown Square sits on land that brothers Matthew and Francis Brown and partners bought in 1812 and named Frankfort, in honor of Francis Brown. The Browns surveyed streets here, and Brown Street and Brown Square carry their name.
Frankfort was an early mill settlement tied to Brown’s Race and the falls just to the east, and in 1817 it joined the 100-acre tract to form the Village of Rochesterville. Dr. Matthew Brown Jr. died at his home on Brown Street in 1851.
Brown Square Park, the neighborhood’s namesake green, is on the site of the original Brown brothers’ tract. The City credits its design to the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted, which drew plans for many Rochester parks and squares.
In the 20th century Eastman Kodak built its headquarters at 343 State Street on the neighborhood’s edge, where the company had moved in 1883. The 19-story Kodak Tower was completed in 1914, and through the 20th century portions of the neighborhood gave way to urban development around a small residential core.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1812 | Matthew and Francis Brown buy the 200-acre tract they call Frankfort |
| 1816 | The Browns’ millrace, Brown’s Race, is built |
| 1817 | Frankfort joins the 100-acre tract to form the Village of Rochesterville |
| 1914 | Kodak Tower is completed on State Street |
Did you know?
The name Frankfort, the settlement that became Brown Square, was chosen to honor Francis Brown, one of the two brothers who bought the land in 1812.
The homes in Brown Square today
Brown Square’s residential area is small and sits among industrial, commercial and stadium blocks. Housing is a mix of older city houses and apartments, so check the year built and unit count on each listing.
Landmarks and parks
- Brown Square Park - on the original Brown brothers’ tract; the City credits the design to the Olmsted firm
- Kodak Tower - Kodak’s 19-story headquarters at 343 State Street, completed in 1914
- Brown Street - named for the Brown family who founded Frankfort
Buying a home in Brown Square
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- With industrial and commercial neighbors, ask about zoning on and around the lot and review any environmental records for nearby sites
- For two-family and multi-unit homes, confirm the legal unit count and a current City Certificate of Occupancy
- Older homes need a lead paint disclosure if built before 1978; ask about lead-safe condition
- The full city, school and county tax bill for the exact parcel
- School assignment for the exact address, confirmed with the Rochester City School District
The bigger picture on city taxes, lead rules, two-family homes and the City’s homebuyer grant is in our City of Rochester guide.
Selling a home in Brown Square
Buyers who search for Brown Square are often looking for exactly what makes it Brown Square: the homes, the history and places like Brown Square Park. We put that story in the marketing, price the home against true comparables, and launch it to draw a crowd. How we sell · What is my Brown Square home worth?
Brown Square FAQ
Where is Brown Square?
Brown Square is in the northwest part of the City of Rochester. Boundaries follow the City’s Celebrate City Living program and are approximate; confirm the municipality and parcel for any address.
What kinds of homes are in Brown Square?
Brown Square’s residential area is small and sits among industrial, commercial and stadium blocks. Housing is a mix of older city houses and apartments, so check the year built and unit count on each listing.
Is Brown Square a historic district?
Not as a whole. Some individual buildings may be landmarks, so check the exact address with the City before you plan exterior changes.
How do I find homes for sale in Brown Square?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for Brown Square and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- City of Rochester, Brown Square Park
- Lower Falls history site, Frankfort
- Rochester Public Library, Rochester Vertical File: Streets, Volume 1 (scrapbook)
- Rochester Business Journal, Kodak’s growth and decline: a timeline
- Neighborhood names and boundaries: Celebrate City Living, a City of Rochester partnership
We describe neighborhoods by their history, homes and landmarks, never by who lives there. For school or safety questions, use the official sources so you can decide for yourself.
Thinking about Brown Square?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
More Rochester neighborhoods: Charlotte · Dutchtown · Edgerton · JOSANA · Lyell-Otis · Maplewood · Browncroft · Bull’s Head · Center City · All 35 Rochester neighborhoods