The history of Charlotte
Charlotte (said shuh-LOTT) sits where the Genesee River meets Lake Ontario. In 1805 it became the official Port of the Genesee, and Samuel Latta was appointed its first customs collector.
The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse was built in 1822 and is considered the second oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Piers built out into the lake from 1829 onward moved the river mouth farther north, the old tower was turned off in 1881, and the light moved to the end of the pier.
A railroad reached Charlotte in 1853, and by the 1880s the lakeshore had become a summer resort. An amusement park opened at the beach in 1884, electric streetcars soon connected it to downtown, and the Dentzel carousel arrived in 1905. Summer homes went up near the beach with smaller cottages on the streets behind them.
Charlotte was part of the Town of Greece until January 1, 1916, when it was annexed into the City of Rochester. Students from Charlotte High School started a letter-writing campaign in 1965 to save the lighthouse, it was listed on the National Register in 1974, and the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society took over its care in the early 1980s.
The City purchased Turning Point Park along the river in 1973, and it opened in 1977, keeping a long stretch of the riverbank as open land.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1805 | Charlotte becomes the Port of the Genesee, with Samuel Latta as first customs collector |
| 1822 | Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse built |
| 1853 | Railroad line to Charlotte completed |
| 1884 | Amusement park opens at the beach, start of the Ontario Beach resort era |
| 1905 | Dentzel menagerie carousel installed at Ontario Beach Park |
| 1916 | Charlotte annexed from the Town of Greece into the City of Rochester on January 1 |
Did you know?
Charlotte was its own community in the Town of Greece until New Year’s Day 1916, when it became part of the City of Rochester.
The homes in Charlotte today
The oldest houses are turn-of-the-century summer homes near the beach and smaller cottages on the streets behind them, many now lived in year-round. Charlotte also has sizable areas of post-World War II houses and some developments from the 1980s, set on rolling ridges that give many streets a wooded feel.
Historic designation
The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1974). No neighborhood-wide historic district was found. What that means for an older Rochester home.
Landmarks and parks
- Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse - built 1822, second oldest on the Great Lakes, National Register listed 1974
- Ontario Beach Park - the 1880s lakeside resort grounds, now a public beach
- Dentzel Menagerie Carousel - hand-carved carousel at the beach since 1905
- Charlotte piers - piers first built in 1829 that reshaped the river mouth
- Turning Point Park - riverside open space bought by the City in 1973
- Riverside and Holy Sepulchre cemeteries - large historic cemeteries along the neighborhood’s southern edge
Buying a home in Charlotte
Fall for the house, then do the homework. These are the first things we check here, on top of the usual inspection:
- Flood risk: check the FEMA flood map for any home near the lake or river, and price flood insurance before you commit, even outside a mapped zone.
- Converted seasonal cottages: ask whether former summer homes have full foundations, insulation and year-round heating, and confirm any additions were permitted.
- Shoreline and slope conditions: on ridge lots or near the water, ask about drainage, wet basements and any erosion or retaining wall work.
- 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 Charlotte
Buyers who search for Charlotte are often looking for exactly what makes it Charlotte: the homes, the history and places like Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. 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 Charlotte home worth?
Charlotte FAQ
Where is Charlotte?
Charlotte 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 Charlotte?
The oldest houses are turn-of-the-century summer homes near the beach and smaller cottages on the streets behind them, many now lived in year-round. Charlotte also has sizable areas of post-World War II houses and some developments from the 1980s, set on rolling ridges that give many streets a wooded feel.
Is Charlotte a historic district?
Yes. The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1974). No neighborhood-wide historic district was found.
How do I find homes for sale in Charlotte?
Search current listings on our team site, or tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll set up a search for Charlotte and the neighborhoods around it.
Sources
- Charlotte history timeline (lowerfalls.org)
- Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society
- Monroe County: Dentzel Carousel 2024 opening release
- Celebrate City Living: Charlotte (City of Rochester profile)
- 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 Charlotte?
Buying or selling, tell us the street and we’ll tell you what we’d look at first.
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