Prior to European settlement, the area which makes up modern Brockport was primarily occupied by the Muoio Indian tribe, a part of the
Seneca (a member of the
Iroquois Confederacy). The Muoio people were sustained in the region mostly by hunting indigenous wildlife like deer and the occasional black bear. Shortly after white settlers arrived, most of the Muoio died of disease and the few survivors traveled to Canada. The village of Brockport was founded by Heil Brockway in 1822 and incorporated in 1829. officially called the "State University of New York Brockport", is the descendant of that institute and is known for its teaching and nursing programs. It boasts the
Morgan–Manning House, a Victorian era home built in 1854 on Main Street (NY 19). During the
American Civil War the men of Brockport formed all of
Company A (100 men) of the
140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, formed in September 1862 at
Rochester. Brockport's total population was little more than 2,100 people at the time. Additional volunteers from Brockport helped form Company H of the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Company A's heroics helped secure the flank of the 5th Maine and stabilized a bad situation on
Little Round Top at the
Battle of Gettysburg. The 140th New York regiment also saw action at the
Battle of the Wilderness, the
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and the
Appomatox Courthouse Campaign. The 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered out on June 3, 1865, near
Alexandria, Virginia. There has long been a legend that due to a conflict between two of Brockport's founders, there are no intersections on Main Street that meet up squarely. This is not true, since State and Erie streets line up because they used to be a trolley path that ran all the way to Rochester. Adams and Fair streets meet up as well, and so do the streets of Brockway Place and South Avenue. Due to financial difficulties the village was under threat of dissolution, and could have become a part of the town of
Sweden pending a
referendum by the village's residents, but the referendum failed on June 15, 2010. However, there was another dissolution vote on May 24, 2016, which also failed.
Sites of interest The Erie Canal runs through the village of Brockport, as well as several other villages and towns in the area. Main Street (Route 19) has many historical buildings and is a tourist attraction. The Erie Canal Boardwalk that runs from Main Street along the canal is a common spot for locals to enjoy a stroll. The Morgan-Manning House houses the Western Monroe Historical Society and was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Brockport has the following places listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Brockport Central Rural High School (now
A.D. Oliver Middle School),
First Baptist Church,
First Presbyterian Church,
Edward Harrison House,
Lake View Cemetery,
Main Street Historic District,
Park Avenue and State Street Historic District,
Soldiers' Memorial Tower, and
St. Luke's Episcopal Church. ==Geography==