The town of Greece’s logo in the U.S. (Source: Town of Greece - Facebook)
When news of the outbreak of the Greek Revolution reached the U.S., Americans were excited and moved by the struggle of the enslaved Greeks. In their eyes, modern Greeks were the descendants of the glorious Ancients, which is why they provided significant assistance, both financially and militarily. American philhellenism was so intense that they named American towns after places associated with the Greek Revolution and Greece. One such town is Greece, which was founded in March 1822.
Nowadays, Greece is located in Monroe County, New York, and is essentially a suburb of Rochester, the county's capital. It is bordered to the east by the Genesee River and to the north by Lake Ontario. It has a population of 96,100, whose residents are primarily engaged in commerce and industry.
The City’s Founding and Its Connection to the Greek Revolution
Until the late 19th century, the city was inhabited by Iroquois Indians [1]. The first European to arrive in the area was the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier in 1669. The history of the region changed radically after the end of the American War of Independence in 1783. Thus, starting in 1792, European settlers began to settle permanently in the wider region [2].
Resolution establishing the town (Source: Laws of the State of New York, 1822)
Until 1812, the town was called Northhampton, but in 1813 it was renamed Gates. On March 22, 1822, the State of New York passed a law dividing the town into two parts and forming two new towns. The southern part retained the name Gates, while the northern part was named Greece. The decision took effect on April Fools’ Day, 1822 [3]. That year, Greece had a population of approximately 2,000 residents.
Greece was named after Greece as a sign of support and sympathy for the Greek revolutionaries who were fighting against the Ottoman occupiers during those years [4]. Furthermore, the connection between the name and antiquity is evident, as at that time philhellenism in the U.S. was fueled by a strong craze for all things ancient. Thus, in the early 19th century, it was common for towns in New York State to adopt Greek or Roman names [5].
The Philhellenic Flag and the Schools with Greek Names
The city’s official flag depicts a lighthouse set within a circular frame decorated with an ancient Greek motif; the year the city was founded (1822) is inscribed in the center. The lighthouse symbolizes an old lighthouse at the mouth of the Genesee River, and the circle refers to the shields of the Ancient Greeks. The flag, designed by J.S. Perticone, was adopted on August 17, 1954, following a meeting of the local council [6].
Today, the residents of Greece have not forgotten their city’s connection to Greece. Thus, four of the city’s middle and high schools have been given Greek names: Arcadia, Athena, Odyssey Academy, and Olympia [7].
Giorgos Giannikos
ς
Bibliographic references:
[1] https://greecehistoricalsociety.org/looking-back/history-of-the-town-of-greece/
[2] https://greeceny.gov/visitors#town-history
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5m74pso41k
[4] https://greeceny.gov/visitors#town-history
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5m74pso41k
