“Times, they are a changin’” pretty well describes Geneseo from 1836 to 2011. This town was formed by hard working people who came from New York to start a better life for their families. They staked out the ground and began to farm and plan for the future. Those plans were well laid and well carried out because Geneseo is a tremendous place to live today.

When visitors come to the Tourist Information Center they often make two statements: “This is a long ways from the interstate,” and ‘What a beautiful town!” My reply to them is, “This is a beautiful town and it is full of wonderful people.” When they ask where the bad part of town is located, I can truthfully say there is none. I can also tell them the town is a safe place where residents and neighbors watch out for each other and give generously of their time and money when help is needed.

Geneseo still has a noon whistle and free concerts in the park with ice cream socials in the summer. The community swimming pool is full of children, both young and old, in the summer time with rows and rows of bicycles because it is safe to ride there. If visitors go anywhere near the state of the art baseball or softball diamonds or soccer fields in summer, they are likely to be filled with children, parents, and grandparents who are cheering and encouraging the teams and having a good time with friends and neighbors.

From 1836 to today, there have been changes in occupations, architecture, modes of transportation, methods of teaching, and ways to dress but the values and ideals on which this town was founded are still the same. Geneseo is both modern and traditional, progressive and old fashioned, and part of the world with a small town feeling.

Geneseo has always been a welcoming place from the prairie days to 2011. It is home to families who have been here for generations and those who have come with no past connection at all. When you are here, you are home. I hope you enjoy this small glimpse of our piece of heaven, Geneseo.