Sodus Bay

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Sodus Bay is a bay on the south shore of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. Sodus Bay is located in Wayne County, New York, USA. Most of the bay is in the Town of Huron, but the western part is in the Town of Sodus.

Sodus Bay is sometimes been referred to as "Great Sodus Bay" to distinguish it from "Little Sodus Bay," which is east of Sodus Bay in the Town of Sterling. Sodus Bay is halfway between Rochester and Syracuse.

Chimney Bluffs State Park is located in the northeast part of the bay.

[edit] History

The region was first settled by outsiders around 1794, who discovered the bay called by the natives, "Assorodus," "Silvery Waters." This settlement became modern Sodus Point. During the War of 1812 the community was mostly burned during an attack by the British.

A community of Shakers lived near here until about 1836, when they felt the development of the area was becoming too worldly.

A lighthouse was erected on the western point of the bay in 1870, replacing an earlier lighthouse constructed in 1824.

The bay was considered an important port. A rail line extending into Pennsylvania allowed coal to be place on board lake shipping.