Located in the Town of Mount Morris in Livingston County, New York, the Village of Mount Morris sits proudly at the northeastern entrance to Letchworth State Park which encompasses a scenic gorge and triple waterfall thanks to the Genesee River.One of the first known citizens and founders of the town of Mount Morris was General William A. Mills, who built the two brick houses that are still standing today in the northeast section of the village of Mount Morris, and for those history buffs one of the homes is open for tours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the summer months and by appointment.Originally named Allens Hill and then Richmond Hill by early settler Ebenezer Allen, the village was ultimately named Mount Morris upon its incorporation in 1836, taking its final and current name from Robert Morris, the financier of the American Revolution.Being located on the Genesee River the town’s early days included a main trade route which ran from Genesee Valley Canal from the Erie Canal at Rochester to Wellsville. Currently there are hiking trails along some of that canal route which was abandoned in the 1870s.Some important past residents of the Village of Mount Morris include Mary Seymour Howell who was a native daughter and a suffragette associate of Susan B. Anthony. Also of note was Francis Bellamy who authored the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States in 1892.Located in Livingston County and having an elevation of 630 feet, Mount Morris is quite proud of Letchworth State park which is commonly referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East” and is considered one of the most scenic areas in the eastern United States. The previously mentioned waterfalls between the cliffs reach to heights of 600 feet in some areas and there are 66 miles of hiking trails.Another popular attraction is the Mount Morris Dam, the largest concrete dam east of the Mississippi River. The dam project was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1944 and constructed from 1948 to 1951 at the cost of 25 million. The project provides flood protection to farm lands, residential areas and industrial developments in the valley downstream through Metropolitan Rochester to Lake Ontario.While the forefathers of Mount Morris probably never envisioned horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing along their beloved and scenic two square mile village, they are readily available for today’s nature seeker among the village’s current population approaching the 4000 mark.