Known as the "county cornerstone" for its location in the geographic center of Monroe County, Gates was founded in 1813. Gates chronicles the town's evolution from a rural agricultural area to a vibrant suburban community with a rich historical heritage. Pioneers named Field, Hinchey, Howard, Pixley, Schott, Statt, Trabold, Vogel, and their contemporaries established the foundation that propelled Gates to a population of more than thirty thousand, with fine residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial sites, and transportation, including expressways, the Erie Canal, and a nearby international airport.