Palmyra, New York

The first settler in Palmyra was John Swift in 1789. John Swift built the first grist mill in the town, held the first militia training, organized and donated land for the first church, the first schoolhouse and the first burial ground. His son, Asa, was the first white male child born in the town. Originally known as Swift or Swift's Landing, the town became the District of Tolland soon after settlement began. However, a meeting was held in January 1796 for the purpose of deciding upon an official name for the town. The historic name "Palmyra" was proposed and adopted without dissent. The town of Palmyra was created in January 1789. Palmyra originally included the present day town of Macedon, which was separated in 1823.

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Palmyra is known as the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith that started with events occurring in this area and now numbering more than 17 million worldwide.   Several important sites for the Church are located around the area and draw thousands of visitors to the area every year. 

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Palmyra also has ties to the renowned British statesman, Winston Churchill. Leonard Jerome, Churchill's maternal grandfather and his uncle Hiram Jerome, worked in a law office here. 

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Palmyra was also home to many well-known citizens, such as Henry Wells of Wells Fargo fame, which later became part of the American Express Company. Admiral William Sampson was born in Palmyra in 1840. He graduated from Annapolis and served in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War. Palmyra was also the home of Olin J. Garlock who invented the rubber packing gaskets which revolutionized the steam industry.

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Yet the most obvious attribute of the town is the Erie Canal which runs through it.  Once called the "Queen of Canal Towns," much of the history of area runs together with the history of this important travel and trade corridor.