New York State Route 104A
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 104A (NY 104A) is an east–west state highway
in the central portion
of New York
in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 104
, to which it connects at each end. The route extends for 17.38 miles (27.97 km) from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 370
south of the village of Red Creek
to a junction with NY 104 southwest of the city of Oswego
. NY 104A spans three counties, serves two villages (Red Creek and Fair Haven
) and parallels Lake Ontario
for much of its length. All of NY 104A is part of the Seaway Trail
, a National Scenic Byway
.
All of NY 104A was originally part of Route 30, an unsigned legislative route
, during the early 20th century. In 1924, modern NY 104A became part of NY 3
, then a cross-state highway that continued west to Niagara County
. Ca. 1935, U.S. Route 104 (US 104) replaced most of NY 3 between Rochester
and Maple View. From Red Creek to Oswego, however, US 104 used a more southeasterly alignment via Hannibal
. The Red Creek – Oswego segment of NY 3 became NY 104A instead.
and NY 370
southwest of the village of Red Creek
. While NY 370 heads south from the junction to begin its trek east toward Syracuse
, NY 104A travels to the north, initially traversing a mostly undeveloped area outside of Red Creek. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), it turns northeast to enters the village of Red Creek on Wolcott Street. The route follows Wolcott and Water Streets through the small village to its modest commercial center, where it intersects Main Street. NY 104A turns north here, following Main Street through the village's residential northern half on its way out of the village.
North of Red Creek, NY 104A continues on a northerly alignment for another 3 miles (5 km), roughly paralleling the nearby Wayne
–Cayuga
county line. At the end of this north–south stretch, the route curves to the northeast to enter Cayuga County
and the town of Sterling
. Just inside the county line is the small village of Fair Haven
, where NY 104A passes Little Sodus Bay and the surrounding Fair Haven Beach State Park
. While in the village, it crosses the Cato – Fair Haven Trail, a foot trail linking Fair Haven to the village of Cato
12 miles (19 km) to the southeast. East of the village, it continues on a generally linear routing across farmland to a junction with the northern terminus of NY 38
. At this point, NY 104A turns back to the north, following the right-of-way of NY 38 to the hamlet of Sterling.
Past the hamlet, the route curves east again to meet NY 3
's western terminus north of the hamlet of Crocketts. NY 104A returns to a northward alignment at this junction, paralleling another county line—this time separating Cayuga County from Oswego County
—for 2.75 miles (4.43 km). The north–south alignment gradually brings NY 104A closer to Lake Ontario
, which the route has loosely paralleled from Fair Haven eastward. Eventually, the route swerves to the northeast to cross into Oswego County. Here, the route passes through more farmlands and forests in the town of Oswego
as it parallels the Lake Ontario shoreline 2 miles (3.2 km) to the northwest. NY 104A maintains a northeast alignment for another 3 miles (5 km) to the hamlet of Southwest Oswego, where it rejoins NY 104.
Although the portion of NY 104A from Red Creek to Sterling follows an alignment that takes it as many as 7 miles (11 km) from the lake shore, the route is still the closest continuous highway to the shoreline between Red Creek and Southwest Oswego. For this reason, all of NY 104A is part of the Seaway Trail
, a National Scenic Byway
that extends across most of Upstate New York
. The byway continues south from Red Creek on NY 370 and east toward the city of Oswego
on NY 104.
that extended from Niagara Falls
to Rouses Point
. From Red Creek
to Oswego
, Route 30 was initially routed on modern NY 104A; however, it was realigned ca. 1920 to roughly follow what is now NY 104
between the two locations. When the first set of posted routes in New York
were assigned in 1924, the pre-1920 routing of legislative Route 30 between Red Creek and Oswego became part of NY 3
, then a cross-state highway extending from the Niagara Frontier
to the North Country
.
US 104 was assigned ca. 1935, extending from Niagara Falls to the Mexico
by way of several previously numbered highways. East of Rochester
, the route mostly supplanted NY 3; however, from the junction of Water and Main Streets in Red Creek to Southwest Oswego, it used much of the post-1920 routing of legislative Route 30 instead, by this time designated as NY 3F. The former routing of NY 3 between the two locations was redesignated as NY 104A. In the early 1970s, the portion of the US 104 super two
between Huron
and Red Creek was completed and opened to traffic. NY 104A was extended 1 miles (1.6 km) southward over US 104's former routing to meet the new highway south of the village.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the central portion
Central New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
, to which it connects at each end. The route extends for 17.38 miles (27.97 km) from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
south of the village of Red Creek
Red Creek, New York
Red Creek is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census.The Village of Red Creek is in the eastern part of the Town of Wolcott. The village is west of Syracuse, New York.- History :...
to a junction with NY 104 southwest of the city of Oswego
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
. NY 104A spans three counties, serves two villages (Red Creek and Fair Haven
Fair Haven, New York
Fair Haven is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 884 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fair Haven is within the Town of Sterling and is northwest of Syracuse, New York...
) and parallels Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
for much of its length. All of NY 104A is part of the Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
, a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
.
All of NY 104A was originally part of Route 30, an unsigned legislative route
Legislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
, during the early 20th century. In 1924, modern NY 104A became part of NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
, then a cross-state highway that continued west to Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
. Ca. 1935, U.S. Route 104 (US 104) replaced most of NY 3 between Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and Maple View. From Red Creek to Oswego, however, US 104 used a more southeasterly alignment via Hannibal
Hannibal (village), New York
Hannibal is a village in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hannibal, the hero of ancient Carthage....
. The Red Creek – Oswego segment of NY 3 became NY 104A instead.
Route description
NY 104 begins at a rural intersection with NY 104New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
and NY 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
southwest of the village of Red Creek
Red Creek, New York
Red Creek is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census.The Village of Red Creek is in the eastern part of the Town of Wolcott. The village is west of Syracuse, New York.- History :...
. While NY 370 heads south from the junction to begin its trek east toward Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, NY 104A travels to the north, initially traversing a mostly undeveloped area outside of Red Creek. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), it turns northeast to enters the village of Red Creek on Wolcott Street. The route follows Wolcott and Water Streets through the small village to its modest commercial center, where it intersects Main Street. NY 104A turns north here, following Main Street through the village's residential northern half on its way out of the village.
North of Red Creek, NY 104A continues on a northerly alignment for another 3 miles (5 km), roughly paralleling the nearby Wayne
Wayne County, New York
Wayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
–Cayuga
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
county line. At the end of this north–south stretch, the route curves to the northeast to enter Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
and the town of Sterling
Sterling, New York
Sterling is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,040 at the 2010 census. The town is named after "Lord Stirling", a general of the Revolutionary War. Sterling is the most northerly town in the county...
. Just inside the county line is the small village of Fair Haven
Fair Haven, New York
Fair Haven is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 884 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fair Haven is within the Town of Sterling and is northwest of Syracuse, New York...
, where NY 104A passes Little Sodus Bay and the surrounding Fair Haven Beach State Park
Fair Haven Beach State Park
Fair Haven Beach State Park is on the shore of Lake Ontario. This park is in the Town of Sterling in Cayuga County, New York. The park is northeast of the Village of Fair Haven on the east side of Little Sodus Bay...
. While in the village, it crosses the Cato – Fair Haven Trail, a foot trail linking Fair Haven to the village of Cato
Cato (village), New York
Cato is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 601 at the 2000 census. The name was assigned by the surveyors of the Military Tract, and is one of many towns and villages bearing classical place names....
12 miles (19 km) to the southeast. East of the village, it continues on a generally linear routing across farmland to a junction with the northern terminus of NY 38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
. At this point, NY 104A turns back to the north, following the right-of-way of NY 38 to the hamlet of Sterling.
Past the hamlet, the route curves east again to meet NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
's western terminus north of the hamlet of Crocketts. NY 104A returns to a northward alignment at this junction, paralleling another county line—this time separating Cayuga County from Oswego County
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
—for 2.75 miles (4.43 km). The north–south alignment gradually brings NY 104A closer to Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, which the route has loosely paralleled from Fair Haven eastward. Eventually, the route swerves to the northeast to cross into Oswego County. Here, the route passes through more farmlands and forests in the town of Oswego
Oswego (town), New York
Oswego is a town in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 7,287 at the 2000 census.The Town of Oswego is immediately west of the City of Oswego, with which it has a common border...
as it parallels the Lake Ontario shoreline 2 miles (3.2 km) to the northwest. NY 104A maintains a northeast alignment for another 3 miles (5 km) to the hamlet of Southwest Oswego, where it rejoins NY 104.
Although the portion of NY 104A from Red Creek to Sterling follows an alignment that takes it as many as 7 miles (11 km) from the lake shore, the route is still the closest continuous highway to the shoreline between Red Creek and Southwest Oswego. For this reason, all of NY 104A is part of the Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
, a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
that extends across most of Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. The byway continues south from Red Creek on NY 370 and east toward the city of Oswego
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
on NY 104.
History
In 1908, the New York State Legislature created Route 30, an unsigned legislative routeLegislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
that extended from Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
to Rouses Point
Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
. From Red Creek
Red Creek, New York
Red Creek is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 521 at the 2000 census.The Village of Red Creek is in the eastern part of the Town of Wolcott. The village is west of Syracuse, New York.- History :...
to Oswego
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
, Route 30 was initially routed on modern NY 104A; however, it was realigned ca. 1920 to roughly follow what is now NY 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
between the two locations. When the first set of posted routes in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
were assigned in 1924, the pre-1920 routing of legislative Route 30 between Red Creek and Oswego became part of NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
, then a cross-state highway extending from the Niagara Frontier
Niagara Frontier
The Niagara Frontier refers to the stretch of land south of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and extending westward to Cleveland, Ohio. The term dates to the War of 1812. This only includes the land east of the Niagara River and south of Lake Erie within the United States...
to the North Country
North Country, New York
The North Country is a region of the U.S. state of New York that encompasses the state's extreme northern frontier, bordering Lake Ontario on the west, the Saint Lawrence River and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec on the north and northwest, and Lake Champlain and Vermont on the east...
.
US 104 was assigned ca. 1935, extending from Niagara Falls to the Mexico
Mexico (town), New York
Mexico is a town in the northeast part of Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 5,181 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village, also called Mexico. NY 104/Main Street passes through the village. NY 69 passes through the town of Mexico and comes to an end in the village,...
by way of several previously numbered highways. East of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, the route mostly supplanted NY 3; however, from the junction of Water and Main Streets in Red Creek to Southwest Oswego, it used much of the post-1920 routing of legislative Route 30 instead, by this time designated as NY 3F. The former routing of NY 3 between the two locations was redesignated as NY 104A. In the early 1970s, the portion of the US 104 super two
Super two
A super two, super two-lane highway or wide two lane is a two-lane surface road built to high standards, typically including partial control of access, occasional passing lanes and hard shoulders...
between Huron
Huron, New York
Huron is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 2,117 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Huron Indians.The Town of Huron is in the northeastern part of the county and is east of Rochester, NY.- History :...
and Red Creek was completed and opened to traffic. NY 104A was extended 1 miles (1.6 km) southward over US 104's former routing to meet the new highway south of the village.