The town was first settled around 1789. Canandaigua officially became a town in 1791. The first town meeting was held in April of that year and presided over by the first supervisor, Israel Chapin. Initially, there was little distinction made between the community named Canandaigua and the Town of Canandaigua. Then in 1815, the Village of Canandaigua was officially established; it became a city in 1913. During the steamboat era, from about 1823 to 1935, passenger vessels travelled on the nearby lake. Since 1960 the Pageant of Steamsteam festival has been held in Canandaigua.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,649 people, 2,886 households, and 2,132 families residing in the town. The population density was 134.5 people per square mile. There were 3,281 housing units at an average density of 57.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.11% White, 0.73% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population. There were 2,886 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $57,978, and the median income for a family was $65,170. Males had a median income of $41,302 versus $28,191 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,586. About 2.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Humphrey Bogart - Bogart's parents owned a cottage on Canandaigua Lake, where the family spent several summers when Humphrey was a boy.
Gideon Granger - U.S. Postmaster General
Scott Greene - Former NFL player and Michigan State Fullback
Michael Park - Broadway star
Communities and locations in the Town of Canandaigua
Academy - A hamlet at the southern border of the town on NY-21.
Arsenal Hill - A hamlet at the western border of the City of Canandaigua.
Centerfield - A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on US-20.
Cheshire - A hamlet in the south part of the town on NY-21.
Four Winds Corners - A location in the northwest part of the town on US-5 and US-20.
Grange Landing - A lakeside location in the southeast part of the town.
Padelford - A hamlet by the north town line on County Road 8.
Squaw Island - An island in the north end of Canandaigua Lake.
