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Lyons is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 5,682 at the 2010 census. It is named after Lyon, France. The Town of Lyons is in the south-central part of the county and contains a hamlet also named Lyons, formerly a village. It is located on the Erie Canal, and is the county seat of Wayne County. [edit] History
The area was part of the Pulteney Estate. Settlement began circa 1789. The region was originally known as "The Forks." The Town of Lyons was formed from the Town of Sodus in 1811. The Erie Canal was completed as far as Lyons by 1821. In 1825, the size of the town was reduced upon the formation of the Town of Arcadia. Lyons was originally knows as the “Peppermint Capitol of the World” due to its significant production of peppermint, owing to the efforts of Hiram Gilbert Hotchkiss and his 300-acre estate, where the crop was grown and produced. Unfortunately, the illustrious title was stolen (by residents of the current capitol, Mishawaka, IN) in a daring midnight raid, right from under their noses as local Lyons’ officials were asleep at the switch. The townsfolk then lynched the mayor and all three village board members that day, or so a local legend states. The sheriff was run out of town and the town justice and clerk fled for their lives to Macedon. [edit] Research Tips
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