Where did Jordan get its name?

Jordan NY was first settled in 1797 by Zenus and Aaron Wright, who built the first house within the present boundaries of the Village. According to a clipping from a scrapbook belonging to Mrs. J. C. Babcock, Jordan was named as follows: After Zenus and Aaron Wright had completed a plank house, they then built a saw mill just south of the present White Mill; the water for this mill was obtained by building a dam across the flats from the mill east to the bluff, on what is known as Hollow Road (Valley Drive). This flooded the flat or swamp, which was one unbroken growth of dense cedar trees, to a depth of three or four feet. There was no road to Elbridge at this time, only a footpath, which ran along the bluffs on the west side of Skaneateles Creek. After the work was completed, the race was found to be too shallow to discharge the water, and David Munro of Camillus came with oxen to scrape it out. After the work was completed, the water was let out, and the following men were all standing on the bank looking at its flow: Zenas and Aaron Wright, Samuel Powers, Reynolds Corey and Elizur Hills. One of them remarked that the water was just as clear as the River Jordan and Mr. Hills said, "Why not name this place Jordan, after my native place, Jordan Lane in Connecticut." This meeting the views of the others it was decided to call it Jordan.

Jack Horner - Historian
Village of Jordan