The town of Huron was created from the town of Wolcott on February 25, 1826. The town, originally called Port Bay, consists of a little over 21,800 acres. Huron lies on Lake Ontario. Extending into the town in its northwest corner is a part of Great Sodus Bay. East Bay extends into the town in the north and a part of Port Bay extends into the town in its northeast corner. The lakeshore rises to a series of bluffs - the largest of which, Chimney Bluffs, rose 175 feet above the lake. On March 17, 1834, the town of Port Bay became the town of Huron in honor of the Huron Indian tribe.
The first settler in the town of Huron, Captain William Helms, arrived in 1796 from Virginia. Among the household of Captain Helms to make the long journey north were seventy slaves, who were used to clear the land.
Huron was also home to one of the most unique religious groups in the country. In February 1826, the Shakers, or United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming, purchased a tract of land consisting of 1,331 53/100 acres, the eastern portion of which was located in the town of Huron. The Shaker Community was an egalitarian society. They were a celibate group, hardworking, scrupulously honest and as self-sufficient as possible. The Sodus Shakers were the first to package seeds for sale and established a successful business and a reputation for quality.
