Yates County, New York is situated midway between Pennsylvania and Lake Ontario in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. The county was named in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who signed the act that established the county while he served as Governor of NY. Yates County is comprised of nine townships and four villages. The 2000 Census reported a population of 24,621 residents.

Penn Yan, the largest of the four villages, also serves as the county seat. It is located at the northern end of the east branch of Keuka Lake. Penn Yan is home to The Windmill Farm & Craft Market, the largest farmer's market in NY State.  The Windmill, which opened in 1987, draws a weekly attendance of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 visitors. Trimmer House and the Fox Inn are two of the fine Bed & Breakfast establishments that highlight the natural beauty of the Penn Yan area.

Yates County consists of over 338 square miles and includes three of the renowned Finger Lakes. Seneca Lake is on the eastern border of the county, Canandaigua Lake is on the western border, and Keuka Lake splits the middle and southern sections of the county. Each lake has its own distinct qualities. The Finger Lakes region as a whole offers fine dining, quaint B&B's, wine tours, unique shopping opportunities and a full range of year-round recreational activities. This region of New York is a four-season tourist attraction.

Yates County is home to nearly 800 farms that also includes a thriving Mennonite population. Local agriculture includes dairy farms, crop farms, apple orchards and grape vineyards. Twenty of the nearly eighty celebrated Finger Lakes wineries are scattered throughout the countryside. The county is currently in the process of developing an Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan and The Yates County Industrial Development Agency is in place with economic incentives for developing agricultural and all other types of local businesses.

Keuka College is one of the fine higher learning institutions within Yates County. The Finger Lakes Community College is also in the county. It is a small community college located in Canandaigua, with off-campus centers in Geneva, Newark and Victor. Several other outstanding academic institutions are within driving distance, including Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, the University of Rochester and Syracuse University. Geneva is approximately fifteen miles away, Rochester is forty- five miles to the southeast and Syracuse is fifty miles to the southwest.

Yates County boasts a high quality of life complimented by the spectacular beauty of shimmering lakes and rolling hills. This small Upstate NY County is fully prepared for its bright future.