It is named after James Geddes,[2] a prominent early settler who settled at the head of Onondaga Lake in 1794 and developed the salt industry.

Today the town of Geddes still includes the Village of Solvay, which operates independently, and the hamlets of Westvale and Lakeland.

It lies upon the western bank of Onondaga Lake with level surface in the north and rolling hills in the south.

[3] There was also a brewery and distillery, and a large number of salt works within the town limits.

Thomas K. Gale was president, W. H. H. Gere was vice-president and Lewis A. Hawley was recording secretary.

[8] The New York State Asylum for Idiots was located in the eastern section of town, near the original border with Syracuse on Geddes Street.

[3] The facility was located on Wilbur Avenue on the southeast border of Tipperary Hill.

The site selected was about a mile southwest of Syracuse, in the town of Geddes, and was "one of the finest that could have been found in the State of New York."

The building was constructed of brick, "plain but substantial, and admirably fitted for the purpose for which it is designed.

"[9] The institution was located upon the eastern slope of the range of hills in the western part of the city and about 1+1⁄2 miles south of the head of Onondaga Lake.

The asylum grounds covered an area of about sixty-five acres, immediately adjacent to Burnet Park, the most of which was high land, overlooking the city and lake.

The principal group of buildings, which were clustered around the original structure, facing the western extremity of Seymour Street, accommodated about 450 individuals.

New York State Route 5, West Genesee Street, is an east–west highway in the town.