Elmira, New York

Elmira is a city in the United States, located in Chemung County, New York. It is the county seat, meaning it is the main city for the county. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 26,523 people, which is fewer than the 29,200 people counted in the 2010 census.

The city is found in the south-central part of Chemung County and is surrounded on three sides by the Town of Elmira. It lies in the Southern Tier of New York, just a short distance north of the border with Pennsylvania.

During the American Civil War, Elmira was the location of Elmira Prison, a place where over 12,000 soldiers from the Confederate side were held. Today, Elmira College is also located within the city.

History

Elmira’s history dates back to when the Cayuga nation of the Haudenosaunee lived in the area before European settlers arrived. During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army fought a battle nearby at Newtown.

Elmira was established as a village in 1792 and became a town in 1808. It grew into a key transportation hub in the 1800s, linking cities such as Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and New York City through canals and railroads.

During the Civil War, Elmira housed a prison camp where many Confederate soldiers were held. After the war, the site was demolished and turned into farmland.

In 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused major flooding in Elmira, leading to significant damage and the loss of many homes. The city worked to rebuild and redesign parts of downtown. In 1993, a large snowstorm hit the area, and in 2012, a tornado caused moderate damage but no injuries.

Early history

Elmira's formation

Prisoner-of-war camp

Main article: Elmira Prison

Reformatory and correctional facility

Main article: Elmira Correctional Facility

Hurricane Agnes and the 1972 flood

"Storm of the Century" – 1993 snow blizzard

2012 tornado

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Elmira covers an area of 7.6 square miles (19.6 km²), with 7.3 square miles (19.0 km²) being land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km²) being water.

The Chemung River flows eastward through the city. Elmira is located mostly in the flood plain of the river and has had many floods, with the worst one caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Newtown Creek, coming from the north, joins the Chemung River at the city's southeast corner.

Interstate 86/New York State Route 17, called the Southern Tier Expressway, connects to the city at Exit 56. New York State Route 14 goes through Elmira between Watkins Glen and Pennsylvania. New York State Route 13 starts near Lake Ontario and passes through Cortland and Ithaca before ending in Elmira. New York State Route 352 starts in Elmira at Exit 56 of the Southern Tier Expressway and heads west into Corning.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Elmira had a population of 26,523 people. The average age was 36.4 years. About 22.9% of the residents were younger than 18, and 14.7% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 104.8 males aged 18 and over.

Almost all residents, 99.8%, lived in urban areas, with only 0.2% in rural areas. There were 10,646 households, and 27.7% of them had children under 18. Many households were led by a single person, with 37.1% having a female householder and no spouse present. About 14.0% of households had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

2000 census

The 2000 census recorded 30,940 people in Elmira. The city had a population density of 4,229.5 people per square mile. The racial makeup was 82.03% White, 13.05% Black or African American, and smaller percentages of other groups. Hispanic or Latino people made up 3.14% of the population.

Household sizes averaged 2.37 people, and family sizes averaged 3.05. About 17.9% of families and 23.1% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Other demographics

The Elmira, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Chemung County and had a population of 90,070 in 2000. In 2005, it was ranked as the 59th safest place to live among 344 Metro Areas by Morgan Quitno Press. The three largest ethnic groups in Elmira are Irish, German, and Italian.

Economy

In 1889, a company named Elmira Bridge Company started in Elmira Heights and later joined with other companies to become American Bridge Company in 1900.

Elmira had its most people living there around 1950, with about 50,000 residents. Today, the city has around 25,000 people. This drop happened because many factories closed or moved away, especially during a tough economy in the early 1970s. Some big companies like General Electric and American Bridge shut down their factories or moved to other states. A big flood in 1972 also hurt the city by damaging many businesses and homes.

Some companies that still make things in Elmira today include Anchor Glass, which makes glass bottles for drinks and food. CAF-USA Inc makes trains and other rail equipment. Elmira Heat Treating works on special heating processes for metal. Hardinge, Inc makes precise machines for making other things. Hilliard Corporation makes parts for cars and machines. Kennedy Valve makes important parts for water systems, like fire hydrants. Trayer Products makes parts for big trucks.

Arts and culture

Elmira has a rich history in the arts and culture. On Harris Hill, early pilots helped start the sport of gliding in America, and today it is home to the National Soaring Museum. During World War II, this same hill was used to train glider pilots.

The city is also known for Dunn Field, a baseball stadium where famous players like Babe Ruth have played. Elmira has many important places, including the Clemens Center named after the famous writer Mark Twain, and the Arnot Art Museum in the downtown area. Eldridge Park has a beautiful old carousel, and Woodlawn Cemetery is the resting place of Mark Twain and his family.

Historic places

Many important buildings and areas in Elmira are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including homes, churches, and historic districts throughout the city.

The following are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• The John Brand Jr. House
• John Brand Sr. House
• Buildings at 104–116 West Water St.
• Chemung Canal Bank Building
• Chemung County Courthouse Complex
• Clinton–Columbia Historic District
• Elmira Civic Historic District
• Elmira Coca-Cola Bottling Company Works
• Elmira College Old Campus
• Emmanuel Episcopal Church
• Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche
• Alexander Eustace House
• Fire Station No. 4
• William S. Gerity House
• F. M. Howell and Company
• John W. Jones House
• Maple Avenue Historic District
• Near Westside Historic District
• Newtown Battlefield State Park
• Park Church
• Pentecostal Holy Temple Church of Jesus Christ
• Pratt House
• Quarry Farm
• Mark Twain Study
• St. Patrick's Parochial Residence-Convent and School
• Trinity Church
• Woodlawn Cemetery and Woodlawn National Cemetery

Parks and recreation

Elmira has over 20 parks. Eldridge Park features a walking trail, a restored carousel, a skateboard park, and a fishing lake. Wisner Park includes memorials for veterans from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and fallen officers.

Government

Elmira has a Council-Manager style of government. This means a City Manager runs the city's day-to-day activities. There is one mayor elected by all voters and six council members, each elected from different parts of the city. Originally, their terms were two years, but voters decided in 2003 to change this to four years, starting after the 2007 election. The mayor and council members work part-time. The City Manager and other key officers like the City Clerk are chosen by the City Council.

In the fiscal year 2006-2007, Elmira got $1.4 million from special government funds called Community Development Block Grants and $368,000 in HOME funds. These monies help support projects and programs for families with lower incomes and improve neighborhoods.

Education

The Elmira City School District provides education for the students in the area. It is the main school district serving the city of Elmira.

Media

Elmira has several newspapers, radio stations, and television channels that serve the community.

The city has daily and weekly newspapers, including the Star-Gazette, which is a well-known daily paper. There are also many radio stations such as WCIH, WNKI, and WCBF, providing various types of programming.

For television, Elmira is part of a shared market with Corning and features channels like WETM for NBC and The CW Plus, WSKA for PBS, and WENY-TV for ABC, CBS, and independent programming.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transit

The Chemung County Transit System provides regular bus service in Elmira and the nearby Village of Horseheads. Buses also connect Elmira to Corning Community College and link to transit systems in nearby areas.

Elmira has several bus services connecting it to other cities. New York Trailways runs between Elmira, Binghamton, and Rochester. Short Line travels between Elmira, Binghamton, and Olean. OurBus offers trips between Elmira and New York City, stopping at Niagara Falls. Fullington Trailways used to run between Elmira and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but stopped in April 2022.

Air transportation

The Elmira Corning Regional Airport is the main airport for the area, with flights to different places. It is about 7 miles northwest of downtown Elmira. You can fly directly to Detroit and, during certain times of the year, to Atlanta with Delta Air Lines. Allegiant Air also offers seasonal flights to Punta Gorda and Myrtle Beach.

Police and fire

Elmira has a police department with around 81 full-time officers and a fire department with about 60 full-time firefighters and officers.

Notable people

Elmira has been home to many interesting people from different fields. Some of them are John Alexander, a racing driver, and Tedd Arnold, an author and illustrator. Others include Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, and Eileen Collins, an astronaut.

The city also saw the birth of famous figures like Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961, and Mark Twain, the well-known writer. Many more people from various areas such as sports, politics, arts, and entertainment have connections to Elmira.