Elmira, New York
Encyclopedia : E : EL : ELM : Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 30,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County
The City of Elmira is located in the south-central part of the county, surrounded on three sides by the Town of Elmira. New York State Route 17, The Southern Tier Expressway, connects with the city at Exit 56. New York State Route 14 passes through Elmira between Watkins Glen and Pennsylvania. New York State Route 352 begins in Elmira at Exit 56 of the Southern Tier Expressway and continues West into Corning. The city has 125 miles of road, 210 miles of water lines, and 175 miles of sewer lines. There are four ZIP codes in the City of Elmira: 14901 (northside), 14902 (downtown), 14904 (southside), and 14905 (West Elmira).
History
The original town in Chemung County was Chemung, formed in 1788. The settlement of Newtown was soon established at the junction of Newtown Creek and the Chemung River. In 1792, the Town of Elmira was split off as the Town of Newtown. Three adjacent settlements, Newtown, Wisnerburg, and DeWittsburg joined at that time to form the Village of Newtown. In 1828 the village changed its name to Elmira. The City of Elmira was incorporated in 1864 from part of the Town of Elmira and the Village of Elmira.The city was the southern terminus of the Chemung Canal.
The first settler in Elmira was captain Abraham Miller of the continental army. He built a cabin after resigning just before the Revolutionary war. Miller's pond and Miller Street are named after him where his house was originally built. His house no longer exists today.
Elmira was the site of a Civil War prison camp, informally called "Hellmira". It was located along the northern shore of the Chemung River (now Winsor Street). It was originally a Union Training Camp, named Camp Rathbun, but was converted to a prison camp in 1864. 12,123 Confederate soldiers were prisoners at "Hellmira"; 2,963 died during their stay as a result of disease and poor sanitary conditions. Many were buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery by John Jones.
Geography
Elmira is located at (42.089874, -76.809559)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.6 km² (7.6 mi²). 19.0 km² (7.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (3.56%) is water.
The Chemung River flows eastward through the city. Elmira is built almost entirely in the flood plain of the Chemung River and has suffered many floods over its history, the worst from Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 30,940 people, 11,475 households, and 6,701 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,632.0/km² (4,229.5/mi²). There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of 680.2/km² (1,762.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.03% White or European American, 13.05% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 2.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.14% of the population.
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Year | Population |
| 1890 | 30,893* |
| 1900 | 35,672* |
| 1910 | 37,176* |
| 1920 | 45,393* |
| 1930 | 47,397* |
| 1940 | 45,106* |
| 1950 | 49,716* |
| 1960 | 46,517* |
| 1970 | 39,945* |
| 1980 | 35,327* |
| 1990 | 33,724* |
| 2000 | 30,940 |
| * Source document from Chemung County, not Census Bureau. Document [here]. | |
There were 11,475 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,292, and the median income for a family was $33,592. Males had a median income of $31,775 versus $22,350 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,495. About 17.9% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.6% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
The Elmira Metropolitan Statistical Area (or Elmira MSA) is frequently used for statistical information such as labor rates and includes all of Chemung County with a population in 2000 of 90,070.
Additional facts about the City of Elmira
The City Slogan is "Honoring the Past, Building the Future". It is featured on an Entrance sign into the City from Exit 56 of the Southern Tier Expressway along with other honored Elmirans including (l to r) Brian Williams, Hal Roach, Ernie Davis, Mark Twain, Eileen Collins, John Jones, and Tommy Hilfiger. The sign was erected in 2003 by The Sign Man and designed by the City of Elmira Webmaster, Joshua Miller. The slogan was designated by Mayor Stephen Hughes following the conclusion of a slogan contest in which Marlin Stewart, Alan and Barbara Hutchinson, and James Lloyd were recognized for their contributions to the winning slogan.Elmira was the home of American author and humorist Mark Twain in his latter years. He and members of his family are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery there. The city is also the hometown of the first black Heisman Trophy Winner, Ernie Davis; the first female space shuttle commander, Eileen Collins; fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger; Westchester County district attorney and US Senate candidate Jeanine Pirro; former New York Court of Appeals judge Frederick Collin; impressionist composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes; Little Rascals director Hal Roach; and NBC News correspondent and anchor of NBC Nightly News Brian Williams.
On at least two hilltops near the city (mostly on Harris Hill to the northwest) pioneer pilots established the sport of gliding in America. Harris Hill is the site of the National Soaring Museum.
- The last Labrador Duck was seen at Elmira on December 12, 1878.
- The Elmira-Corning Regional Airport is located about 10 miles outside of the City in the Town of Big Flats.
- Dunn Field is a baseball stadium located along the banks of the Chemung River on the southside. The Elmira Pioneers play at Dunn Field. Other famous players that have played or managed at Dunn Field include Babe Ruth and Earl Weaver.
- Elmira College is located in the city.
- The First Arena was built in Elmira in 2000 (originally opened as the Coach USA Center). It serves as the home of the Elmira Jackals UHL Franchise.
- The Arnot-Ogden Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital are located in the city.
- The Elmira Psychiatric Center is located in the city. In 2003, Governor George Pataki proposed closing this facility in the budget, but the community rallied together and protested the effect that the closing would have on the region. The State Legislature vetoed the Governor's closure and the EPC remains open. It serves hundreds of individuals on both an outpatiet and inpatient basis.
- The Elmira Correctional Facility is located on the city's Northwest side. The Southport Correctional Facility is located about 2 miles outside the city's southern border.
- The Arnot Art Museum is located in the downtown Civic-Historic District.
- The recently restored Eldridge Park Carousel began operation in May of 2006 and is the fastest carousel in the world, spinning at nearly 18 miles per hour.
City Government
| Mayors of Elmira | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Party | Term |
| John S. Tonello | D | 2006-present |
| J. William O'Brien | D | 3/2005-2006 |
| Stephen M. Hughes | D | 1998-2/2005 |
| Howard F. Townsend | R | 1994-1997 |
| James E. Hare | D | 1988-1993 |
| Stephen J. Fesh Jr. | R | 1984-1987 |
| Mary P. Ciccariello | D | 1982-1983 |
| Robert G. Densberger | R | 1980-1981 |
| John M. Kennedy | D | 1976-1979 |
| Richard C. Loll | R | 1972-1975 |
| Edward T. Lagonegro | D | 1968-1971 |
| Howard H. Kimball | R | 1966-1967 |
| Edward T. Lagonegro | D | 1962-1965 |
| Edward A. Moores | R | 1956-1961 |
| Emory Strachen | R | 1940-1955 |
| J. Maxwell Beers | R | 1936-1939 |
| Henry W. Honan | D | 1934-1935 |
| W. Glenn Sweet | R | 1932-1933 |
| Frank P. Robinson | D | 1930-1931 |
| David N. Heller | D | 1926-1929 |
| J. Norton Wood | R | 1922-1925 |
| George W. Peck | D | 1920-1921 |
| Harry N. Hoffman | align="center" | |
| 1914-1919 | ||
| Daniel Sheehan | D | 1908-1913 |
| Z. Reed Brockway | align="center" | |
| 1906-1907 | ||
| Willaim T. Coleman | R | 1904-1905 |
| Daniel Sheehan | align="center" | |
| 1902-1903 | ||
| Frank H. Flood | align="center" | |
| 1900-1901 | ||
| Edgar Denton | De | 1898-1899 |
| Frederick Collin | align="center" | |
| 1894-1897 | ||
| David C. Robinson | D | 1892-1894 |
| Charles S. Davison | D | 1888-1892 |
| John B. Stanchfield | D | 1886-1888 |
| Henry Flood | align="center" | |
| 1884-1886 | ||
| Stephen T. Arnot | D | 1883-1884 |
| David B. Hill | D | 1882-1883 |
| Alexander Diven | R | 1880-1882 |
| Granville D. Parsons | align="center" | |
| 1878-1880 | ||
| Robert T. Turner | align="center" | |
| 1876-1878 | ||
| Howard M. Smith | align="center" | |
| 1875-1876 | ||
| Luther Caldwell | align="center" | |
| 1873-1874 | ||
| Patrick H. Flood | align="center" | |
| 1872-1873 | ||
| John Arnot Jr. | D | 1870-1871 |
| Stephen McDonald | align="center" | |
| 1868-1870 | ||
| John I. Nicks | align="center" | |
| 1866-1868 | ||
| John Arnot Jr. | D | 1864-1865 |
| * Source: City Clerk of the City of Elmira[link] | ||
Other Facts about City Government
- The Elmira Police Department is composed of approximately 81 full-time officers.
- The Elmira Fire Department is composed of approximately 60 full-time firefighters and officers.
- The Elmira Animal Shelter has a goal to become a no-kill animal shelter based on a model by the Tompkins County SPCA by 2007.
- The City of Elmira is an entitlement community, receiving $1.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $368,000 in HOME funds in FY2006-2007 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used for programs and projects for low-moderate income families and neighbohood blocks.
- The City of Elmira has more than 20 parks including Eldridge Park with a walking trail, restored carousel, skateboard park, & fishing lake and Wisner Park with memorials to veterans from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and the Fallen Officers Memorial.
Media
Newspapers
- Star-Gazette[link], daily morning newspaper owned by Gannett Co. Inc. It was Gannett's first newspaper.
- Chemung Valley Reporter, weekly newspaper based in nearby Horseheads
Television
- WETM [link]
- WENY [link] (studio in Horseheads, licensed to Elmira)
- WYDC [link] (studio and license in Corning, with which Elmira shares TV market)
Radio
External links
- [City of Elmira website]
- [Mayor John Tonello's website]
- [Elmira College]
- [elmira-ny.com Keeping memories alive...]
- [History and information about Elmira]
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