Chemung County is located in the Southern Tier region of New York State, and is bordered by Steuben County to the north, Schuyler County to the east, Tioga County to the south, and Bradford and Tompkins Counties to the west. The county seat is Elmira. Chemung County covers an area of 602 square miles and has a population of 87,830 people according to 2020 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The largest city in Chemung County is Elmira with a population of 29,200 people according to 2020 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Other cities within Chemung include Horseheads with 8,600 people; Corning with 11,400 people; Big Flats with 2,900 people; Southport with 3,500 people; Pine City with 1,300 people; Millport with 1,000 people; Breesport with 500 people; Breesport Station with 200 people; West Elmira with 4,000 people; Catlin Center with 300 people and Pine Valley with 500 people according to 2020 estimates from the U.S Census Bureau.
The median household income in Chemung County as of 2019 was $50,369 according to data from the American Community Survey (ACS). This income was lower than both New York State ($63,913) and national ($60,293) median household incomes during this same time period. Additionally, 16% of individuals living in Chemung were living below the poverty line compared to 13% for New York State as a whole according to ACS data from 2019-2020.
Chemung County is home to several educational institutions including Elmira College which was founded in 1855 and Corning Community College which was founded in 1957. Additionally, there are numerous public school districts serving students throughout Chemung including Elmira City School District which serves approximately 4200 students K-12 across six elementary schools two middle schools one high school one alternative school one virtual academy and one pre-K center according to district website information from 2021.
Additionally, there are several cultural attractions within Chemung including Mark Twain Study at Quarry Farm where Twain wrote some of his best works such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn as well as Arnot Art Museum which features collections ranging from 16th century European artworks up through modern American pieces. For those looking for outdoor activities, there are several parks within Chemung including Harris Hill State Park Seneca Lake State Park Watkins Glen State Park Mark Twain State Park Eldridge Lake Park Gee Brook Nature Preserve Silver Lake Park and many more.
Chemung County offers a variety of activities for those looking for both cultural experiences or outdoor recreation opportunities while also providing access to quality education opportunities for its residents.
History of Chemung County, New York
Chemung County, New York has a long and storied history that dates back to the mid-18th century. The region was originally inhabited by the Susquehannock and Iroquois Native American tribes before it was first settled by Europeans in 1779. During this time, the area was part of Tioga County, which included parts of both Pennsylvania and New York.
In 1788, Chemung County was officially established as a separate county within New York State. The name “Chemung” is derived from the native word for “big horn” which is fitting as the county is home to several large hills and mountains including Harris Hill and Arnot Hill. The county grew quickly in its early years thanks to its prime location on several major transportation routes like the Chemung Canal and Erie Railroad.
The 19th century saw continued growth in Chemung County with an influx of immigrants looking for work in its burgeoning industries like lumbering, tanning, mining, railroads and manufacturing. This influx of new residents helped give rise to several towns like Elmira which eventually became the county seat in 1854. Elmira also served as a major base during the Civil War for Union troops who used it as a staging point for their invasion of Virginia.
By the start of the 20th century, Chemung had become an important economic hub with many factories producing products like furniture, clothing, textiles and paper goods. It also saw an increase in tourism thanks to its proximity to both Lake Seneca and Watkins Glen State Park which became popular attractions for visitors from all over New York State.
Today, Chemung continues to be an important economic center with many businesses operating out of Elmira including Corning Glass Works, Bendix Corporation (now part of Honeywell) and Mark Twain Study at Quarry Farm which is one of Twain’s most famous workspaces where he wrote some of his most famous works such as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn among others. Additionally, there are numerous cultural attractions within Chemung including Arnot Art Museum which features collections ranging from 16th-century European artworks up through modern American pieces as well as numerous parks offering outdoor activities such as Harris Hill State Park Seneca Lake State Park Watkins Glen State Park Mark Twain State Park Eldridge Lake Park Gee Brook Nature Preserve Silver Lake Park among others.
Chemung County has grown over time into one of New York’s most important counties with numerous educational institutions cultural attractions outdoor recreation opportunities quality education opportunities for its residents making it an ideal place to live work or visit.
Major cities and towns in Chemung County, New York
According to AbbreviationFinder, Chemung County, New York is home to several major cities and towns. The county seat is the city of Elmira which is located in the south-central part of the county. It has a population of around 30,000 and is the largest city in Chemung County. Elmira is home to numerous educational institutions including Elmira College, Corning Community College and Thomas A. Edison High School as well as cultural attractions such as Arnot Art Museum and Mark Twain Study at Quarry Farm.
The second largest city in Chemung County is Horseheads with a population of around 11,000 people. Horseheads is located on the north-eastern side of the county near Ithaca and has a strong industrial presence with companies like Bendix Corporation (now part of Honeywell) having operations in the area. Horseheads also contains several parks including Eldridge Lake Park and Silver Lake Park which offer outdoor activities for residents and visitors alike.
The town of Southport lies on the south-western side of Chemung County bordering Pennsylvania with a population just under 5,000 people. Southport contains several small but beautiful parks such as Gee Brook Nature Preserve which offer trails for hiking and fishing opportunities along Seneca Lake State Park’s shoreline. Additionally, there are numerous educational institutions located in Southport including Southside High School, Elmira Free Academy and Corning Community College’s satellite campus.
Another important town in Chemung County is Big Flats which lies just east of Elmira with a population around 3,500 people. Big Flats offers numerous outdoor activities such as Harris Hill State Park which features an aerial park for zip lining along with various trails for hiking or biking as well as Watkins Glen State Park which offers spectacular views from its gorges along Seneca Lake’s shoreline. Additionally, there are several educational institutions located here including Thomas A Edison High School, Corning Community College’s satellite campus and St Joseph’s Catholic School among others making it an ideal place for students to receive quality education close to home.
Chemung County offers numerous cities and towns that provide quality education opportunities cultural attractions outdoor recreation opportunities making it an ideal place to live work or visit.
Population in Chemung County, New York
According to maternityetchic.com, Chemung County, New York is located in the Southern Tier of the state and is home to a population of approximately 88,000 people. The county seat is Elmira, which is the largest city in the county with a population of approximately 28,000 people. Other cities and towns in Chemung County include Horseheads (11,000), Southport (5,000), Big Flats (3,500), and Elmira Heights (2,700).
The county’s population has been steadily increasing since 2000 when it was recorded at 83,919 people. Since then the population has grown by 4.4%, making it one of the fastest growing counties in New York State. This growth can be attributed to its proximity to larger cities like Ithaca and Corning as well as its desirable location between two Great Lakes – Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake – which offer plenty of recreational activities for residents and visitors alike.
Chemung County is made up of a diverse mix of cultures with residents hailing from all over the world including countries such as Mexico, India, Vietnam, China, Philippines and Puerto Rico. The area also has a large Amish community that contributes to its unique culture and provides visitors with an interesting cultural experience. Additionally, Chemung County boasts numerous educational institutions such as Thomas A Edison High School in Big Flats or Corning Community College’s satellite campus in Southport that provide quality education opportunities for students close to home.
Chemung County offers plenty for residents and visitors alike from outdoor recreation activities at parks like Harris Hill State Park or Watkins Glen State Park to cultural attractions like Arnot Art Museum or Mark Twain Study at Quarry Farm making it an ideal place to live work or visit.