Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Elmira, New York" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Elmira
City
FlagSeal
Location in Chemung County in the state of New York
Coordinates: 42°05′38″N 76°48′35″W / 42.09389°N 76.80972°W / 42.09389; -76.80972
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Chemung
Incorporated	1864; 160 years ago (1864)
Government
• Mayor	Daniel J. Mandell, Jr. (R)
• City Manager	P. Michael Collins
• City Council	Members • W1: Nick Grasso (D) • W2: Brent A. Stermer (D) • W3: Joseph H. Duffy (R) • W4: J. Gary Brinn (D) • W5: Tory M. Kitching (R) • W6: Nanette M. Moss (R)
Area
• City	7.58 sq mi (19.63 km)
• Land	7.25 sq mi (18.78 km)
• Water	0.33 sq mi (0.85 km)
Elevation	860 ft (260 m)
Population
• City	26,523
• Density	3,657.34/sq mi (1,412.09/km)
• Metro	90,070 (Chemung County)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	14901, 14904, 14905
Area code	607
FIPS code	36-015-24229
Website	www.CityOfElmira.net

Elmira (/ɛlˈmaɪrə/) is a city in and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 census, down from 29,200 at the 2010 census, a decline of more than 7 percent.

The City of Elmira is in the south-central part of the county, surrounded on three sides by the Town of Elmira. It is in the Southern Tier of New York, a short distance north of the Pennsylvania state line.

The city was the site of the Elmira Prison, a prisoner-of-war camp that held over 12,000 captured Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Elmira College is located within the city.

History

Early history

The region of Elmira was inhabited by the Cayuga nation (also known as the Kanawaholla) of the Haudenosaunee prior to European colonization. Cayuga residing in the region maintained relations with European settlers, primarily related to the fur trade, but were otherwise relatively isolated from encroaching colonial settlements.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 was mounted by the Continental Army against the four Haudenosaunee nations which had allied with the British. The expeditionary force fought a combined British-Haudenosaunee force at the Battle of Newtown, south of the current city, in which the Continental Army was victorious. After the conclusion of the war, the Haudenosaunee and the United States signed a treaty at Elmira in 1791 to settle territorial disputes in the region. Most of the Cayuga emigrated under pressure from encroaching American settlements with the other nations of the Haudenosaunee to Canada, where they resettled on land provided by the British Crown.

The first European-American settler in Elmira was Abraham Miller, who served as a captain in the Continental Army. Miller constructed a cabin after resigning just before the end of the Revolutionary War. Miller's Pond and Miller Street are named after him and are near the location of his house.

Elmira's formation

The New York legislature established the Township of Chemung, now Chemung County, in 1788. The settlement of Newtown was soon established at the intersection of Newtown Creek and the Chemung River. In 1792, the settlement at Newtown joined with the Wisnerburg and DeWittsburg settlements to form the village of Newtown. In 1808, the village officially changed its name to the Town of Elmira, at a town meeting held at Teal's Tavern. It is said the town was named after tavern owner Nathan Teal's young daughter, but that story has never been confirmed. According to Amos Bugbee Carpenter's "Carpenter Memorial" family history book printed in 1898, Elmira is named after Major General Matthew Carpenter's daughter. This naming occurred, according to this book, in 1821 at the constitutional convention to which Matthew was a delegate. In any case, the City of Elmira, nicknamed "The Queen City," was incorporated in 1864 from part of the town of Elmira and the village of Elmira. The remaining part of the town of Elmira exists still, surrounding the city on the west, north and east. The city and town share an intricately entwined history.

It appears that Amos Carpenter in his 1898 book was referencing an 1879 book.

White Man's Legend.

In the early days, when new settlements had to be named, the white man, in imitation of his aboriginal forerunner, gave a name to his settlement that was associated either with tradition, or, as in this case, with his ideal of loveliness. According to Hon. Hiram Gray, Matthew Carpenter, then a member or the legislature and a man of influence, having seen this beautiful valley, resolved that Newtown should be the principal city, and that it should bear the name of a lady friend for whom he entertained a high opinion, and accordingly, in 188, the name was changed to Elmira.

Elmira served as a transportation hub for New York's Southern Tier in the 1800s, connecting commercial centers in Rochester and Buffalo with Albany and New York City, via the canal system and railroads. The city was the southern terminus of the Chemung Canal completed in 1833; later, the Junction Canal was constructed to connect Elmira with Corning, facilitating transport of coal from the Pennsylvania mines via the Northern branch of the Susquehanna Canal system. In 1849, the New York and Erie Railroad was built through Elmira, giving the area a New York City to Buffalo route. In 1850, the Elmira and Jefferson Railroad gave the area a route north and, in 1854, the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad a route south. These railroads and their connections made the city a prime location for an Army training and muster point early in the Civil War.

In 1872 construction began on the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, eventually creating a route to Cortland and Syracuse via Horseheads, Breesport and Van Etten. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, completed in 1884, competed with the Erie's New York City to Buffalo line.

• 1909 Extension of Chemung Canal.
• 1869 map showing Elmira's location as a transportation hub in Chemung County
• Map of Delaware, Lackawanna and Westerny Railroad in New York State / Pennsylvania, 1893.
• Aerial view of station - Erie Railway, Elmira Station, Railroad Avenue, Elmira New York

Prisoner-of-war camp

A great deal of the 30-acre (120,000 m) Union installation, known as Camp Rathbun, fell into disuse as the Civil War progressed, and the camp's "Barracks #3" were converted into a Civil War prisoner of war camp in the summer of 1864. The camp, in use from June 6, 1864, until autumn 1865, was dubbed "Hellmira" by its inmates. Towner's history of 1892 and maps from the period indicate the camp occupied a somewhat irregular parallelogram, running about 1,000 feet (300 m) west and approximately the same distance south of a location several hundred feet west of Hoffman Street (Foster Avenue) and Winsor Avenue, bordered on the south by Foster's Pond, on the north bank of the Chemung River.

In the months the site was used as a camp, 12,123 Confederate soldiers were incarcerated; of these, 2,963 died during their stay from a combination of malnutrition, prolonged exposure to brutal winter weather and disease directly attributable to the dismal sanitary conditions on Foster's Pond and lack of medical care. The camp's dead were prepared for burial and laid to rest by the sexton at Woodlawn National Cemetery, ex-slave John W. Jones. At the end of the war, each prisoner was given a loyalty oath and given a train ticket back home; the last prisoner left the camp on September 27, 1865. The camp was closed, demolished and converted to farmland. Woodlawn Cemetery, about 2 miles (3 km) north of the original prison camp site (bounded by West Hill, Bancroft, Davis and Mary Streets), was designated a "National Cemetery" in 1877. The prison camp site is today a residential area.

• Evening roll-call at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
• Changing of the guard at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
• Artillery on guard over prisoners at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
• Civil War monument dedicated to soldiers who were trained and imprisoned at Camp Rathburn, dedicated May 3, 1992.

Reformatory and correctional facility

The state legislature authorized the building of a state prison for first offenders in 1866. It opened in 1876 as the Elmira Reformatory, under the direction of Zebulon Brockway, serving offenders aged sixteen to thirty. It was the first institution of its kind, and a model for others to follow. In 1970 the complex was renamed the Elmira Correctional and Reception Center.

• Elmira Reformatory, circa 1897.

Elmira economy

In 1950, the Elmira's population peaked at about 50,000, which represented 57 percent of Chemung County's total population at the time. Today, the city has approximately 25,000 residents, which represents 34 percent of Chemung County's population. This population decline is due to the national decline in railroads and manufacturing as well as a population shift to the outer suburbs around Elmira. The Elmira Metro area has nearly 100,000 people.

The population decline began during the recession of the early 1970s during which several large employers (Ann Page, American Bridge, General Electric, American LaFrance, Westinghouse and Remington Rand) either closed their factories or moved to other states. The decline was exacerbated by the flood of 1972, during which many of the downtown businesses and single-family homes were destroyed or replaced by subsequent Urban Renewal projects in the Chemung River flood plain.

Current manufacturing employers

Anchor Glass Container Corporation, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is in the old Thatcher Glass facility in Elmira Heights. Anchor Glass produces a diverse line of flint, amber, green and other colored glass containers of various types and designs for the beer, food, beverage and liquor markets in North America. Anchor Glass is now wholly owned by the Ardagh Group S.A.

CAF-USA Inc has its main U.S. plant in Elmira Heights on the site of the former American Bridge Company. CAF USA is a subsidiary company of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, a Spanish manufacturer of passenger rail products (including trains, high-speed trains, locomotives, light rail vehicles and other rail equipment). CAF-USA Inc trains are typically designed for North America's market, based on Spanish design and technologies.

Elmira Heat Treating, established in 1962 in Elmira, offers a wide variety of heat treatment technologies to both domestic and international customers such as Hilliard Corp., Ford Motors, General Signal and others.

Hardinge, Inc. (formerly Hardinge Brothers), established in 1890 and now headquartered in Elmira, manufactures precise turning machines for the domestic and international market. Starting in 1995, Hardinge began expanding their product line and over the years has acquired L. Kellenberger & Co. AG, Hauser-Tripet-Tschudin AG, Jones & Shipman, and Usach Technologies, Inc. In 2004 they also acquired Bridgeport, world-famous for its milling machines and machining centers.

Hilliard Corporation, established in 1905, has two locations in Elmira and serves the international market in filters, brakes, clutches and starters for a variety of industrial and commercial uses as well as consumer equipment from Polaris and MTD.

Kennedy Valve, located in Elmira since 1905, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of products for waterworks distribution, potable and wastewater treatment, and fire protection system projects. They are most famous for their fire hydrants which can be found around the world. Kennedy Valve was acquired by McWane in 1988.

Trayer Products, established in 1929, manufactures parts mostly for the heavy truck industry; primarily truck chassis parts such as king pins and shackles.

Hurricane Agnes and the 1972 flood

During the summer of 1972, Hurricane Agnes struck the eastern seaboard of the United States, causing significant damage stretching from Florida into New England. Elmira was particularly hit hard by the flood, with over an estimated $291 million in damage. Over 15,000 people had to flee the city, and approximately 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Coordinated efforts between local churches and regional businesses helped with the cleanup. Operating in secrecy, Rochester, NY-based Eastman Kodak sent crews as part of Operation Rebuild. Their efforts rebuilt 78 homes and assisted in the repairs of countless others.

Elmira city leaders approached the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to lead the redevelopment of the city post-flood. With a select group of businessmen and city officials attempting to minimize public input, the UDC implemented the "New Elmira Plan". This entailed the removal of buildings along the river to create Riverside Park, and razing other buildings in the business district for two parking garages. Altogether, forty percent of Elmira's commercial space was eliminated as part of the plan. Local citizens lamented the loss of character and vibrancy of downtown Elmira.

"Storm of the Century" – 1993 snow blizzard

In March 1993, the city of Elmira was hit hard by a snow blizzard, nicknamed "Storm of the Century", that added 17 inches of snow to Elmira in a single day.

2012 tornado

On July 26, 2012, an EF1 tornado touched down near Cottage Drive off of Route 352 and traveled through Golden Glow and the rest of the city. Moderate damage was seen after the storm passed and hundreds of trees and power lines were blown down. No one was injured. The tornado was 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide and took the city by surprise as this area has not been prone to tornadic activity.

Geography and climate

Elmira is at 42°5′23″N 76°48′34″W / 42.08972°N 76.80944°W / 42.08972; -76.80944 (42.089874, −76.809559).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 7.6 sq mi (19.6 km), of which 7.3 sq mi (19.0 km) is land and 0.27 sq mi (0.7 km) (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, the worst from Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Newtown Creek, flowing from the north, joins the Chemung River at the city's southeast corner.

Interstate 86/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 13 begins near Lake Ontario and travels through Cortland and Ithaca before ending in Elmira. New York State Route 352 begins in Elmira at Exit 56 of the Southern Tier Expressway and continues West into Corning.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,940 people, 11,475 households, and 6,701 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,229.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,633.0/km). There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of 1,762.7 per square mile (680.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 82.03% White, 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.

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, NY 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.

The Elmira MSA was ranked as the 59th safest place to live out of 344 Metro Areas in 2005 by Morgan Quitno Press.

The three largest ethnic groups in Elmira are Irish, German and Italian.

City government

The city government is a Council-Manager form of government in which the City Manager is the primary administrator of the city. There is one mayor elected at large and six council members elected from each of six council districts. The term of office of the mayor and council members was two years, until a 2003 referendum extended the terms to four years (four-year terms began after the 2007 election). The mayor and council members are all part-time employees. The City Manager, City Clerk, City Chamberlain, City Assessor, and Corporation Counsel are all appointed by the City Council. All remaining department heads serve at the request of the City Manager.

The city has 125 miles (201 km) of road, 210 miles (340 km) of water lines, and 175 miles (282 km) of sewer lines. There are four ZIP codes in the City of Elmira: 14901 (northside), 14902 (downtown), 14904 (southside), and 14905 (West Elmira).

Facts about city government

• The city police department employs approximately 81 full-time officers. The chief is Kristen Thorne since 2023.
• The city fire department employs approximately 60 full-time firefighters and officers.
• The city animal shelter has a goal to become by 2007 a no-kill animal shelter based on a model by Tompkins County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• The city received $1.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $368,000 in HOME funds in FY2006-2007 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds are used for programs and projects for low-moderate income families and neighborhood blocks.
• The City of Elmira has more than 20 parks including Eldridge Park with a walking trail, restored carousel, skateboard park, and fishing lake and Wisner Park with memorials to veterans from World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and the Fallen Officers Memorial.
• The City Manager of the City of Elmira is P. Michael Collins.
• Naming rights to the Millers Pond Park were obtained by J. Howard "Buzz" Miller, an early-20th century benevolent industrialist, when his horse "Mumbo Jumbo" won a 1912 race at the Tioga Downs horse track.

Media

Newspapers

• Star-Gazette, daily morning newspaper owned by Gannett Co. Inc. It was Gannett's first newspaper.
• Chemung Valley Reporter, weekly newspaper based in nearby Horseheads .

Radio

• WCIH
• WNKI
• WCBF
• WELM
• WLVY
• WPIE (studio in Elmira, tower in Trumansburg)
• WOKN
• WKPQ / WHHO (studio in Hornell)
• WLEA / WCKR (studio in Hornell)
• WCID
• WENI-FM
• WPGO

Television

• WETM 18 (NBC)
• WETM-DT2 18.2 (ANT)
• WSKA 30 (PBS, simulcast of WSKG-TV) (licensed to Corning, with which Elmira shares TV market)
• WENY-TV 36 (ABC on DT1/CBS on DT2/CW on DT3 through The CW Plus) (studio in Horseheads, licensed to Elmira)
• WJKP-LD 39 (MyNetworkTV) (studio and license in Corning, with which Elmira shares TV market)
• WYDC 48 (FOX) (studio and license in Corning, with which Elmira shares TV market)

Transportation infrastructure

Public transportation

The Chemung County Transit System operates regularly scheduled fixed route service within the City of Elmira and Village of Horseheads. Another route links Elmira with Corning Community College, also linking passengers with the Steuben County Transit System (SCT) and Corning Erwin Area Transit System (CEATS).

Elmira is served by several intercity bus operators. New York Trailways serves Elmira on one of its routes between Binghamton and Rochester. Short Line serves Elmira on its route between Binghamton and Olean. OurBus provides service to Elmira on a route between New York City and Niagara Falls. Fullington Trailways discontinued service between Elmira and Williamsport, Pennsylvania in April 2022.

Air transportation

The Elmira Corning Regional Airport (IATA code ELM, ICAO code KELM) is a medium-size regional airport, and the only area airport that offers scheduled airline service. Located 7 miles (11 km) northwest of downtown, the airport has non-stop flights to Detroit in addition to seasonal flights to Atlanta served by Delta Air Lines, and two routes to Florida served by Allegiant Air with the airline serving seasonal flights to Punta Gorda and Myrtle Beach.

Culture

The City Slogan is "Honoring the Past, Building the Future". It is featured on an Entrance sign erected in 2003 into the city from Exit 56 of the Southern Tier Expressway along with honored Elmirans including (L to R) Brian Williams, Hal Roach, Ernie Davis, Mark Twain, Eileen Collins, John Jones, and Tommy Hilfiger. 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. In 2021, the sign was defaced as Brian Williams was replaced with Judge Jeanine Pirro.

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 and was also used for glider trainings during World War 2. These sites are now recognized as National Landmarks of Soaring.

The SS Elmira Victory, a World War 2 era Victory Ship, was named after the city.

• Dunn Field is a baseball stadium along the southern banks of the Chemung River. The Elmira Pioneers play at Dunn Field. Famous players and managers who have played or managed at Dunn Field include Babe Ruth, Earl Weaver, Don Zimmer, Wade Boggs, and Curt Schilling.
• Elmira College is in the city.
• The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has a branch of its medical school where Arnot Park was formerly located.
• The Clemens Center is a concert and theater center named after Samuel Clemens, (Mark Twain).

  

• The Arnot Art Museum is in the downtown Civic-Historic District.
• Eldridge Park features a restored 1890s Looff Carousel
• Woodlawn Cemetery and Woodlawn National Cemetery are both in the City of Elmira in the Northwest sector. Mark Twain and his family are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
• LECOM Event Center (originally known as the Coach USA Center, later First Arena), which opened in 2000, is currently home to the Elmira Aviators of the North American Hockey League. It was previously home to the Elmira Jackals of the UHL and ECHL from 2000 to 2017, as well as two other teams in the FPHL: the Elmira Enforcers, from 2018 to 2021; the Elmira Mammoth, from 2022 to 2023; and the Elmira River Sharks from 2023 to 2024.

Education

Elmira City School District is the school district.

Historic places

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
• St. Patrick's Parochial Residence-Convent and School
• Trinity Church
• Woodlawn Cemetery and Woodlawn National Cemetery

Notable people

• John Alexander, racing driver
• Tedd Arnold, author and illustrator
• John Arnot, Jr., politician, Civil War soldier
• Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
• Charlie Baker, Former Governor of Massachusetts
• Ray W. Barker, Major General, US Army
• John Beecher, NHL player for the Boston Bruins
• James R. Beckwith, Wisconsin state assembly
• Simeon Benjamin (1792—1868), businessman, philanthropist, and benefactor of Elmira College
• Zebulon Brockway (1827–1920) known as the "Father of prison reform," directed the Elmira Reformatory
• Olivia "Livy" Langdon Clemens, wife of Mark Twain
• Chip Coffey, psychic, television personality
• Frederick Collin, lawyer, judge, Mayor of Elmira
• Eileen Collins, astronaut
• Harriet Maxwell Converse, author, folklorist, Native American civil rights advocate
• Clara Cook, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Ernie Davis, football player, first African-American Heisman Trophy winner (1961)
• Alexander S. Diven, former US Army officer and Congressman

• Stan Drulia, ice hockey player and coach
• Jacob Sloat Fassett, politician
• Clyde Fitch, playwright
• Thomas S. Flood, former US Congressman
• Dan Forrest, Jr., composer
• John Franchi, mixed martial arts fighter
• Henry Friendly, judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Burt Gillett, director of animated films
• Emmett Goff, pioneering horticulturist, inventor, writer and educator
• Charles Tomlinson Griffes, composer
• Sam Groom, actor
• Jason Butler Harner, actor
• Bud Heine, former Baseball player for the New York Giants.
• Lewis Henry, former US Congressman
• Bruce Heyman, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada
• Tommy Hilfiger, fashion designer
• Molly Huddle, Olympic runner
• John W. Jones, underground railroad agent
• Matt Knowles, pro wrestler
• Warren D. Leary, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and newspaper publisher
• Kirt Manwaring, former Major League Baseball player
• Charles Thomas McMillen, basketball player, politician
• Norman A. Mordue, QB Syracuse University. Served with 1stAirCav Viet Nam. Currently U.S. Federal Judge 3rd District, Syracuse, NY
• Anna Campbell Palmer (1854–1928), author, editor
• William P. Perry, producer and composer
• Aurora Phelps, land reformer, labor leader, women's rights advocate
• Beth Phoenix, WWE Hall of Famer
• Jeanine Pirro, television host, author, and former New York State judge, prosecutor, and politician
• Jeff Plate, drummer for Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• Margaret L. Plunkett (1906-2000), labor economist, diplomat
• Anna Beach Pratt, American educator and social worker.
• Dan Quinlan, actor
• Hal Roach, film producer
• Jane Roberts, writer and psychic - (1929–1984), author, psychic and trance or spirit medium.
• Hosea H. Rockwell, former US Congressman
• Francis Asbury Roe, naval officer
• Alice J. Shaw, whistling performer in vaudeville
• Frederick B. Shaw, U.S. Army brigadier general
• Joey Sindelar, pro golfer
• Horace B. Smith, former US Congressman
• Esther Baker Steele (1835–1911), educator, author, traveler, philanthropist
• Joel Dorman Steele, educator and author
• John Surratt, son of Mary Surratt
• Art Sykes, boxer
• Mark Twain, writer
• Asher Tyler, former US Congressman
• Lewis Sayre Van Duzer, US Navy officer
• Antha Minerva Virgil, composer and inventor
• John Joseph Wantuck, US Marine awarded Navy Cross
• Bob Waterfield, college and pro football player, husband of actress Jane Russell
• Brian Williams, television news anchor
• Jason Wise, actor
• Don Zimmer, Major League Baseball player and manager
• Aeryn Gillern, Missing person, UNIDO worker

References

1. "Elected Officials". www.chemungcountyny.gov. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elmira, New York
4. "The fastest shrinking city in America". August 17, 2021.
5. Janowski, Diane. "Chemung County History Timeline 1771 - Now". ChemungHistory.com. Chemung County History.
6. "This Day in History: Battle of Chemung, or Newtown, New York". History.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
7. Janowski, Diane (December 31, 2014). "Elmira History: Treaty of Painted Post signed in Elmira". Star Gazette Newspaper. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
8. "Elmira Wedding Resources/History". Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
9. "How Elmira got its name -- maybe", As one story goes, city's moniker may have originated during judge's visit to tavern. From the Star-Gazette, August 1, 2008 by Jim Pfiffer. https://www.chemungvalleymuseum.org/usr/How%20Elmira%20Got%20its%20Name%20article.pdf Archived October 19, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
10. Peirce, H. B.; Hurd, D. Hamilton (1879). History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers (1st ed.). Philadelphia: Everts and Ensign. p. 248. ASIN B000XXWLKQ.
11. "Elmira Prison Camp (Civil War) History". www.joycetice.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
12. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Electrostatics" to "Engis" (11 ed.). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
13. "Anchor Glass Container Corporation". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
14. Reuters Editorial (July 17, 2012). "Ardagh buys Anchor Glass for 721 mln euros". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2016. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
15. "CAF Raillway Solutions - CAF Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
16. "Home". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
17. "Hardinge Group - The Machine Tool Leader". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
18. "SEC Info - Hardinge Inc - '8-K' for 11/29/95". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
19. "Purchase of Swiss Trio Makes Hardinge More Competitive in Grinders. - Free Online Library". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
20. "Hardinge acquires Jones & Shipman". Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
21. "Machinery News Articledetailaspxarticleid=46992 - Machinery". Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
22. "PM News: Hardinge Acquires Bridgeport Machine". Production Machining. November 21, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
23. "Home". Hilliard Corporation. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
24. "Hilliard Featured in Local Business Profile". Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
25. "Kennedy Valve - Manufacturers of Quality Waterworks Products". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
26. "Kennedy Valve History | Kennedy Valve Co". www.kennedyvalve.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
27. "Trayer". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
28. "Chemung County Historical Society: The Second Flood of 1972". Chemung County Historical Society. June 26, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
29. "The flood of 1972: 45 years later". www.weny.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
30. Rachel Dworkin (June 11, 2012). "Operation Rebuild: Eastman Kodak's Rather Filthy Secret". Chemung County Historical Society. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
31. Kneeland, Timothy W. (April 15, 2020). Playing Politics with Natural Disaster: Hurricane Agnes, the 1972 Election, and the Origins of FEMA. Ithaca, New York. ISBN 978-1-5017-4855-4. OCLC 1110124741.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
32. "A history of blizzards and snow storms near Elmira". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. December 27, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
33. "Recap of July 2012 Tornado". May 30, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
34. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
35. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
36. "Station: Elmira, NY". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
37. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
38. "United States Census Bureau QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
39. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
40. "Morgan Quitno's 13th Annual Safest Metro Award in Safest Order". www.morganquitno.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
41. "Elmira, NY (New York) Houses, Apartments, Rent, Mortgage Status, Home and Condo Value Estimator, Cars, Bedrooms, Owners, Prices, Averages, Residents Info". www.city-data.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
42. "Police Department Administration". City of Elmira, New York. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
43. "City Manager's Office". City of Elmira, New York. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
44. https://web.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/Binghamton.pdf
45. "Fullington Tours, Clearfield, Pennsylvania - Tours, Cruises and Travel Packages". Retrieved July 1, 2022.
46. "Welcome to Elmira sign defaced with Judge Jeanine Pirro over Brian Williams". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
47. "World War II Glider Training at Harris Hill Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
48. "Designs unveiled shows what new LECOM school could look like". My Twin Tiers. September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
49. "1890's Looff Carousel". Attractions. Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
50. "Mark Twain's Grave". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
51. "FIRST ARENA: New owner, but Jackals leaving". Star-Gazette. March 10, 2017.
52. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chemung County, NY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 23, 2024. - Text list
53. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
54. "National Register of Historic Places". WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 11/08/10 THROUGH 11/12/10. National Park Service. November 19, 2010. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011.
55. "Weekly List of Actions Taken On Properties: 1/03/12 Through 1/06/12". January 6, 2012. nps.gov. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
56. "National Register of Historic Places". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/12/13 through 8/16/13. National Park Service. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
57. "author.html". Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
58. "ARNOT, John, Jr. - Biographical Information". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
59. "Massachusetts Governor: Charlie Baker (R)". National Journal. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
60. "Ray Wehnes Barker Major General, US Army - Army - Military Page - Ancestry.com". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
61. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1915,' Biographical Sketch of James R. Beckwith, pg. 502
62. "Welcome to the Mark Twain House & Museum - Olivia Langdon Clemens". Archived from the original on July 17, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
63. "Chip Coffey". IMDb. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
64. "Court of Appeals". Historical Society of the New York Courts. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
65. "Official Biography on NASA website". Retrieved June 27, 2011.
66. "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website profile". Retrieved February 28, 2012.
67. "Ernie Davis". Biography.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
68. "Stan Drulia". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
69. "FASSETT, Jacob Sloat - Biographical Information". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
70. "Alumni in the Theater - Clyde Fitch - Amherst College". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
71. Dorsen, D. M. (2012). Henry Friendly, greatest judge of his era. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
72. "Retired Site - PBS Programs - PBS". PBS. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
73. "Tommy Hilfiger". Biography.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
74. "Molly Huddle Bio :: Notre Dame Track & Field :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
75. Design, Janowski Web. "The John W. Jones Story Part One". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
76. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1933, Biographical Sketch of Warren D. Leary, pg. 227
77. "Kirt Manwaring". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
78. "McMILLEN, Charles Thomas - Biographical Information". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
79. "William Perry Bio - William Perry Career". MTV. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
80. Aurora Phelps. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
81. "Obituaries: Daniel J. Quinlan". Variety: 46. July 17, 1940.
82. Hal Roach. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:10, Sep 12, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/hal-roach-9459667 Archived 2014-12-05 at the Wayback Machine.
83. Shaw, Frederick B. (1942). History of the Shaw Family and Descendants of Anthony Shaw, the First American Ancestor, Who Arrived Before 1653. Arlington, VA: Frederick Benjamin Shaw. p. 26 – via Internet Archive.
84. "Joey Sindelar - Official PGA TOUR Champions Profile". Retrieved November 8, 2016.
85. "ELMIRA LOSES A BENEFACTOR IN THE DEATH OF MRS. STEELE". Star-Gazette. November 23, 1911. p. 10. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
86. Woodhouse, Mark. "Mark Twain and Elmira" (PDF). New York State Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011.
87.  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
88. "Bob Waterfield". NFL.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
89. Brian Williams. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:14, Sep 12, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/brian-williams-16243253 Archived July 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
90. "Ballparks of the PGCBL: Dunn Field". Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2016.

External links

• "Elmira" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. VIII (9th ed.). 1878. p. 153.
• City of Elmira website
• Chemung County Chamber of Commerce
• Elmira City Historian
• Tri-Counties Genealogy & History: Town & City of Elmira, Chemung County NY
• Union Civil War Prison at Elmira
• John W. Jones Museum

v t e Municipalities and communities of Chemung County, New York, United States
County seat: Elmira
City	Elmira
Towns	Ashland Baldwin Big Flats Catlin Chemung Elmira Erin Horseheads Southport Van Etten Veteran
Villages	Elmira Heights Horseheads Millport Wellsburg
CDPs	Big Flats Breesport Erin Horseheads North Pine Valley Southport Van Etten West Elmira
Hamlets	Lowman
New York portal United States portal

v t e State of New York
Albany (capital)
Topics	Index Airports Bibliography Climate change Crime Demographics Economy Education Geography Gun laws Healthcare History Homelessness LGBT rights Museums Music Nickname Parks People Politics Sports Symbols Transportation Tourist attractions
Politics	Abortion Administrative divisions Congressional districts Constitution Delegations Senators Representatives Elections Government Law
Regions	Adirondack Mountains Allegheny Plateau Capital District Catskill Mountains Central Region Central New York Champlain Valley Tri-State area Finger Lakes Holland Purchase Hudson Highlands Hudson Valley Long Island Mohawk Valley Niagara Frontier North Country Ridge and Valley St. Lawrence Seaway Shawangunks Ski country Southern Tier Southtowns Tech Valley Thousand Islands Tug Hill Upstate Western
Metro areas	Albany / Schenectady / Troy Binghamton Buffalo / Niagara Falls Elmira / Corning Glens Falls Ithaca Jamestown Kingston New York City Rochester Syracuse Utica / Rome Watertown
Counties	Albany Allegany Bronx Broome Cattaraugus Cayuga Chautauqua Chemung Chenango Clinton Columbia Cortland Delaware Dutchess Erie Essex Franklin Fulton Genesee Greene Hamilton Herkimer Jefferson Kings Lewis Livingston Madison Monroe Montgomery Tryon Nassau New York Niagara Oneida Onondaga Ontario Orange Orleans Oswego Otsego Putnam Queens Rensselaer Richmond Rockland Saint Lawrence Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Schuyler Seneca Steuben Suffolk Sullivan Tioga Tompkins Ulster Warren Washington Charlotte Wayne Westchester Wyoming Yates
Places	Cities Towns Indian reservations Villages Census-designated places
History	Lenape New Netherland Rensselaerswyck History of slavery in New York Province of New York Stamp Act Congress Invasion of Canada (1775) Saratoga campaign New York and New Jersey campaign State cessions New York in the American Civil War 9/11 attacks
New York (state) portal

• Elmira, New York
• Cities in New York (state)
• County seats in New York (state)
• Populated places established in 1791
• Cities in Chemung County, New York
• 1791 establishments in New York (state)