Elmira, New York

Elmira () is a city 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.

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 of the Americas, European colonization. Cayuga residing in the region maintained relations with European settlers, primarily related to the North American fur trade, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain, 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 emerged 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 British North America, Canada, where they resettled on land provided by the The Crown, 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, New York, 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 Elmira (town), New York, 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.

Elmira served as a transportation hub for New York's Southern Tier in the 1800s, connecting commercial centers in Rochester, New York, Rochester and Buffalo, New York, Buffalo with Albany, New York, 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 (city), New York, 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 US Army, Army training and muster point early in the American Civil War, Civil War.

In 1872 construction began on the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, eventually creating a route to Cortland, New York, Cortland and Syracuse, New York, Syracuse via Horseheads, New York, Horseheads, Breesport, New York, Breesport and Van Etten, New York, Van Etten. The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, completed in 1884, competed with the Erie's New York City to Buffalo line.
File:PSM V75 D308 Chemung canal extension.png, 1909 Extension of Chemung Canal.
File:Chemung County New York - Beers 1869.jpg, 1869 map showing Elmira's location as a transportation hub in Chemung County
File:1893 Poor's Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.jpg, Map of Delaware, Lackawanna and Westerny Railroad in New York State / Pennsylvania, 1893.
File:Aerial view of station - Erie Railway, Elmira Station, Railroad Avenue, Elmira, Chemung County, NY HAER NY,8-ELM,2A-1.tif, Aerial view of station - Erie Railway, Elmira Station, Railroad Avenue, Elmira New York

Prisoner-of-war camp

A great deal of the Union installation, known as Camp Rathbun, fell into disuse as the Civil War progressed, and the camp's Elmira Prison, "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 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 (office), sexton at Woodlawn National Cemetery, ex-slave John W. Jones (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 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.
File:The photographic history of the Civil War - thousands of scenes photographed 1861-65, with text by many special authorities (1911) (14760407854).jpg, Evening roll-call at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
File:The photographic history of the Civil War - thousands of scenes photographed 1861-65, with text by many special authorities (1911) (14762505722).jpg, Changing of the guard at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
File:The photographic history of the Civil War - thousands of scenes photographed 1861-65, with text by many special authorities (1911) (14576177549).jpg, Artillery on guard over prisoners at Camp Rathburn, ca. 1864.
File:Elmira, New York (1882736106).jpg, 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.
File:Elmira Reformatory.jpg, 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 30,000 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, NY, Elmira Heights. Anchor Glass produces a diverse line of flint, amber, green and other colored container glass, 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, Ardagh Group S.A.

CAF-USA, 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 Industries, Polaris and MTD Products, 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 Flood of '72

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.

2012 Tornado

On July 26, 2012, an EF1 tornado, EF1 tornado touched down near Cottage Drive off of New York State Route 352, 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 wide and took the city by surprise as this area has not been prone to tornadic activity.

Geography and climate

Elmira is at (42.089874, −76.809559).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and (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 (Pennsylvania-New York), 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, New York, Watkins Glen and Pennsylvania. New York State Route 13 begins near Lake Ontario and travels through Cortland, New York, Cortland and Ithaca, New York, 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 (city), New York, 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 people per square mile (1,632.0/km²). There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of 1,762.7 per square mile (680.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.03% White (U.S. Census), White, 13.05% African American (U.S. Census), Black or Race (United States Census), African American, 0.39% Native American (U.S. Census), Native American, 0.49% Asian (U.S. Census), Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander (U.S. Census), Pacific Islander, 1.37% from Race (United States Census), other races, and 2.64% from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. Census), Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census), 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 Marriage, 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 of road, of water lines, and 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 since 2021 is Anthony A. Alvernaz.
* 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 movement, 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, Gannett Co. Inc. It was Gannett's first newspaper.
* ''Chemung Valley Reporter'', weekly newspaper based in nearby Horseheads (village), New York, Horseheads .

Radio

* WCIH (FM), WCIH
* WNKI
* WCBF (FM), WCBF
* WELM
* WLVY (AM), WLVY
* WPIE (studio in Elmira, tower in Trumansburg)
* WOKN
* WKPQ / WHHO (studio in Hornell)
* WLEA / WCKR (studio in Hornell)
* WECW (Elmira College Student-Run Radio Station)
* WCID
* WENI-FM
* WPGO

Television

* WETM 18 (NBC)
* WETM-DT2 18.2 (Antenna TV, ANT)
* WSKG-TV, WSKA 30 (PBS, simulcast of WSKG-TV) (licensed to Corning, with which Elmira shares TV market)
* WENY-TV 36 (American Broadcasting Company, ABC on DT1/CBS on DT2/The CW, 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 Broadcasting Company, 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, New York, Binghamton and Rochester, New York, Rochester. Short Line (bus company), Short Line serves Elmira on its route between Binghamton, New York, Binghamton and Olean, New York, Olean. OurBus provides service to Elmira on a route between New York City and Niagara Falls, New York, Niagara Falls. Fullington Trailways discontinued service between Elmira and Williamsport, Pennsylvania in April 2022.

Air transportation

The Elmira Corning Regional Airport (International Air Transport Association airport code, IATA code ELM, International Civil Aviation Organization airport code, ICAO code KELM) is a medium-size regional airport, and the only area airport that offers scheduled airline service. Located 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, Florida, 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 W. Jones (ex-slave), 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.

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. These sites are now recognized as National Landmark of Soaring, National Landmarks of Soaring.

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

* Dunn Field (Elmira), 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 (Elmira, New York), 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.
* The First Arena was built in Elmira in 2000 (originally opened as the Coach USA Center). It has been home to the Elmira Jackals of the United Hockey League, UHL and ECHL from 2000 to 2017 when the team folded and the Elmira Enforcers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, FPHL from 2018 to 2021.

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 (Elmira, New York), Emmanuel Episcopal Church
* Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche
* Alexander Eustace House
* Fire Station No. 4 (Elmira, New York), Fire Station No. 4
* William S. Gerity House
* F. M. Howell and Company
* John W. Jones House
* Maple Avenue Historic District (Elmira, New York), Maple Avenue Historic District
* Near Westside Historic District
* Newtown Battlefield State Park
* Park Church
* Pentecostal Holy Temple Church of Jesus Christ
* Pratt House (Elmira, New York), Pratt House
* Quarry Farm
* St. Patrick's Parochial Residence-Convent and School
* Trinity Church (Elmira, New York), Trinity Church
* Woodlawn Cemetery (Elmira, New York), Woodlawn Cemetery and Woodlawn National Cemetery

Notable people

* Tedd Arnold, author and illustrator
* John Arnot, Jr., politician, Civil War soldier
* Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
* Charlie Baker (politician), Charlie Baker, Governor of Massachusetts
* Ray W. Barker, Major General, US Army
* 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 Langdon Clemens, 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
* Cullen Douglas, actor, director and producer
* Stan Drulia, ice hockey player and coach
* Jacob Sloat Fassett, politician
* Clyde Fitch, playwright
* Thomas S. Flood (politician), 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
* 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 (ex-slave), 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), New York State judge, prosecutor, and politician
* Jeff Plate, drummer for Trans-Siberian Orchestra
* Margaret L. Plunkett (1906-2000), labor economist, diplomat
* 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, writer
* 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 (United States), 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

References

External links

City of Elmira website

Chemung County Chamber of Commerce


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000928230336/http://www.civilwarhistory.com/ElmiraPrison/Elmira.htm Union Civil War Prison at Elmira]

John W. Jones Museum

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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)