Elmira Heights is a
village
A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
in
Chemung County,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
, United States. The population was 4,097 at the 2010 census.
The village is primarily within the town of
Horseheads, but part of the village is in the
town of Elmira. The village is a northern suburb of the
city of Elmira. It is part of the
Elmira, New York
Elmira () is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, 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. ...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The
Elmira Heights Village Hall was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1982.
The
Lackawanna Railroad once had a stop at Elmira Heights, 250.8 miles from its terminal at
Hoboken, NJ
Hoboken ( ; ) is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Hoboken is part of the New York metropolitan area and is the site of Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's popula ...
.
Geography
Elmira Heights is located at (42.127298, -76.824214).
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the village has a total area of , all land.
Newtown Creek, a
tributary
A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they ...
of the
Chemung River
The Chemung River ( ) is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 8, 2011 in south central New York and northern ...
, flows along the east side of the village, outside the village limits.
The
Southern Tier Expressway
New York State Route 17 (NY 17) is a major state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in Mina and runs east as a limite ...
(
Interstate 86 and
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 (NY 17) is a major state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate New York, Downstate regions of New York (state), New York in the United States. It begins at the New York–Pennsylvani ...
) passes east of the village on the far side of the Newtown Creek valley. The closest expressway access is from Horseheads to the north or Elmira to the south.
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14 (NY 14) is a state highway located in western New York in the United States. Along with New York State Route 19, NY 19, it is one of two routes to transect the state in a north–south fashion between ...
(College Avenue) and County Road 66 (Grand Central Avenue) are north–south streets through the village.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 4,170 people, 1,874 households, and 1,053 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 2,010 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.03%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 1.03%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.19%
Native American, 0.50%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.19% from
other races, and 1.03% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 1,874 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,015, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $32,135 versus $21,788 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the village was $16,334. About 7.1% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Fire protection
Fire department history
The Elmira Heights Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1896. When it began it was composed of two companies, the Chemical and Hose Company and the Independent Hook and Ladder Company. These later combined into one department. The first fire chief was William Monroe, and the first fire bell was purchased from Grace Church in Elmira. The original fire station was across the street from its present location on the northeast corner of Scottwood and Fourteenth Street. It was merely a shed in which to store equipment. Throughout the Heights three hose carts were placed. In case of a fire, this was the procedure used: Someone ran to ring the fire bell while everyone else near the fire ran to the hose cart to fasten the hose to the nearest hydrant. When the fire bell rang, firemen from every part of the village raced to the fire station. The hook and ladder truck was hand-drawn. The hose carts and chemical engine were horse-drawn.
Anyone with a team of horses made a bee-line for the station. The first team that appeared to pull the apparatus received three dollars for his services and the second team received two dollars for the use of his team. The race to see what man would get his team to the fire station first was almost as exciting as the fire itself. At the fire, the hose was connected to the hose already connect to the hydrant and the real fire fighting began.
The fire department had its social side as well. The two companies were as separate as it was possible to be. You either belonged to one or the other, but never both. You might walk to the door of the building with your friend of the other company, but once inside the door friendship ceased until you came back out. Benefit dances, card parties, and social gatherings were held and things went fine until it was time to divide the money. This rivalry and animosity continued until one night a new fire chief, tired of the bickering, ordered the door to be opened between the parlors of the two companies.
Fire department today
Today the Elmira Heights Fire Department is located next door to the Elmira Heights
Village Hall
A village hall is a public building in a rural or suburban community which functions as a community centre without a religious affiliation.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, a village hall is a building which is owned by a local gover ...
. Although the roster remains all-volunteer, the Village funds a 24/365 "Paid First Responder" program. There is a qualified duty responder within the station at all times, ready to respond to alarms. The department continues to offer Fire, Rescue and EMS services to the village of Elmira Heights and the towns of Elmira and Horseheads.
Elmira Heights Fire Company #1
The membership of the Elmira Heights Fire Department is made up of the Elmira Heights Fire Company. This is a private, not for profit social entity that supports the department from within the all-volunteer roster. They are housed within the department and operate as volunteer employees of the department during alarms. The department is responsible for day-to-day operations, apparatus maintenance, training & education, alarm response, etc. Whereas the company manages all fund raising efforts and social engagements. The Elmira Heights Fire Company solely funds the department EMS program.
Can and bottle drive
In 2011, the Elmira Heights Fire Company began a program encouraging the local public to donate their empty deposit cans and bottles. With the assistance of a local recycling company and a few dedicated members, the company has been able to collaborate with the village board to rehab their heavy rescue apparatus. They have since also donated two more apparatus to the village. One being a quick response EMS apparatus and also a wild land "brush" suppression vehicle. Due to an overwhelming response from the public, this program continues to fund EMS and other operations that may otherwise not continue without an additional tax levy on the residents.
Former fire apparatus manufacturer
Elmira Heights was once the location of the
Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation's manufacturing facility.
Police services
The Elmira Heights Police Department is a small full-service agency consisting of a force of eleven men which offers 24/7 police protection to the village of Elmira Heights. The department investigates all offenses that take place within the boundaries of the village. The Police Department shares their operations facility with the Elmira Heights Fire Department.
Education
It is in the
Elmira Heights Central School District.
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Text list
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References
External links
Village of Elmira Heights official website
Information about Elmira Heights
Elmira Heights Fire Department
Elmira Heights Central School District
{{authority control
Villages in New York (state)
Villages in Chemung County, New York