:Elmira, New York

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.{{cite web |last=Janowski |first=Diane |date= |title=Chemung County History Timeline 1771 - Now |url=https://www.chemunghistory.com/timeline-1771-now |access-date= |website=ChemungHistory.com |publisher=Chemung County History}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-chemung-or-newtown-new-york |title=This Day in History: Battle of Chemung, or Newtown, New York |publisher=History.com |access-date=2015-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629071107/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-chemung-or-newtown-new-york |archive-date=2015-06-29 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite journal |title=Elmira History: Treaty of Painted Post signed in Elmira |journal=Star Gazette Newspaper |date=2014-12-31 |last=Janowski |first=Diane |url=http://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/twin-tiers-roots/2014/12/31/history-treaty-painted-post/20919343/ |access-date=2015-07-17 }} 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

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.{{cite web|title=Elmira Wedding Resources/History|url=http://www.fingerlakesbrideguide.com/elmira_more_weddings.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828220738/http://www.fingerlakesbrideguide.com/elmira_more_weddings.html|archive-date=2016-08-28|access-date=2016-08-21}}

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."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 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019224849/https://www.chemungvalleymuseum.org/usr/How%20Elmira%20Got%20its%20Name%20article.pdf |date=October 19, 2020 }} 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.{{cite book|last1=Peirce|first1=H. B.|last2=Hurd|first2=D. Hamilton|date=1879|title=History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers|edition=1st|location=Philadelphia|publisher=Everts and Ensign|page=248|asin=B000XXWLKQ}}

{{blockquote|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 18[0]8, 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.

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

{{Main|Elmira Prison}}

A great deal of the {{convert|30|acre|m2|adj=on}} 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 {{Cite web|url=http://www.joycetice.com/military/prison.htm|title=Elmira Prison Camp (Civil War) History|website=www.joycetice.com|access-date=April 6, 2021}} and maps from the period indicate the camp occupied a somewhat irregular parallelogram, running about {{convert|1000|ft|m|-2}} 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 {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} 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.

{{Main|Elmira 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.{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Electrostatics" to "Engis" |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica |edition=11 |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35169 |access-date=26 May 2020}} In 1970 the complex was renamed the Elmira Correctional and Reception Center.

File:Elmira Reformatory.jpg|Elmira Reformatory, circa 1897.

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.

Anchor Glass Container Corporation,{{cite web|url=http://www.anchorglass.com/|title=Anchor Glass Container Corporation|access-date=8 November 2016}} 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.{{cite news|author=Reuters Editorial|title=Ardagh buys Anchor Glass for 721 mln euros|newspaper=Reuters|date=July 17, 2012|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/ardagh-anchorglass-acquisition-idINL6E8IHKVY20120717|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630044034/http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/ardagh-anchorglass-acquisition-idINL6E8IHKVY20120717|archive-date=June 30, 2014|access-date=8 November 2016}}

CAF-USA Inc{{cite web|title=CAF Raillway Solutions - CAF Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles|url=http://www.cafusa.com/|access-date=8 November 2016|language=es|archive-date=June 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602160532/http://www.cafusa.com/|url-status=dead}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.elmiraht.com/|title=Home|access-date=8 November 2016}} 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),{{cite web|url=http://www.hardinge.com/|title=Hardinge Group - The Machine Tool Leader|access-date=8 November 2016}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.secinfo.com/dsVsd.aXq.htm|title=SEC Info - Hardinge Inc - '8-K' for 11/29/95|access-date=8 November 2016}} Hauser-Tripet-Tschudin AG,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Purchase%20of%20Swiss%20Trio%20Makes%20Hardinge%20More%20Competitive%20in%20Grinders.-a069372083|title=Purchase of Swiss Trio Makes Hardinge More Competitive in Grinders. - Free Online Library|access-date=8 November 2016}} Jones & Shipman,{{Cite web|url=http://todaysmachiningworld.com/hardinge-announces-the-acquisition-of-jones-shipman/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412001639/http://todaysmachiningworld.com/hardinge-announces-the-acquisition-of-jones-shipman/|url-status=dead|title=Hardinge acquires Jones & Shipman|archive-date=April 12, 2013|access-date=April 6, 2021}} and Usach Technologies, Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.machinery.co.uk/machinery-news/hardinge-acquires-us-grinding-machine-maker/46992/|title=Machinery News Articledetailaspxarticleid=46992 - Machinery|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629123818/http://www.machinery.co.uk/machinery-news/hardinge-acquires-us-grinding-machine-maker/46992/|url-status=dead}} In 2004 they also acquired Bridgeport,{{cite web|url=http://www.productionmachining.com/columns/pm-news-hardinge-acquires-bridgeport-machine|title=PM News: Hardinge Acquires Bridgeport Machine |website= Production Machining|date=November 21, 2007 |access-date=8 November 2016}} world-famous for its milling machines and machining centers.

Hilliard Corporation,{{cite web|url=http://www.hilliardcorp.com/|title=Home|website= Hilliard Corporation|access-date=8 November 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.chemungchamber.org/news-item/735303-hilliard-featured-in-local-business-profile|title=Hilliard Featured in Local Business Profile|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208151358/http://www.chemungchamber.org/news-item/735303-hilliard-featured-in-local-business-profile|archive-date=8 February 2016|url-status=dead}}

Kennedy Valve,{{cite web|url=http://www.kennedyvalve.com/|title=Kennedy Valve - Manufacturers of Quality Waterworks Products|access-date=8 November 2016}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kennedyvalve.com/about-us/kennedy-valve-history/|title=Kennedy Valve History | Kennedy Valve Co.|website=www.kennedyvalve.com|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417143204/https://kennedyvalve.com/about-us/kennedy-valve-history/|url-status=dead}}

Trayer Products,{{cite web|url=http://www.trayerproducts.com/|title=Trayer|access-date=8 November 2016}} established in 1929, manufactures parts mostly for the heavy truck industry; primarily truck chassis parts such as king pins and shackles.

File:Elmira Flood of 1972 3.jpg

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.{{Cite web|author=Rachel Dworkin|date=2017-06-26|title=The Second Flood of 1972|url=http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-second-flood-of-1972.html|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Chemung County Historical Society}} Over 15,000 people had to flee the city, and approximately 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-23|title=The flood of 1972: 45 years later|url=https://www.weny.com/story/35738669/the-flood-of-1972-45-years-later|access-date=2020-11-06|website=www.weny.com|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|author=Rachel Dworkin |date=2012-06-11|title=Operation Rebuild: Eastman Kodak's Rather Filthy Secret|url=http://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2012/06/operation-rebuild-eastman-kodaks-rather.html|access-date=2022-04-13|website=Chemung County Historical Society}}

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.{{Cite book|last=Kneeland |first=Timothy W.|title=Playing Politics with Natural Disaster: Hurricane Agnes, the 1972 Election, and the Origins of FEMA|date=April 15, 2020|isbn=978-1-5017-4855-4|location=Ithaca, New York|oclc=1110124741}}

In March 1993, the city of Elmira was hit hard by a snow blizzard, nicknamed "Storm of the Century", that added 21.5 inches of snow to Elmira in a single day.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-27 |title=A history of blizzards and snow storms near Elmira |url=https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/local-news/a-history-of-significant-blizzards-and-snow-storms-in-elmira/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=WETM - MyTwinTiers.com |language=en-US}}

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 {{convert|0.5|mi}} wide and took the city by surprise as this area has not been prone to tornadic activity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/local-news/recap-of-july-2012-tornado/|title=Recap of July 2012 Tornado|date=May 30, 2016|access-date=April 6, 2021}}

Elmira is at {{Coord|42|5|23|N|76|48|34|W|type:city}} (42.089874, −76.809559).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

Image:Chemung River.jpg at Elmira]]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|19.6|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|19.0|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.7|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} (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.

{{Weather box

|collapsed =

|location = Elmira, New York (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 72

|Feb record high F = 70

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 102

|Jul record high F = 104

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 107

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 87

|Dec record high F = 69

|year record high F = 107

|Jan avg record high F = 56

|Feb avg record high F = 56

|Mar avg record high F = 67

|Apr avg record high F = 81

|May avg record high F = 88

|Jun avg record high F = 92

|Jul avg record high F = 93

|Aug avg record high F = 92

|Sep avg record high F = 89

|Oct avg record high F = 79

|Nov avg record high F = 68

|Dec avg record high F = 57

|year avg record high F = 95

|Jan high F = 33.7

|Feb high F = 36.3

|Mar high F = 44.8

|Apr high F = 58.5

|May high F = 71.1

|Jun high F = 79.2

|Jul high F = 83.7

|Aug high F = 82.1

|Sep high F = 74.9

|Oct high F = 61.7

|Nov high F = 48.8

|Dec high F = 38.5

|year high F = 59.4

|Jan mean F = 24.8

|Feb mean F = 26.4

|Mar mean F = 34.0

|Apr mean F = 45.9

|May mean F = 57.7

|Jun mean F = 66.5

|Jul mean F = 71.0

|Aug mean F = 69.5

|Sep mean F = 62.2

|Oct mean F = 50.3

|Nov mean F = 39.3

|Dec mean F = 30.5

|year mean F = 48.2

|Jan low F = 15.9

|Feb low F = 16.5

|Mar low F = 23.1

|Apr low F = 33.4

|May low F = 44.4

|Jun low F = 53.9

|Jul low F = 58.3

|Aug low F = 56.9

|Sep low F = 49.5

|Oct low F = 38.8

|Nov low F = 29.9

|Dec low F = 22.5

|year low F = 36.9

|Jan avg record low F = -3

|Feb avg record low F = -1

|Mar avg record low F = 6

|Apr avg record low F = 21

|May avg record low F = 31

|Jun avg record low F = 41

|Jul avg record low F = 47

|Aug avg record low F = 46

|Sep avg record low F = 36

|Oct avg record low F = 27

|Nov avg record low F = 16

|Dec avg record low F = 6

|year avg record low F = -6

|Jan record low F = −24

|Feb record low F = −21

|Mar record low F = −10

|Apr record low F = 6

|May record low F = 21

|Jun record low F = 32

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 31

|Sep record low F = 23

|Oct record low F = 15

|Nov record low F = 3

|Dec record low F = −16

|year record low F = −24

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.12

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.86

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.73

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.26

|May precipitation inch = 3.10

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.19

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.05

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.82

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.09

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.53

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.73

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.59

|year precipitation inch = 38.07

|Jan snow inch = 8.4

|Feb snow inch = 9.5

|Mar snow inch = 11.2

|Apr snow inch = 1.5

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 2.7

|Dec snow inch = 8.4

|year snow inch = 41.8

|Jan snow depth inch = 7

|Feb snow depth inch = 7

|Mar snow depth inch = 7

|Apr snow depth inch = 1

|May snow depth inch = 0

|Jun snow depth inch = 0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0

|Oct snow depth inch = 0

|Nov snow depth inch = 2

|Dec snow depth inch = 5

|year snow depth inch = 11

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.2

|Feb precipitation days = 9.8

|Mar precipitation days = 10.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.5

|May precipitation days = 13.2

|Jun precipitation days = 12.6

|Jul precipitation days = 11.8

|Aug precipitation days = 11.4

|Sep precipitation days = 10.6

|Oct precipitation days = 13.0

|Nov precipitation days = 10.6

|Dec precipitation days = 11.8

|year precipitation days = 140.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 6.4

|Feb snow days = 5.6

|Mar snow days = 3.7

|Apr snow days = 0.9

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 1.4

|Dec snow days = 3.6

|year snow days = 21.7

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bgm

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 18, 2021

| archive-date = March 25, 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120325204622/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bgm

| url-status = dead

}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00302610&format=pdf

| title = Station: Elmira, NY

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 18, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 15863

|1880= 20541

|1890= 30893

|1900= 35672

|1910= 37176

|1920= 45993

|1930= 47397

|1940= 45106

|1950= 49716

|1960= 46517

|1970= 39945

|1980= 35327

|1990= 33724

|2000= 30940

|2010= 29200

|2020= 26523

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elmiracitynewyork,US/PST045221|title=United States Census Bureau QuickFacts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 26, 2022}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 30,940 people, 11,475 households, and 6,701 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|4,229.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,895 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,762.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.morganquitno.com/txt/met07safe.htm|title=Morgan Quitno's 13th Annual Safest Metro Award in Safest Order|website=www.morganquitno.com|access-date=April 6, 2021}}

The three largest ethnic groups in Elmira are Irish, German and Italian.{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/housing/houses-Elmira-New-York.html|title=Elmira, NY (New York) Houses, Apartments, Rent, Mortgage Status, Home and Condo Value Estimator, Cars, Bedrooms, Owners, Prices, Averages, Residents Info|website=www.city-data.com|access-date=April 6, 2021}}

File:Elmira City Hall, New York.jpg

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 {{convert|125|mi|km|0}} of road, {{convert|210|mi|km|-1}} of water lines, and {{convert|175|mi|km|0}} of sewer lines. There are four ZIP codes in the City of Elmira: 14901 (northside), 14902 (downtown), 14904 (southside), and 14905 (West Elmira).

• The city police department employs approximately 81 full-time officers. The chief is Kristen Thorne since 2023.{{cite web |title=Police Department Administration |url=https://www.cityofelmira.net/?page_id=3324#:~:text=Chief%20Kristen%20Thorne%20joined%20the,of%20the%20Elmira%20Police%20Department. |access-date=2024-02-01 |publisher=City of Elmira, New York}}
• 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofelmira.net/?page_id=1362 |publisher=City of Elmira, New York |title=City Manager's Office |access-date=2022-04-13}}
• 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.

File:Elmira Star-Gazette, New York.jpg

• 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 .

• 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

• 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)

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.https://web.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/Binghamton.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} 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.{{cite web| title = Fullington Tours, Clearfield, Pennsylvania - Tours, Cruises and Travel Packages| accessdate = 2022-07-01| url = http://www.fullingtontours.com/pages/schedulebulletin}}

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 {{convert|7|mi|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.

File:ElmiraSign.jpg

File:Steele Memorial Library.png

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.{{Cite web |last1=Lovell |first1=Chelsea |last2=Gfeller |first2=Kevin |date=2021-07-01 |title=Welcome to Elmira sign defaced with Judge Jeanine Pirro over Brian Williams |url=https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/local/welcome-to-elmira-sign-defaced/ |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=WETM - MyTwinTiers.com |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |title=World War II Glider Training at Harris Hill Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=66973 |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}} 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.{{cite news|last=Lantz|first=Samantha|date=September 28, 2018|title=Designs unveiled shows what new LECOM school could look like|newspaper=My Twin Tiers|url=https://www.mytwintiers.com/news/local-news/designs-unveiled-shows-what-new-lecom-school-could-look-like/1457656129//|access-date=28 September 2018}}
• The Clemens Center is a concert and theater center named after Samuel Clemens, (Mark Twain).File:Lake and casino, Eldridge Park, by Purviance, W. T. (William T.).jpg
• The Arnot Art Museum is in the downtown Civic-Historic District.
• Eldridge Park features a restored 1890s Looff Carousel{{cite web |title=1890's Looff Carousel |url=http://eldridgepark.org/new/about-us/attractions/ |website=Attractions |date=May 12, 2017 |publisher=Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201200742/http://eldridgepark.org/new/about-us/attractions/ |url-status=dead }}
• 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.{{Cite web|title=Mark Twain's Grave|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mark-twains-grave|access-date=2020-11-09|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en}}
• 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,{{cite news|last=Renko|first=Amanda|date=March 10, 2017|title=FIRST ARENA: New owner, but Jackals leaving|newspaper=Star-Gazette |url=http://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2017/03/09/first-arena-county-plans-friday-announcement/98958172/}} 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.

Elmira City School District is the school district.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36015_chemung/DC20SD_C36015.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chemung County, NY|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-12-23}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36015_chemung/DC20SD_C36015_SD2MS.txt Text list]

The following are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:{{NRISref|2010a}}{{cite web|date=2010-11-19|title=National Register of Historic Places|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20101119.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119083356/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20101119.htm|archive-date=January 19, 2011|work=WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 11/08/10 THROUGH 11/12/10|publisher=National Park Service}}{{cite web|title=Weekly List of Actions Taken On Properties: 1/03/12 Through 1/06/12|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20120113.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620205219/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20120113.htm|archive-date=June 20, 2012|access-date=11 June 2013|work=January 6, 2012|publisher=nps.gov}}{{cite web|date=2013-08-23|title=National Register of Historic Places|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20130823.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927161404/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20130823.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2013|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/12/13 through 8/16/13|publisher=National Park Service}}

• 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

• John Alexander, racing driver
• Tedd Arnold, author and illustrator{{cite web|url=http://teddarnoldbooks.com/author.html |title=author.html |access-date=8 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108140405/http://teddarnoldbooks.com/author.html |archive-date=8 November 2016 }}
• John Arnot, Jr., politician, Civil War soldier{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000301|title=ARNOT, John, Jr. - Biographical Information|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
• Charlie Baker, Former Governor of Massachusetts{{cite magazine|title=Massachusetts Governor: Charlie Baker (R)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2014-new-members/massachusetts-governor-charlie-baker-r-20141105|magazine=National Journal|access-date=25 November 2014}}
• Ray W. Barker, Major General, US Army{{cite web|url=http://trees.ancestry.com/view/Military.aspx?tid=5823047&pid=6946145640&vid=34b07b91-da3e-4cbc-96e5-7b3ce7adb3e2|title=Ray Wehnes Barker Major General, US Army - Army - Military Page - Ancestry.com|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Tracy Beadle (1808–1877), druggist, banker, and politician
• John Beecher, NHL player for the Boston Bruins
• James R. Beckwith, Wisconsin state assembly'Wisconsin Blue Book 1915,' Biographical Sketch of James R. Beckwith, pg. 502
• 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{{cite web|url=http://www.marktwainhouse.org/man/olivia_langdon_clemens.php|title=Welcome to the Mark Twain House & Museum - Olivia Langdon Clemens|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=July 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717051053/http://www.marktwainhouse.org/man/olivia_langdon_clemens.php|url-status=dead}}
• Chip Coffey, psychic, television personality{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1368465/bio|title=Chip Coffey|website=IMDb|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Frederick Collin, lawyer, judge, Mayor of Elmira{{cite web|url=http://nycourts.gov/history/legal-history-new-york/luminaries-court-appeals/collin-frederick.html |title=Court of Appeals |publisher=Historical Society of the New York Courts |access-date=2016-11-08}}
• Eileen Collins, astronaut{{cite web|title=Official Biography on NASA website|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/collins.html|access-date=27 June 2011}}
• Harriet Maxwell Converse, author, folklorist, Native American civil rights advocate
• Clara Cook, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player{{cite web|title=All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website profile|url=http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/cook-clara/251|access-date=28 February 2012}}
• Ernie Davis, football player, first African-American Heisman Trophy winner (1961){{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/ernie-davis-9267805 |title=Ernie Davis |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=2016-11-08}}
• Alexander S. Diven, former US Army officer and Congressman

• Stan Drulia, ice hockey player and coach{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/230/stan-drulia|title=Stan Drulia|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Jacob Sloat Fassett, politician{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000042|title=FASSETT, Jacob Sloat - Biographical Information|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Clyde Fitch, playwright{{cite web|url=https://www.amherst.edu/library/archives/exhibitions/play/alumni/fitch|title=Alumni in the Theater - Clyde Fitch - Amherst College|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• 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 CircuitDorsen, D. M. (2012). Henry Friendly, greatest judge of his era. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
• Burt Gillett, director of animated films
• Emmett Goff, pioneering horticulturist, inventor, writer and educator
• Charles Tomlinson Griffes, composer{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/composer/griffes.html|title=Retired Site - PBS Programs - PBS|website=PBS|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• 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{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/tommy-hilfiger-594098 |title=Tommy Hilfiger |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=2016-11-08}}
• Molly Huddle, Olympic runner{{cite web|url=http://www.und.com/sports/c-track/mtt/huddle_molly00.html|title=Molly Huddle Bio :: Notre Dame Track & Field :: UND.COM :: The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• John W. Jones, underground railroad agent{{cite web|url=http://www.johnwjonesmuseum.org/jwjstory.html|title=The John W. Jones Story Part One|first=Janowski Web|last=Design|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=July 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722133316/http://www.johnwjonesmuseum.org/jwjstory.html|url-status=dead}}
• Matt Knowles, pro wrestler
• Warren D. Leary, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and newspaper publisher'Wisconsin Blue Book 1933, Biographical Sketch of Warren D. Leary, pg. 227
• Kirt Manwaring, former Major League Baseball player{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/1957/kirt-manwaring|title=Kirt Manwaring|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Charles Thomas McMillen, basketball player, politician{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000573|title=McMILLEN, Charles Thomas - Biographical Information|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• 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{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/william-perry/biography/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630071031/http://www.mtv.com/artists/william-perry/biography/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2014|title=William Perry Bio - William Perry Career|website=MTV|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Aurora Phelps, land reformer, labor leader, women's rights advocate{{Cite book|work=American National Biography|title=Aurora Phelps|url=http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-01326.html}}
• 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{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/variety139-1940-07/page/n141/mode/1up?q=%22Daniel+J.+Quinlan%22|title=Obituaries: Daniel J. Quinlan|journal=Variety|date=July 17, 1940|page=46}}
• Hal Roach, film producerHal Roach. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:10, Sep 12, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/hal-roach-9459667 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205131247/http://www.biography.com/people/hal-roach-9459667 |date=2014-12-05 }}.
• 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{{cite book |last=Shaw |first=Frederick B. |date=1942 |title=History of the Shaw Family and Descendants of Anthony Shaw, the First American Ancestor, Who Arrived Before 1653 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofshawfam00shaw/page/n25/mode/2up?q=frederick |location=Arlington, VA |publisher=Frederick Benjamin Shaw |page=26 |via=Internet Archive}}
• Joey Sindelar, pro golfer{{cite web|url=http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.02101.joey-sindelar.html|title=Joey Sindelar - Official PGA TOUR Champions Profile|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Horace B. Smith, former US Congressman
• Esther Baker Steele (1835–1911), educator, author, traveler, philanthropist{{cite news |title=ELMIRA LOSES A BENEFACTOR IN THE DEATH OF MRS. STEELE |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275801761/?terms=Esther%20Baker%20Steele&match=1 |access-date=25 December 2021 |work=Star-Gazette |via=Newspapers.com |date=23 November 1911 |page=10 |language=en}} {{source-attribution}}
• Joel Dorman Steele, educator and author
• John Surratt, son of Mary Surratt
• Art Sykes, boxer
• Mark Twain, writer{{cite web|last=Woodhouse |first=Mark |title=Mark Twain and Elmira |url=http://www.archives.nysed.gov/apt/magazine/archivesmag_winter2011.pdf |publisher=New York State Archives |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110706133637/http://www.archives.nysed.gov/apt/magazine/archivesmag_winter2011.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-06 }}
• 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{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w2/wantuck.htm}}
• Bob Waterfield, college and pro football player, husband of actress Jane Russell{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/bobwaterfield/2528326/profile|title=Bob Waterfield|website=NFL.com|access-date=8 November 2016}}
• Brian Williams, television news anchorBrian Williams. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:14, Sep 12, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/brian-williams-16243253 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731053644/http://www.biography.com/people/brian-williams-16243253 |date=July 31, 2013 }}.
• Jason Wise, actor
• Don Zimmer, Major League Baseball player and manager{{cite web|url=http://www.pgcbl.com/news/index.html?article_id=489|title=Ballparks of the PGCBL: Dunn Field|access-date=8 November 2016|archive-date=December 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201135158/http://www.pgcbl.com/news/index.html?article_id=489|url-status=dead}}
• Aeryn Gillern, Missing person, UNIDO worker

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Portal|New York (state)}}

{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Elmira}}

• {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Elmira |volume= VIII | page=153 |short=1 }}
• [http://www.cityofelmira.net City of Elmira website]
• [http://www.chemungchamber.org Chemung County Chamber of Commerce]
• [https://www.chemunghistory.com/elmira-city-historian Elmira City Historian]
• [http://www.joycetice.com/towns/elmira.htm Tri-Counties Genealogy & History: Town & City of Elmira, Chemung County NY]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20000928230336/http://www.civilwarhistory.com/ElmiraPrison/Elmira.htm Union Civil War Prison at Elmira]
• [http://www.johnwjonesmuseum.org/ John W. Jones Museum]

{{Elmira, New York}}

{{Chemung County, New York}}

{{New York}}

{{New York county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Elmira, New York

Category:Cities in New York (state)

Category:County seats in New York (state)

Category:Populated places established in 1791

Category:Cities in Chemung County, New York

Category:1791 establishments in New York (state)