Binghamton, New York

Binghamton
—  City  —
Downtown Binghamton, NY

Seal
Nickname(s): "The Parlor City", "Carousel Capital of the World", "Valley of Opportunity"[1]
Motto: Restoring the Pride.
Binghamton is located in New York
Binghamton
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New York
County Broome
Settled 1802
Incorporated 1834 (village)
1867 (city)
Government
 - Type Mayor-Council
 - Mayor Matthew T. Ryan (D)
 - City Council
Area
 - City 11.0 sq mi (28.6 km2)
 - Land 10.4 sq mi (27.0 km2)
 - Water 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)  5.43%
Elevation 850 ft (270 m)
Population (2000 census)[2]
 - City 47,380
 - Estimate (2009) 44,401
 - Density 4,300.9/sq mi (1,656.6/km2)
 - Metro 252,320
Demonym Binghamtonian
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 139xx (13901 = downtown)
Area code(s) 607
Twin Cities
 - Borovichi  Russia
 - La Teste-de-Buch  France
Website http://www.cityofbinghamton.com

Binghamton is a city located in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is located in upstate New York near the Pennsylvania border, situated in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. Binghamton is the county seat of Broome County and is the principal city and cultural center of the Greater Binghamton metropolitan area (also known as the Triple Cities), home to a quarter million people.[3] The population of the city itself, according to the 2000 census, is 47,380.[2]

From the days of the railroad, Binghamton was a transportation crossroads and a manufacturing center, known at different times for the production of cigars, shoes, and high-tech products. IBM was founded in the region, and Edwin Link invented the flight simulator in the city, leading to a notable concentration of electronics- and defense-oriented firms that continue to exist to this day. The population of the city has declined significantly in the second half of the 20th century at the expense of the surrounding suburbs, a result of suburbanization. From a high of 85,000 in 1950, the estimated 2009 city population is 44,401. The region lost a significant portion of it's manufacturing-based industry following cuts made by defense firms after the end of the Cold War, of which some has been replaced by the significant retail industry development of the area and the growth of the region as an educational center.

Today, Greater Binghamton is home to Binghamton University, a driving force in the community as an academic, athletic, and arts center, along with a continued concentration of high-tech firms including presences by Lockheed Martin, IBM, BAE Systems, Rockwell Collins and others. Despite the loss of industry, Binghamton still retains a very ethnically diverse population.

Contents

History

Bird's-eye view c. 1910, looking west down Court Street from county courthouse

The city was named after William Bingham, a wealthy Philadelphian who bought the surrounding land in 1792. Before that, the first known people of European descent to come to the area were the troops of the Sullivan Expedition in 1779, during the American Revolutionary War.

The community was first settled around 1802 and was known as Chenango Point. Binghamton was first incorporated in 1834 as a village of the Town of Binghamton. Binghamton became a city in 1867.

Abel Bennett, who made a fortune as owner of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, was the city's first mayor. His farm property on the city's west side (in an area bordered by Riverside Drive on the south, Beethoven Street on the west, Seminary Avenue on the north, and portions of Chestnut Street and St. John Avenue to the east) is known as the Abel Bennett Tract. On Feb. 19, 2008, this historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

The first ever center built for the treatment of alcoholism as a disease was opened in Binghamton as the New York State Inebriate Asylum, completed in 1864, which was soon after changed to a hospital for the mentally ill. The main hospital building, designed by Isaac Perry, is now a New York State and National Historical Landmark on the site of the current mental health facility on Upper Court and Robinson Streets. This facility is currently being developed as a clinical campus for Upstate Medical University.

Valley of Opportunity: Growth as a manufacturing hub

An early Link Flight Simulator, invented in Binghamton in 1929

Binghamton was nicknamed the Parlor City for its neat streets and attractive homes, including many stately mansions. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrants moved to the area, finding an abundance of jobs, leading them to call it the Valley of Opportunity. Early on, Binghamton had been the second-largest manufacturer of cigars in the United States. However, by the early 1920s, the major employer of the region became Endicott Johnson, a shoe manufacturer whose development of welfare capitalism resulted in many amenities for local residents. Binghamton's population began growing rapidly from this influx.

During the Second World War, this growth continued as IBM, which was founded in Greater Binghamton, began emerging as a global leader in technology. IBM's presence, coupled with Greater Binghamton being the birthplace of the Link flight simulator, led to a large concentration of engineers living in the area. Another major manufacturer was Ansco, Until the Cold War ended, the area never experienced an economic downfall, due in part to its defense-heavy industries. The population peaked at around 85,000 in 1950.

Binghamton saw other companies grow during this time. Some of the more notable businesses included Valvoline, which started here before moving, and the Nineteen Hundred Washer Company, which merged to form Whirlpool. Another important, if dubious, product from the era was Swamp Root, a famous patent medicine developed in the late 1800s.

In 1913, 31 people perished in the Binghamton Clothing Company fire, which resulted in numerous reforms to the New York fire code. Major floods in 1935 and 1936 resulted in a number of deaths, and washed out the Ferry Street Bridge (now the Clinton Street Bridge). The floods were devastating, and resulted in the construction of flood walls along the length of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers.

Later development

The original Dicks started out as a fishing store in the East Side of the City of Binghamton in 1948. As was typical in many cities, urban renewal dominated much of the construction during the 1960s and early 1970s, with many of Binghamton's ornate buildings torn down during this period. The construction included the creation of Government Plaza, the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, and North Shore Dr. (NY 363). In 1973, the Kopernik Space Center, the largest public observatory in the northeastern United States, was built. However, despite this sweeping overhaul, the city fell into decline as businesses moved out to the suburbs and away from the region.

With the Cold War coming to a close, a large portion of the defense-related industries in the area suffered severe cutbacks and closures. This was compounded by a large series of layoffs at IBM throughout the early 1990s. As a result, the region went into an economic recession. Today, the city is attempting to diversify its economic base in order to spur revitalization. Major emphasis has been put on Binghamton University. A downtown campus was built in 2007, and there are currently plans to create a large student housing complex downtown. In 2007, Binghamton was named the ninth-greenest city in the U.S. by Country Home magazine.[5]

Tragedy has also hit in recent years. While flooding has been common with Binghamton sitting at the confluence of two rivers, a major flood was able to overcome the city's flood walls and wreak havoc, causing millions of dollars in damage. The city's American Civic Association is the location of the April 3, 2009 shootings, known as the Binghamton shootings, which left 14 dead.[6]

Geography

Facing west towards the confluence of the Susquehanna (left) and Chenango (right) rivers. Confluence Park in downtown, 2007

Binghamton is a small city in Upstate New York, located between the Finger Lakes region (to the west) and the Catskill Mountains (to the east). It lies right at the confluence of two rivers (the Chenango and the Susquehanna) and the junction of three major highways (I-81, I-88, and Route 17, soon to be I-86)--making it easily accessible to places like New York City, Syracuse, Albany, and Buffalo.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0 sq mi (28.6 km²). 10.4 sq mi (27.0 km²) of it is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) of it (5.43%) is water.

The north branch of the Susquehanna River passes through downtown Binghamton. This branch rises in eastern New York and receives a number of tributaries above Binghamton, most notably the Chenango, which joins from the north just outside of the business district. Major floods occurred in the city during 1865, 1936 and 2006.

In 1935 the Chenango suffered a flash flood, which was damaging, but less severe once it joined the larger Susquehanna. So much water came from the Chenango, that the Susquehanna flowed backwards for some distance above the confluence. In 1972 the remnants of Hurricane Agnes flooded the entire Susquehanna basin downstream from Binghamton, but the damage in the city was minor.

In 2006, the Susquehanna flooded again in Binghamton causing massive amounts of damage in the city and the entire metropolitan area. The Exchange Street and Washington Street bridges were flooded and the height of the river surpassed the flood walls on North Shore Drive, Court Street, and Conklin Ave. The damage was extensive enough to force large scale evacuations, including that of Lourdes Hospital which was unable to pump water out of its basement fast enough.

Climate

Binghamton has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with cold, snowy winters and warm, wet summers. Snowfall is significant, with an annual total of 77.3 inches (196 cm). Binghamton is not as greatly affected by lake-effect snow as the cities to the northwest (Syracuse) and closer to the Great Lakes, but persistent snow bands from the lakes do occasionally result in moderate snows. Binghamton receives significant snows at times during the year from Nor'easter storms as well.

Summers in Binghamton are typified by warmer, less humid days with occasional temperature spikes into the upper 80s and lower 90s. Higher temperatures have occurred, but are very uncommon. As with most cities in upstate New York, precipitation in Binghamton is spread evenly throughout the year; there is no "dry season."

Climate data for Binghamton, New York
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: NOAA [8]

Cityscape

The State Office Building, the center-piece of Government Plaza.

Chenango Point's incorporation as a village and eventually as the City of Binghamton, united various communities located on both shores of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers. The majority of the city's population and development lies along the rolling terrain nearest the riverbanks with sparse development in the hills that define the city limits. Currently, Binghamton encompasses seven neighborhoods; Center City, the Westside, the Southside, the Eastside, the Northside, the First Ward and Ely Park.

Binghamton is known for its bicycling and walking clubs, facilities, and trails. The Downtown and Northside River Walk is an urban trail starting at the Confluence and travels up the Chenango river, past Off Track Betting ( a horse betting shop), The Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, Noyes Island with its large power station, and ending at Cheri A. Lindsey Park.

Architecture

Neighborhoods

Downtown Binghamton, also known as "Center City," is the Southern Tier's regional administrative, business, entertainment and transportation center. Every first Friday of the month, a trolley travels around Washington Street at different cafes and shops as artists showcase different pieces and may include auctions.This neighboorhod is scattered with urban blight (within the residential section, from Caroll St east to the Brandywine Highway).

West of Downtown, across the Chenango River, lies the Westside. The neighborhood is the city's largest by population, of which a significant proportion are Binghamton University students.

Due to its large population, the district is mainly residential and its character ranges from urban to suburban. The housing stock ranges from small to large, detached, single and double-family houses to attached row-houses and large apartment buildings. Generally, the section of the neighborhood south of Seminary Avenue towards Riverside Drive and the Susquehanna River is inhabited by middle to upper-class residents, while the area north of Seminary Avenue towards Main Street and the rail tracks is inhabited by working-class residents and students from the neighboring colleges.

Main Street forms the Westside's commercial corridor made up of various forms of retail consisting of several large supermarkets, pharmacies, bank branches, pubs, restaurants, auto shops and a few strip malls. Several specialty "Mom and Pop" shops are scattered along the route as well. Apart from commercial Main Street and some industrial buildings one block north, along the Norfolk Southern tracks, the Westside is primarily a residential neighborhood.

It contains Binghamton High School (formerly Binghamton Central High School), which is noted for Helen Foley Theater, named by Rod Serling for his drama teacher. A carousel in the middle of Recreation Park once had a carving of Rod Serling's name that has since been painted over. Serling depicts a similar scenario in "The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance," which shows a young child is carving his name into a carousel modeled after the one in Recreation Park.

The Southside straddles the south bank of the Susquehanna River. It is home to Binghamton General Hospital (an affiliate of United Health Services). It is home to a few strip malls with eateries and convenience stores and the Crowley Food's Corporation. It is also turning into an ethnic ghetto of welfare relocates.

The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park, the 5th oldest zoo in the country, is also located on the Southside. The Southside is connected to downtown Binghamton by the State Street Bridge, Exchange Street Bridge, Tompkins Street Bridge and the historic pedestrian and cyclist only South Washington Street Bridge. It borders the Town of Vestal, New York to the West via Vestal Avenue and the Town of Conklin, New York to the East via Conklin Avenue.

The Eastside lies east of the downtown area along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. The neighborhood is largely residential with commercial corridors along both Robinson and Court streets. Pockets of industry lie scattered along is western and southern boundaries. The Eastside is also known as home to the Greater Binghamton Health Center which is the region's state administered mental health and hygiene facility. It borders Kirkwood, New York to the East via Upper Front Street (State Route 12).

The Northside is located just north of downtown across the Norfolk Southern rail tracks. The Village of Port Dickinson and the Town of Dickinson lie to its north, the town of town of Fenton lies to its east while the Chenango River creates its western boundary.

The Northside is a light commercial, industrial and working-class residential section of the city. It contains portions of the Martin Luther King, Jr.-Chenango River Promenade as Cheri Lindsey Park, which is known for its vert ramps and bowls. Chenango Street serves as the area's "main drag" and runs north-south through the neighborhood.

The neighborhood is characterized by urban blight, apart from the river promenade, a lack of investment in infrastructure and services is evident. Furthermore, it is the only Binghamton neighborhood without convenient or direct access to a traditional supermarket.

The First Ward is largely a residential neighborhood best known for the antique shops that line Clinton Street. The neighborhood stretches west from Chenango River to the Johnson City border and lies between the Norfolk Southern tracks to the south and Route 17 to the north.

Ely Park is Binghamton's northern most neighborhood and is best known for its municipal golf course. It lies on portions of Mount Prospect and of the other hills north of the West Side and First Ward. A government subsidized housing project known simply as the Ely Park Apartments is located there. Ely Park houses are a haven for many Eastern European immigrants just arriving in the area.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 8,325
—
1870 12,692 52.5%
1880 17,317 36.4%
1890 35,005 102.1%
1900 39,647 13.3%
1910 48,443 22.2%
1920 66,800 37.9%
1930 76,662 14.8%
1940 78,309 2.1%
1950 80,674 3.0%
1960 75,941 −5.9%
1970 64,123 −15.6%
1980 55,860 −12.9%
1990 53,008 −5.1%
2000 47,380 −10.6%
Est. 2009 44,401 [9] −6.3%
Historical Population Figures[10]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 47,380 people, 21,089 households, and 10,417 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,539.2/sq mi (1,752.3/km²). There were 23,971 housing units at an average density of 2,296.5/sq mi (886.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.18% White, 8.41% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.71% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 3.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,091 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.6% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The area surrounding Binghamton, referred to in marketing as "Greater Binghamton" – or the Binghamton MSA by the census bureau – is approximately 252,000 people. The Binghamton MSA is composed of all of Broome County and neighboring Tioga County. Alternatively defined, the number of people living in an approximately 40-mile radius of the city is approximately 300,000. This count includes Broome, Tioga, and portions of Cortland, Delaware and Chenango Counties in New York and portions of Susquehanna and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,665, and the median income for a family was $36,137. Males had a median income of $28,774 versus $23,014 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,067. About 16.5% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Old Binghamton City Hall (1897), designed by Raymond Francis Almirall
Broome County Courthouse (1898), by local architect Isaac G. Perry

Since its incorporation as a city in 1867, Binghamton has been a municipality with a "strong" mayor-council form of government. The city government, originally housed in the old Municipal Building on Collier Street (now the Grand Royale Hotel), is now located at the Binghamton City Hall which occupies the west-wing of Government Plaza on the corner of State and Hawley streets. The mayor and councilors are elected to four-year terms and are limited to serving only two. The Binghamton City Council is a unicameral body consisting of seven Council members whose districts are defined by geographic population boundaries.

Executive

The current mayor of Binghamton is Matthew T. Ryan (D). The mayor oversees the following city departments:[11]

  • Assessment
  • Building & Construction
  • City Clerk
  • Code Enforcement
  • Dog Control
  • Economic Development
  • Engineering
  • Finance
  • Fire
  • Legal
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Personnel/Civil Service
  • Planning Housing & Community Development
  • Police
  • Public Works
  • Vital Statistics
  • Youth Bureau
  • Water & Sewer

Legislative

The current 7-member City Council comprises:

  • Bobby Weslar (D), 1st District
  • Martin J. Gerchman (D), 2nd District
  • Teri Rennia (D), 3rd District
  • Lea Webb (D), 4th District
  • Sean Massey (D), 5th District
  • Charles Kramer (D), 6th District
  • Edward M. Collins (D), 7th District

The Binghamton City Council meets for business meetings every first and third Monday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Council Chamber and for work sessions every first and third Wednesday of the month at 6 PM in the Work Room.[12]

Neighborhood Assemblies Program

The Binghamton Neighborhood Assemblies Program created nine public forum assemblies in which city residents play a lead role in "restoring the pride" in Binghamton by sharing their concerns, hopes and needs and then working in conjunction with city government and community partners to implement positive change.[13]

Safety

Public safety in Binghamton is the primary responsibility of the 124-officer Binghamton Police Department[14] and the 132-officer Binghamton Fire Department.[15] The Binghamton Fire Department is composed of 134 paid uniformed firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.

2009 Civic Association shootings

Binghamton received worldwide attention on April 3, 2009, when 41-year-old Jiverly Wong killed 13 people and wounded 4 others, before killing himself, in a shooting at the American Civic Association (ACA)at 131 Front Street.[16] The ACA assists immigrants and refugees, according to its website.[17]

Economy

Boscov's, downtown Binghamton's department store
The Security Mutual Life Building (1905), a Beaux-Arts landmark by T. I. Lacey & Son
JulyFest, a festival of music, food, and arts, is held annually downtown
Live at Five, a Friday night after-work concert, is held each week Memorial Day to Labor Day downtown
Blues on the Bridge, an annual blues festival held on the antique Washington Street bridge

The nearby suburb of Vestal has many strip malls along a five-mile stretch of the Vestal Parkway (NY 434). Johnson City has the region’s largest indoor mall, the Oakdale Mall. Other area shopping centers include Boscov's department store (corner of Court St. and Water St.), Court St., Washington St.and State St. all in downtown Binghamton

Binghamton's employment base is skewed towards technology businesses, particularly the defense industry. Education and health care are also significant employers in the region.

Current major employers in the Greater Binghamton area include:

Culture and arts influence

The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park is the fifth-oldest zoo in the nation.

The area’s Kopernik Space Center observatory is the largest public observatory in the northeast United States.

The Roberson Museum and Science Center, Located at the heart of Binghamton, is home to the Binghamton Visitor's Center, the Link Planetarium, and a number of exhibits detailing the culture and history of the Greater Binghamton Area and the Southern Tier of New York.

The Binghamton area is the home of the regional dish known as the spiedie, celebrated at the annual Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally, held at Otsiningo Park.

The ART Mission and Theater, located in downtown Binghamton, is home to a fine art gallery and the only non-profit movie theater dedicated to showing independent, foreign and culturally significant films.

The region has, in the last several years, developed a growing and pervasive arts scene. These include a large cluster of art galleries[18] and shops centered in the downtown Binghamton area, and has given rise to an event, the First Friday Art Walk, sponsored by a local arts association, the Gorgeous Washington Street Association. These events have been drawing large crowds downtown since 2003. Artists of local prominence that display or have galleries include Anthony Brunelli, a renowned photorealist painter who calls Binghamton home; Orazio Salati, who owns a gallery and exhibits many works; and Marla Olmstead, a local child who achieved fame in the art world for her abstract art. Dov Treiman lives, works, and exhibits at his home in Berkshire, in the Greater Binghamton region.

Education

Primary and secondary education

Higher education

Binghamton University

Binghamton University, (formerly known as Harpur College, and as State University of New York at Binghamton), part of the SUNY system, is located in nearby Vestal. The University is the top-ranking public school in the Northeast United States[19] and was also ranked number 1 on Kiplinger's best values in education. It offers highly ranked education, significant arts, and Division I athletics.

Broome Community College

Broome Community College, also a part of the SUNY system, is located in nearby Dickinson.

Upstate Medical University

A clinical campus of Upstate Medical University was established for third and fourth year medical students in 1979. Students spend their first two years of medical school in Syracuse, New York and then complete their training in Binghamton.

Davis College

Davis College (formerly Practical Bible College) is located just outside the city limits in the suburb of Johnson City.

Other Institutions

Binghamton is also home to branches of Ridley Lowell, Elmira Business Institute, and Empire College.

Media

The Greater Binghamton metro area is served by the following media outlets:

Sports

The area is home to the Eastern League's Binghamton Mets (AA affiliate of the New York Mets). The B-Mets have sent stars like José Reyes, David Wright, Preston Wilson, Pat Strange, Prentice Redman, Eric Cammack, Jason Tyner, Jason Roach, and Jay Payton to the majors.

Several hockey teams have played in Broome County over the years, most recently the Binghamton Senators, who currently serve as the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. The B-Sens won division titles on 2003 and 2005, reaching the AHL conference finals in 2003. They play their home games at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Division I College Sports are played at Binghamton University (a member of the America East Conference). Division III College Sports are played at Broome Community College. Bobby Gonzalez, former head coach of Seton Hall's men's basketball team was born here, and still has family in the area. Alongside Bobby Gonalez, King Rice, a McDonald's All-American, and 2 year starter at UNC, is currently an assistant coach for Vanderbilt's men's basketball team, called Binghamton home.

Binghamton is also home to two semi-pro football teams, the Broome County Dragons (members of the Empire Football League) and the Southern Tier Green Machine (members of the North American Football League). In addition, two women's football teams call Binghamton home; the Binghamton Tiger Cats (members of the Independent Women's Football League) and the Southern Tier Spitfire (members of the Women's Football Alliance).

The area is also home to an annual Professional Tennis Challenger, the Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger, part of the USTA pro circuit (Known as the Frito-Lay Tennis Challenger in years past). Tennis greats such as Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and more recently Andy Murray found their start with this tournament, using it as a spring board to the U.S. Open (tennis).[21]

The B.C. Open was an official PGA Tour event that was held annually from 1971 to 2006 at Endicott's En-Joie Golf Course. (Note that the 2006 B.C. Open had to be played in Verona, N.Y. due to extensive damage during the June 2006 Flooding of the Susquehanna River.) Beginning in 2007, the area will host a PGA Champion's Tour event, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. The event will replace the B.C. Open and continue to be played at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott.

Since 1978 a round of the American Motorcyclist Association's Motocross Championship has been held at the nearby Broome-Tioga Sports Center. This round of the series has recently been moved to Texas and is no longer hosted by the Broome-Tioga Sports Center. They also host the New York State Motocross Championships each fall and many other semi-pro events throughout the season.

Two world famous amateur sports tournaments are held in Binghamton. The Stop DWI Holiday Classic – a nationally recognized high school basketball tournament – calls the city home during the Christmas season, amassing about 16 of the nations best teams from places such as Orlando, NYC, Philadelphia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, and other large metropolitan areas. The World Youth Classic is an American Legion youth baseball tournament featuring world-class Legion baseball teams. Held in July, it features teams from Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Georgia, and New England. As many as 32 teams may play per year.

Transportation

Airport

The area is served by two airports. A medium-sized regional airport, Greater Binghamton Airport and a general aviation airport, the Tri-Cities Airport. Greater Binghamton Airport serves destinations which include Philadelphia (US Airways), Dulles Airport serving Washington, D.C. (United) and Detroit (Delta Airlines).

Public transit

Intercity bus service is available from downtown Binghamton via Greyhound (with destinations including Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Scranton, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York City.) Shortline/Coach USA also serves the region, with daily departures to Olean, Albany, Oneonta, Elmira, Waverly, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Utica, Atlantic City, Monticello and New York City. Megabus began service to Buffalo Airport and Toronto in June 2008, but discontinued it in December 2008.

Public transportation in Binghamton and outlying areas is served by B.C. Transit, a service of the Broome County Department of Transportation. Students at Binghamton University are also served by OCCT (Off-Campus College Transport).

Railroads

Binghamton is served by four railroads: Norfolk Southern Railway serves Binghamton with its Southern Tier Main Line (former Erie, Erie-Lackawanna,and Conrail mainline); Canadian Pacific Railway serves Binghamton with its Delaware & Hudson subsidiary Montreal PQ-Harrisburg PA Main Line (former Delaware and Hudson Railway); the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway serves Binghamton as part of its Binghamton to Syracuse and Binghamton to Utica lines and the Central New York Railroad (owned by the NYS&W) serves Binghamton with its Binghamton-Port Jervis NY Main Line (former Erie and Conrail line). Binghamton has no railroad passenger service. The last scheduled service, New York (Hoboken) to Chicago services operated by the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, was discontinued in January 1970, by order of the United States Interstate Commerce Commission in order to promote automobile and aviation use.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing for passenger rail service between Binghamton and New York City via Scranton and the Lackawanna Cutoff.

River crossings

Two large rivers, the Susquehanna, and its tributary, the Chenango, cut through the city and metropolitan area. This necessitates spans across these rivers to connect the city's various neighborhoods.

Chenango River crossings

Traveling north from the Chenango's confluence with the Susquehanna, are seven bridges, these include; the Veteran's Memorial Bridge (Riverside Drive Bridge), Court Street Bridge, Clinton Street Bridge, the Norfolk Southern Rail Bridge, the I-81/NY-7 bridge and the Bevier Street Bridge.

Susquehanna River crossings

Washington St. Bridge (pedestrian only), State St. Bridge (Route 434 connect), Exchange St. Bridge, Tompkins St. Bridge, Railroad Bridge (not sure what rail line)

Important regional highways and roads

Two Interstate Highways run through the area:

I-81.svg Interstate 81

I-88.svg Interstate 88 (Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway/Susquehanna Expressway)

FUTURE I-86.svg Interstate 86

One US Highway runs through the area:

US 11.svg U.S. Route 11

New York State Routes:

NY-17.svg New York State Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway/Quickway)

NY-17C.svg New York State Route 17C

NY-201.svg New York State Route 201

NY-363.svg New York State Route 363 (North Shore Drive)

NY-434.svg New York State Route 434 (Vestal Parkway)

Points of interest

Notable residents

Downtown at Night (From Observation Lounge of State Office Building)

Famous people who resided in Binghamton include:

Binghamton on The Screen

Trivia

Binghamton in Books

Sister cities

Binghamton has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

References

  1. ↑ http://www.cityofbinghamton.com/history.asp
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ↑ "2003 Metropolitan Area Rankings". 2003-06-06. http://www.proximityone.com/msa03us.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-17. 
  4. ↑ West Side Neighborhood Association of Binghamton, NY
  5. ↑ Top 10 Greenest Cities In The USA
  6. ↑ Binghamton Rampage Leaves 14 Dead, Police Don't Know Motive – ABC News
  7. ↑ http://saratripp.webs.com/binghamton.html
  8. ↑ "NCDC: U.S. Climate Normals". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ny/300687.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-13. 
  9. ↑ "American Factfinder: Binghamton, NY Fact Sheet". U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2009. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US3606607&_geoContext=01000US&_street=&_county=binghamton&_cityTown=binghamton&_state=04000US36&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=. Retrieved 2010-07-18. 
  10. ↑ "Decennials – Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Bureau of the Census. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/. Retrieved 2010-07-18. 
  11. ↑ Departments
  12. ↑ City Council
  13. ↑ Neighborhood Assemblies
  14. ↑ Police
  15. ↑ Fire Department
  16. ↑ "Gunman takes hostages in NY state". BBC News (BBC). 2009-04-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7982313.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  17. ↑ "American Civic Association". United Way of Broome County. http://www.unitedwaybroome.org/pages/Member%20Agencies/American_Civic_Association.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-03. 
  18. ↑ City of Binghamton Around Town
  19. ↑ "America's Best Colleges 2006: National Universities: Top Schools", U.S. News & World Report, accessed August 8, 2006
  20. ↑ News 10 Now
  21. ↑ http://biz.stny.com/tennischallenger/history.asp

Further reading

External links

Binghamton, New York
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hamlets

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