Elmira - how bad is it really?

[smithit]

Thanks for your input URBANICA. Although I don't think the "correct" population for Elmira, NY is particularly signficant, you bring up an interesting issue about population statistics. Population is manipulated and classified in many ways based on US Census Data. There are Core City Data Areas, Urban Areas (non-rural), Small Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and probably others. My reference to the Urbanized Area ranking of Elmira at #311 in 1990 with a population of 66,612 came from Demographia.com. The Elmira MSA, which includes more communities in Chemung County besides Elmira, is somewhere in the 90,000 area. The City Area population is in the 30,000 area. Which brings up the error as you point out. I was not as diligent as I should have been and as it turns out was comparing an Urban to a City population statistic. In fact the 2000 Urbanized Area population statistic for Elmira was 67,159, or an INCREASE of 0.8%.

[Ellie C.]

718bound: You are right about the size of the planes that fly out of Elmira. You generally will connect in Philly, Detroit, or La Guardia. But for me, it's worth it. Elmira is quick, easy, uncrowded and very friendly. Even the TSA people are nice there. I'm in my car and out of the parking lot 10 minutes after we land.

Ithaca is just as fast and convenient, but the staff is not nearly as nice or as helpful as in Elmira.

I could fly out of Rochester but the employees at that airport are surly and rude. The parking fees are ridiculous. I've had about all I can take with airline and airport personnel acting like they're doing the customers a big favor by doing their job, so I avoid Rochester and their nasty attitudes.

On another sad note for Elmira: the Pan Am Clipper is no more as of 2/29/08. Many people didn't know that Pan Am was still flying, and that they had a connection that flew out of Elmira airport. I hope they find a way to bring it back.

Pan Am Clipper Connection

[Chad2002]

I lived outside Elmira growing up and school there. There are great neighborhoods (northwest elmira, west elmira, Pine City, horseheads, big flats) and some not-so-nice areas that rival far larger cities. Working in education, I would lean toward avoiding the Elmira City schools in favor of Elmira Heights (very small & personable) or Horseheads (large, typical suburban school). Many wealthier families in West Elmira seem to enroll their children in private school, esp at the high school level.

Prisons figure heavily into Elmira's history, and there is no doubt some effect from the inmates families coming to Elmira, but I think it's likely overstated. Unless you're a local, I would bet that the average person couldn't find Southport even though it's one of the largest state prisons in NY and highlest level max. security. ECF, "the Hill" could actually be called historic and is visible from the highway. On the flip side, the prisons provide a substantial number of state jobs to the community.

The sex offender count is influenced by the prisons, but even then I would bet they're largely concentrated in the less desirable parts of town. I think the numbers could also be influenced by the increasing number of offenses that are subject to sex offender registration, but I am biased as I have a friend who mooned some people as a prank in high school, was 18 at the time, and now has to be registered. that's a whole other can of worms though.

there's no doubt taxes are high in elmira compared to elsewhere in the region, and NY's utilities are high too, but I guess that's why I am content remaining just across the border in PA.

[Chad2002]

ohhh...i think some may be overestimating Elmira College's impact on the community. It's important to keep in mind it's a very small college of around 1100 students?, with many of those being commuters/non-traditional evening students.

[James007]

I'm new to this board but I have found it very informative.
I plan on relocating to Elmira. My mistake was moving to Florida when I retired.
I thought the grass would be greener, who doesn't when you reach 64 and plan on being in the sun?
Personally, I look forward to seeing the change of seasons in a small city.
I like the optimism expressed here.