Area Advantages

Quality of Life

Nearly 100,000 people call Chemung County home. Residents enjoy outdoor sports and activities during all four seasons in the outlying rural communities, and gather in Elmira, a city of 35,000 at the heart of the county, for an abundance of arts and cultural opportunities.

In Chemung County, about half the households have children under 18 years old, and the county as a whole enjoys fairly equal representation in all age groups. Families live comfortably on a median income of $37,600. Housing is affordable (the median value for homes is $53,600, while average monthly rent is $360) and diverse (choose from grand old "Victorian ladies" to new ultra-modern styles).

Museums

The Chemung Valley supports a dozen museums, ranging from the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass (which is the third largest tourist attraction in the state after New York City and Niagara Falls) to the Elmira-based Arnot Art Museum and Chemung Valley History Museum. The Arnot Art Museum permanently displays 17th to 19th-century European paintings, 19th to 20th-century American art, as well as Asian and Egyptian works. Major temporary exhibitions and a growing collection of contemporary representational art continually add new dimensions to explore.

The Chemung Valley History Museum
features a long-term exhibition on the history of the Chemung Valley and other temporary exhibitions. The museum also collects thousands of photographs and artifacts and has a library for local history research. It offers a unique resource for students, collectors and history enthusiasts. We also invite residents and visitors to spread their wings at the National Warplane Museum and National Soaring Museum, both in Big Flats. Plus, the Science & Discovery Center at the Arnot Mall and the Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum offer fascinating views of the scientific aspects of our world.

The Clemens Center
The Clemens Center, a newly-renovated 1,600-seat theatre, presents international performing artists covering a broad array of programs including: Broadway musical tours, symphony orchestras, popular stars, country musicians, children’s theater, national dance companies, comedy, jazz, gospel and more. Plus, more than 17,000 children from a 60-mile radius see shows from Shakespeare to Chopin through the center each year. Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes Led by critically-acclaimed conductor Marietta Nien-hwa Cheng, and made up of area musicians, the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes performs a full season from classical programs to pops concerts. They also offer the Youth Orchestra for talented young musicians.

171 Cedar Arts Center
171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning offers a rich variety of professional instruction, exhibitions and performances designed for people of all ages.

Pioneers Baseball
The Pioneers, Chemung County’s independent baseball team, is a member of the Northern League East Division. Teams from as far away as Quebec City play at the Pioneers’ 4,000-seat stadium, continuing a 100-year community tradition, and providing a great venue for business events.

Coach USA Center
New in 2000, the Coach USA Center is designed to provide seating for 3,700 spectators in an air-conditioned environment with a concert quality sound system, spacious private suites, a quality restaurant and sports bar, and fully-equipped concessions. The center will also accommodate trade shows, consumer shows, classes and other large-capacity activities.

Clubs and Organizations
Chemung County has a wide variety of clubs and service organizations available covering interests as far ranging as learning to play the bagpipes to taking care of your health. Service clubs include Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis.

Fishing and Hunting
Chemung County anglers prowl Pine Creek or the Susquehanna River, the Finger Lakes and legendary Catharine Creek seeking everything from brook trouts to muskies. Likewise, from white-tailed deer to black bear, wildlife is plentiful for hunters who enjoy long seasons.

Nature Trails
The glaciers that moved through our region during the last ice age left us with the long, deep Finger Lakes as well as glorious gorges, meandering river valleys, and rolling hills. In other words—perfect hiking (and cross-country skiing!) country.

Golfing
Golfers have more than 170 holes to play at courses in and around Elmira, including The Elmira Country Club and the Corning Country Club, which is home to the annual Corning Classic LPGA tournament.

Lake Life
The long, deep Finger Lakes just north of Chemung County offer a wealth of leisure opportunities, including fishing, boating, and other water sports. They also create an ecological niche perfect for grape-growing, which has given rise to hundreds of small award-winning wineries open for year-round tours and tastings. Many Chemung County residents vacation in the Finger Lakes, or choose to buy a lakeside cottage as a second home.