Binghamton is a city in, and the county seat of, Broome County, New York. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. Binghamton is the principal city and cultural center of the Binghamton metropolitan area (also known as Greater Binghamton, or historically the Triple Cities), home to a quarter million people.[8] The city's population, according to the 2020 census, is 47,969.
From the days of the railroad, Binghamton was a transportation crossroads and a manufacturing center, and has been known at different times for the production of cigars, shoes, and computers. IBM was founded nearby, and the flight simulator was invented in the city, leading to a notable concentration of electronics- and defense-oriented firms. This sustained economic prosperity earned Binghamton the moniker of the Valley of Opportunity.[10] However, starting with job cuts made by defense firms towards the end of the Cold War, the region lost a large part of its manufacturing industry.
Today, while there is a continued concentration of high-tech firms, Binghamton is emerging as a healthcare- and education-focused city, with Binghamton University acting as much of the driving force behind this revitalization.
History
Early settlement
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, who destroyed local villages of the Onondaga and Oneida tribes. The city was named after William Bingham, a wealthy Philadelphian who bought the 10,000 acre patent for the land in 1786, then consisting of parts of the towns of Union and Chenango. Joshua Whitney, Jr., Bingham's land agent, chose land at the junction of the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers to develop a settlement, then named Chenango Point, and helped build its roads and erect the first bridge. Significant agricultural growth led to the incorporation of the village of Binghamton in 1834.
The Chenango Canal, completed in 1837, connected Binghamton to the Erie Canal, and was the impetus for the initial industrial development of the area. This growth accelerated with the completion of the Erie Railroad between Binghamton and Jersey City, NJ in 1849. With the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad arriving soon afterward, the village became an important regional transportation center. Several buildings of importance were built at this time, including the New York State Inebriate Asylum, opened in 1858 as the first center in the United States to treat alcoholism as a disease.
Valley of Opportunity: Growth as a manufacturing hub
Binghamton incorporated as a city in 1867 and, due to the presence of several stately homes, was nicknamed the Parlor City.[9] In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many immigrants moved to the area, finding an abundance of jobs. During the 1880s, Binghamton became the second-largest manufacturer of cigars in the United States. By the early 1920s, Endicott Johnson, a shoe manufacturer whose development of welfare capitalism resulted in many amenities for local residents, became the region's largest employer. An even larger influx of Europeans immigrated to Binghamton, and the working class prosperity resulted in the area being called the Valley of Opportunity.
In 1913, 31 people perished in the Binghamton Clothing Company fire, which resulted in 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 led the city to build flood walls along the length of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers.
During the Second World War, growth and corporate generosity continued as IBM, which was founded in greater Binghamton, emerged as a global technology leader. Along with Edwin Link's invention of the flight simulator in Binghamton, IBM's growth helped transition the region to a high-tech economy. Other major manufacturers included Ansco and General Electric. Until the Cold War ended, the area never experienced an economic downfall, due in part to its defense-oriented industries. The city's population peaked at around 85,000 in the mid-1950s.
Decline and recovery
Post-war suburban development led to a decline in the city's population and the rapid growth of the towns of Vestal and Union. Like many other Rust Belt cities, traditional manufacturers saw steep declines, though Binghamton's technology industry limited this impact. Urban renewal efforts to reverse these trends dominated construction in the city during the 1960s and early 1970s and led to the destruction of many ornate city buildings. The construction included the creation of Government Plaza, the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, and the Brandywine Highway. While these projects failed to stem most of the losses, they established Binghamton as the region's government and cultural center. The city's population declined from approximately 64,000 in 1969 to 56,000 by the early 1980s.
As the Cold War ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, defense-related industries in the Binghamton area began to falter, resulting in several closures and widespread layoffs. These were most notable at IBM, which sold its Federal Systems division and laid off several thousands of workers. The local economy went into a deep recession, and the long-prevalent manufacturing jobs dropped by 64% from 1990 to 2013.
In the 21st century, the city has tried to diversify its economic base to spur revitalization. The local economy has slowly transitioned toward services and healthcare. Major emphasis has been placed on Binghamton University, which built a downtown campus in 2007 and several student housing complexes. The increased downtown residential population and the university's plans to build additional student housing have spurred development of supporting businesses and a renewed focus on the riverfront. Unfortunately, two severe floods have stymied the recovery: while most of the impact of the Mid-Atlantic United States flood of 2006 was in the surrounding metropolitan area, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee topped city flood walls in September 2011, causing $1 billion of damage in greater Binghamton.
My son's name is Lucian Walter Preston Fox. 😃
Love the marquis' of old movie theaters.
Ever wonder why old barns are usually red in color? Red is (or, perhaps, was) a popular color for barns due not to its color shade but for its usefulness.
Many years ago, choices for paints, sealers and other building materials did not exist. Farmers had to be resourceful in finding or making a paint that would protect and seal the wood on their barns. Hundreds of years ago, many farmers would seal their barns with linseed oil, which is an orange-colored oil derived from the seeds of the flax plant. To this oil, they would add a variety of things, most often milk and lime, but also ferrous oxide, or rust. Rust was plentiful on farms and because it killed fungi and mosses that might grow on barns, and it was very effective as a sealant. It turned the mixture red in color.
When paint became more available, many people chose red paint for their barns in honor of tradition.
Being on US 20 reminded me of the road sign in Newport, Oregon (the west coast endpoint of US 20) indicating that Boston was 3,365 miles away. I'm closer now than I was then!
Paris is a town in Oneida County, New York. The town is in the southeast part of the county and is south of Utica. The population was 4,411 at the 2010 census. The town was named after an early benefactor, Colonel Isaac Paris.
History
The Town of Paris was originally included within the Town of Whitestown, and gained autonomy on April 10, 1792, when Whitestown was divided. The name Paris was given to the Town in honor of Colonel Isaac Paris, a merchant from Fort Plain, New York, who in 1789 generously supplied early residents of the Clinton area with corn and other food.
Paris Hill -- Shortly before the establishment of the Town of Paris in 1792, a small settlement formed on what is today known as the Hamlet of Paris Hill. The hamlet is home to two churches, the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which has been named to the National Historic Registry, and the Paris United Church of Christ. Besides a feline veterinarian, there are no other businesses operating in this tranquil community.
Sauquoit -- The second settlement to occur in the Town of Paris was in the vicinity today known as Sauquoit. Today this hamlet is the location of the Town offices and highway department. Sauquoit also hosts the greatest number of businesses within the town. A convenience store, several restaurants, beauty shops, and a bank are just a few of these businesses. The Sauquoit Valley School campus located on Oneida Street and Sulphur Springs Road is also located in this hamlet.
Cassville (originally named Paris Hollow) -- The first settlers of Cassville were Amasa Burchard, Elias and Mark Hopkins, and Eleazer Kellogg, all of whom settled there in 1803. Cassville lies in a low-lying area adjacent to Sauquoit Creek, and was named for Gen. Lewis B. Cass, Secretary of War in Andrew Jackson's cabinet. Today, a safe, new 4-lane bridge spans over Richfield Junction on Rte. 8. Farms surround Cassville's hollow, along with a gravel bed and numerous homes.
Clayville -- It is the only incorporated Village in the Town of Paris and was once known as "Paris Furnace". The Village was incorporated in 1887, and reached its peak just after World War I. The census shows Clayville reached its zenith in population and employment during this period. Today we find one major industry in operation, Homogenous Metals, and several small businesses. The Village is also home to the Clayville Public Library and the Town of Paris Historical Society.
Notable people
Asa Gray, botanist
Orson S. Head, lawyer, Wisconsin State Senator
Joseph E. Irish, clergyman, Wisconsin State Senator
Gerrit P. Judd, physician, missionary to Kingdom of Hawaii
Arthur Cushman McGiffert, theologian
David Pendleton Oakerhater, Cheyenne warrior, Episcopal deacon and saint
Michael O'Donoghue, writer and performer
Edward Tompkins, California State Senator
Charlemagne Tower, lawyer, soldier, and businessman
Albert J. Winegar, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.5 square miles .
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,609 people, 1,714 households, and 1,273 families. The population density was 146.6 people per square mile (56.6/km2). There were 1,806 housing units at an average density of 57.4 per square mile (22.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.31% White, 0.35% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 1,714 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,571, and the median income for a family was $50,379. Males had a median income of $35,867 versus $26,315 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,446. About 6.0% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Paris
Cassville – A hamlet west of Richfield Junction. It was named after Lewis Cass after it was founded in 1803.
Clayville – A village in the southeastern part of the town.
Grange Hill – An elevation located east of Paris.
Greens Crossing – A hamlet east of Paris Station.
Ludlow Corners – A location southeast of Clayville.
Paris – A hamlet.
Paris Station – A hamlet south of Paris hamlet near the western town boundary.[6]
Richfield Junction – A hamlet near the southern town line on NY 8.
Sauquoit – This hamlet in the northern part of the town is the location of the town government. It was the second settlement made in the town.
Sauquoit Creek – An important stream flowing through the town.
Tassel Hill – Highest point in Oneida County. Located in the southern part of the town, east of NY 12 on the borders of the towns of Bridgewater, Marshall, and Sangerfield.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF PARIS-RELATED NAMES. BY MY COUNT WE HAVE
PARIS THE TOWN
PARIS THE HAMLET
PARIS FURNACE
PARIS STATION
PARIS HOLLOW
PARIS HILL
IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT "PARIS GREEN" IS SO I AM NOT GOING TO COUNT THAT AS A PARIS' THAT I VISITED.
I AM YELLING BECAUSE INSTEAD OF FINDING ONE PARIS YESTERDAY, I APPARENTLY FOUND SIX!
Lawyersville – A hamlet northwest of Cobleskill village, located on NY-145. The village is named after some early settlers.
Cobleskill is a town in Schoharie County, New York, New York, United States. The population was 6,625 at the 2010 census. The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill.
