History of Elmira, New York

Prior to European colonization, the Cayuga nation (also known as the Kanawaholla) of the Haudenosaunee inhabited the Elmira region. Cayuga residing in the region maintained relationships with European settlers, primarily concerning the fur trade, but were relatively isolated from expanding colonial settlements.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army launched the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 against four Haudenosaunee nations allied with the British. The expeditionary force defeated a combined British and Haudenosaunee force during the Battle of Newtown, which took place south of the current city. In 1791, the Haudenosaunee and the United States signed a treaty in Elmira to settle territorial disputes in the region following the conclusion of the war. Under pressure from encroaching American settlements, the majority of Cayuga emigrated with other Haudenosaunee nations to Canada, where they resettled on land provided by the British Crown.

Abraham Miller, who served as a captain in the Continental Army, was the first European-American settler in Elmira. Miller built a cabin after resigning just prior to the end of the American Revolution. Miller's Pond and Miller Street are named after him and are near his residence.

In 1788, the New York legislature established Chemung Township, which is now Chemung County. At the confluence of Newtown Creek and the Chemung River, the town of Newtown was quickly established. In 1792, the communities of Newtown, Wisnerburg, and DeWittsburg merged to form the village of Newtown. At a town meeting held at Teal's Tavern in 1808, the village formally changed its name to the Town of Elmira. It is said that the town was named after the young daughter of innkeeper Nathan Teal, but this has never been confirmed. According to Amos Bugbee Carpenter's 1898 family history book Carpenter Memorial, Elmira is named after the daughter of Major General Matthew Carpenter. According to this book, this naming occurred in 1821 at the constitutional convention to which Matthew was a delegate. In any case, the "Queen City" City of Elmira was incorporated in 1864 from a portion of the town of Elmira and the village of Elmira. Exists still, encircling the city to the west, north, and east, are the remaining portions of Elmira. The history of the city and the town are intricately intertwined.

In the nineteenth century, Elmira served as a transportation hub for New York's Southern Tier, connecting Rochester and Buffalo with Albany and New York City via canals and railroads. The city served as the southern terminus of the 1833-completed Chemung Canal; later, the Junction Canal was built to connect Elmira with Corning, facilitating the transport of coal from Pennsylvania mines via the Northern branch of the Susquehanna Canal system. In 1849, the New York and Erie Railroad was constructed through Elmira, creating a connection between New York City and Buffalo. The Elmira and Jefferson Railroad provided a route north in 1850, and the Elmira and Williamsport Railroad provided a route south in 1854. These railroads and their connections made the city an ideal location for an Army training and mustering point during the early stages of the American Civil War.

In 1872, construction on the Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad began, eventually creating a route from Horseheads, Breesport, and Van Etten to Cortland and Syracuse. Completed in 1884, the Delaware, Lackawant to and Western Railroad competed with the Erie's New York City to Buffalo line. Learn about the geography of Elmira, New York.