Binghamton, New York

Binghamton is a city in upstate New York. It is the county seat of Broome County. It is nestled in the Southern Tier of New York, at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers.

Binghamton's population, according to the 2000 Census, is 47,380. The Binghamton Metro Area includes approximately 363,000 residents. Part of the "Triple Cities," which also includes Endicott and Johnson City.

History

Nicknamed the "Parlor City" for its lack of industry, the city was founded in 1834 and incorporated in 1867. It is the "carousel capital of the world," with six working carousels in the area. 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."

Binghamton is noted as being the birthplace of both IBM and the flight simulator. It is also famous for Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root and the invention of margarine. Until the Cold War ended, the area never experienced an economic downfall, due in part to the generosity of employers (IBM and Endicott-Johnson) and also because of its defense-heavy industries.

The Region Today

Current major companies in the area include IBM, L3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Universal Systems.

Binghamton University, part of the SUNY system, is one of the nation's top public universities.

The nearby suburb of Vestal has become a shopper's mecca, with many malls along a 5 mile strech of the Vestal Parkway.

The area is home to the Eastern League's Binghamton Mets (AA affiliate of the New York Mets) and the Binghamton Senators (AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators).