Elmira, New York is a small town located in the Chemung Valley in the south central part of New York just beyond the Pennsylvania border.

For many years Elmira had a prosperous downtown district with many retail stores lining Water Street.  Unfortunately during 1972, Hurricane...

Elmira, New York is a small town located in the Chemung Valley in the south central part of New York just beyond the Pennsylvania border.

For many years Elmira had a prosperous downtown district with many retail stores lining Water Street.  Unfortunately during 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused the Chemung River to overflow and it devastated Elmira costing the city millions in damage and almost completely destroying the downtown area.  Many of the stores were replaced by a park stretching along the river known as Mark Twain Riverfront Park.  In later years, the stores have had difficulty finding business after the Arnot Mall expanded in Horseheads and drew local shoppers away.

One of the biggest attractions in Elmira used to be Eldridge Park.  The large amusement park had rides for all ages including a decorative carousel and massive wooden roller coaster.  During the eighties when many Elmirans lost their jobs due to closings of many local industrial businesses, the park business dwindled and eventually it closed.  Not long after, many of the items from the park including the handcarved animals were sold to the highest bidders.  A few years later the Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society began restoring the carousel with newly handcarved animals and hopes to reopen in 2006.

Elmira has a few claims to fame worth mentioning.  Tommy Hilfiger grew up in Elmira and started People's Place, a once popular clothing store for teens.  Mark Twain, known for his literary accomplishments, met his wife Olivia Langdon from Elmira, and now the town serves as his final resting place.  It is also the birthplace of Hal Roach, known for the Our Gang films.  Brian Williams, NBC News Anchor, is also from Elmira, as well as NASA Astronaut Eileen Collins.

Throughout all of this, Elmira has maintained a warm heart.  The town is small with only circa 25000 people yet those who leave yearn to return years later.  The fall in particular is beautiful around Elmira due to the amount of trees.

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