The City of Binghamton is located at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. The city is at the crossroads of Interstates 81 and 88, as well as New York State Route 17 (also known as The Southern Tier Expressway and the future Interstate 86).
The Binghamton Metropolitan Area includes approximately 252,000 residents in all of Broome and Tioga (NY) counties. Binghamton is part of the "Triple Cities," along with Endicott and Johnson City (which are actually villages). The region is collectively referred to as Greater Binghamton.
In 2007, Binghamton was named the 9th greenest city in the U.S. by Country Home magazine.
Greater Binghamton is home to Binghamton University, a driving force in the community as an academic, athletic, and arts center. Binghamton also has the world's largest collection of functioning antique carousels and the largest public observatory, the Kopernik Space Center, in the northeastern United States. The region is further recognized as the birthplace of the IBM Corporation, Dick's Sporting Goods, Endicott Johnson Corporation, Raymond Corporation and the Link Trainer flight simulator. The city's American Civic Association is the location of the April 3rd, 2009 shootings, known as the Binghamton shootings, which left 14 dead.
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,380 people, 21,089 households, and 10,417 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,752.3/km² (4,539.2/sq mi). There were 23,971 housing units at an average density of 886.5/km² (2,296.5/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 83.18% White, 8.41% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.71% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. 3.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 21,091 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.6% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The area surrounding Binghamton, referred to in marketing as "Greater Binghamton" - or the Binghamton MSA by the census bureau - is approximately 252,000 people. The Binghamton MSA is composed of all of Broome County and neighboring Tioga County. Alternatively defined, the number of people living in an approximately 40-mile radius of the city is approximately 300,000. This count includes Broome, Tioga, and portions of Cortland, Delaware and Chenango Counties in New York and portions of Susquehanna and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,665, and the median income for a family was $36,137. Males had a median income of $28,774 versus $23,014 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,067. About 16.5% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
The area is served by two airports. A medium-sized regional airport, Greater Binghamton Airport and a general aviation airport, the Tri-Cities Airport. Greater Binghamton Airport serves destinations which include Philadelphia (US Airways), Dulles Airport serving Washington, D.C. (United) and Detroit (Northwest Airlines).
Intercity bus service is available from downtown Binghamton via Greyhound (with destinations including Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Scranton, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and New York City.) Shortline/Coach USA also serves the region, with daily departures to Olean, Albany, Oneonta, Elmira, Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Utica, Atlantic City, Monticello and New York City. Megabus began service to Buffalo Airport and Toronto in June 2008, but discontinued it in December 2008.
Public transportation in Binghamton and outlying areas is served by B.C. Transit, a service of the Broome County Department of Transportation. Students at Binghamton University are also served by OCCT (Off-Campus College Transport).
Binghamton is served by four railroads: Norfolk Southern Railway serves Binghamton with its Southern Tier Main Line; Canadian Pacific Railway serves Binghamton with its Montreal PQ-Harrisburg PA Main Line; the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway serves Binghamton as part of its Binghamton to Syracuse and Binghamton to Utica lines and the Central New York Railroad serves Binghamton with its Binghamton-Port Jervis NY Main Line. Binghamton has no railroad passenger service. The last scheduled service, New York (Hoboken) to Chicago services operated by the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, was discontinued in January 1970, by order of the United States Interstate Commerce Commission in order to promote automobile and aviation use.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer is pushing for passenger rail service between Binghamton and New York City via Scranton and the Lackawanna Cutoff.
Two large rivers, the Susquehanna, and its tributary, the Chenango, cut through the city and metropolitan area. This necessitates spans across these rivers to connect the city's various neighborhoods.
Traveling north from the Chenango's confluence with the Susquehanna, are six bridges, these include; the Veteran's Memorial Bridge (Riverside Drive Bridge), Court Street Bridge, Clinton Street Bridge, the Norfolk Southern Rail Bridge, the I-81/NY-7 bridge and the Bevier Street Bridge.
Washington St. Bridge (pedestrian only), State St. Bridge (Route 434 connect), Exchange St. Bridge, Tompkins St. Bridge, Railroad Bridge (not sure what rail line)
Two Interstate Highways run through the area:
Interstate 81
Interstate 88 (Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway/Susquehanna Expressway)
FUTURE Interstate 86
One US Highway runs through the area:
U.S. Route 11
New York State Routes:
New York State Route 17 (Southern Tier Expressway/Quickway)
New York State Route 17C
New York State Route 201
New York State Route 363 (North Shore Drive)
New York State Route 434 (Vestal Parkway)