About The Southern Tier

Situated in the picturesque Broome County of south-central New York State, the Triple Cities Area includes Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott – and is home to about 300,000 people. We pride ourselves in being able to offer you a high-quality lifestyle with a small-town atmosphere. In a recent national survey, Binghamton was selected as the most livable area in the nation for those who value a strong sense of community living, quality of life, and very affordable housing.

Visit the historic parks that are home to our six spectacular wood-carved carousels. With fewer than 170 carousels remaining in the U.S. and Canada, our remarkable collection is not to be missed. The admission price: one piece of litter.

No matter where one travels in Broome County, you are surrounded by rolling hills, winding rivers, and beautiful scenery. We enjoy all four seasons with their many colors and climate changes. Numerous lakes, streams, and parks are located throughout the area to provide for swimming, sailing, tennis, fishing, picnicking, or water-skiing during the warm summer months. In the fall, the air is fresh, the skies are clear, and the hillsides become spectacular when the trees become ablaze with color. During the winter months, enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing at the many ski centers located just a short distance away. Spring brings with it the return of lush, green hillsides and pleasant temperatures.

Airport

Owned by Broome County, we also have a full service airport, the Binghamton Regional Airport, offering airline and charter passenger services as well as terminal services. Airlines that service our area and connect to more than 100 US cities include US Airways, Northwest and United Express.

Excellent Schools

From Pre-K to advanced degrees, our schools both public and private, enjoy high ratings for their excellence.

New York State puts a high priority on education. The New York State Board of Regents and the State Department of Education have defined the learning standards that all students should achieve as a result of their education. The standards have two challenging requirements in common: equity and excellence.

The Education Department has established higher learning standards in seven subject areas:

English/Language Arts
Arts–Music, visual, performing, etc.
Math/Science and Technology
Languages other than English
Health, Physical Education, Family and Consumer Services
Social Studies
Career Development and Occupational Studies

Our children are our greatest resource. It is of utmost importance that they are prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Institutions of higher education in the area include the State University of New York at Binghamton and Broome Community College. In 1998, Money Magazine ranked Binghamton University as FIRST in the Northeast for quality and value among all college and universities. Broome Community College is one of the five original community colleges in New York State.

Click here for more information on our schools.

Cultural Attractions:

Broome County, including the “Triple Cities” area of Johnson City, Binghamton, and Endicott, is known for its unique combination of small-town quality of life and big-city cultural attractions. Camping, hiking, and playgrounds are just minutes from opera, theater, and fine dining. To learn more about our community, visit the following sites:

Major attractions for families and children include an extensive park system, a hands-on children’s museum called the Discovery Center, the Ross Park Zoo, public libraries with story hours and children’s shows, the annual Shrine Circus, and six hand-carved wooden carousels offering unlimited free rides. Children and adults alike enjoy visiting the Kopernik Observatory and Space Education Center and the Roberson Museum.

Cultural attractions for the adults include the The Binghamton Philharmonic,Tri-Cities Opera, Broadway shows at the Forum theater, and the Cider Mill Playhouse, among others. In addition, Binghamton University sponsors a host of musical and cultural events.

Broome County has long been a destination for newcomers to our country, bringing with them a wide variety of cultural traditions. This diversity is celebrated every summer with ethnic festivals occurring on almost a weekly basis. Eastern European, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and African foods and traditions are always well-represented. Our own local culinary tradition is the “spiedie”, celebrated annually at the SpiedieFest and Balloon Rally.

All of these activities can be enjoyed without the traffic, crowds, and expense typical of larger cities. This, along with plentiful and inexpensive housing and consistently high-quality schools, has earned Binghamton the highest rating among the six major cities in New York State in a recent Money magazine survey of the 300 “Best Places to Live”.