ITHACA, NEW YORK

Population: 30,715 (2020)
Location: Southern end of Cayuga Lake

Nearby Towns: Watkins Glen (24 miles), Auburn (37 miles), Seneca Falls (42 miles)

Located at the southern end of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is a lively college town, with a fun, bohemian vibe that emanates from Cornell University and Ithaca College. Ithaca has all of the charm of a small town that is spiked with the vitality of youth, as the year-round population of about 30,000 nearly doubles when school is in session. Downtown Ithaca centers around the Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian-only mall that blends the cultural arts with restaurants and shopping. 

 

You will find galleries, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants around here. The Commons serve as a year-round hub of activity in this eclectic and vibrant city. The Finger Lakes Discovery Trail offers a wonderful collection of 8 different museums and attractions.

 

Beyond the city center, Ithaca is surrounded by gorges, waterfalls and spectacular, scenic, natural vistas. Hiking, biking, and snow skiing are among the most popular outdoor activities off the lake. For watersports enthusiasts, Cayuga Lake is just a stone’s throw away.

ITHACA HIGHLIGHTS

THINGS TO DO IN ITHACA

HISTORY OF ITHACA

Prior to European- American settlement, Cayuga Indians occupied the area for thousands of years. Revolutionary War veterans were given this land in lieu of payment for their service because the government didn’t have monetary funds at the time. In the 1790s the first grist mill was built. Two years later, a road was cleared from Oxford in Chenango County to Ithaca. The village of Ithaca grew quickly. It was energized first by the mills that lined its creeks and churned out everything from flour to lumber to whiskey, then by manufacturers like Ithaca Gun and Ithaca Calendar Clock, then by the founding of Cornell University in 1868. On June 1, 1888 Ithaca became New York’s 29th city.

ITHACA IN THE PRESS

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