Southern Tier

The rolling hills of the Allegheny Plateau make up most of New York’s agriculturally rich Southern Tier. For thousands of years before European settlers arrived in the area, the Cayuga, Onondaga, and Lenape peoples developed sophisticated ways to flourish in harmony with this land.

Likewise, as new Americans pushed north and westward, they sought sustainable ways to live on the land. Farming and agriculture were initially crucial for the white settlers’ survival but quickly became realizable as a profitable commodity. By the early 1800s, acres of farmland and small villages had emerged from the wild brush, rocks, and timber. Historic towns such as Delhi in Delaware County, Norwich in Schuyler County, and Ithaca in Tompkins County, still maintain much of the same charm they had in post-colonial New York.

In Broome County, a town emerged at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. It would grow into Binghamton, a bustling center of interstate travel, and famous for its historic mansions. Just west, in Tioga County, the village of Owego became known for Champion Wagons which became integral to the design of the first American automobiles. Maydole Hammers made in Chenango County were the most popular in the country. In 1863, the city of Corning in Steuben County became the home of Corning Glass Works, an international manufacturer and supplier of glass.
While some industries that contributed to the early prosperity of the Southern Tier counties remain, by the mid-20th century, many had vanished. Today, agriculture continues to drive the economy, but higher education, health services, and biotechnology are providing new and exciting growth opportunities for New Yorkers. 

Top image: Located in Schuyler County, Watkins Glen State Park is one of the Southern Tier's most famous parks. The gorge, accessible via footpaths and a series of stairs, features nineteen waterfalls in a two-mile stretch that descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs.