Tompkins County is located in Central New York, in the heart
of the beautiful Finger Lakes. It has a dramatically varied topography, with the southern area dominated by rugged hills. The highest, Connecticut Hill, reaches over 2,000 feet. The northern part of the county has gentler terrain and more fertile soils. About one-quarter of the county enjoys high quality agricultural soils.
The county spreads
across 476 square miles, and is composed of sixteen municipalities, nine towns,
and the city of Ithaca. The State of New York officially formed Tompkins County in 1817, naming it for Daniel D. Tompkins, a former New York governor and at that time vice
president of the United States.
The city of Ithaca
is the seat of the county. It is a unique and lively town, lying on the
southern end of Cayuga Lake, the longest of the eleven Finger
Lakes. Ithaca is surrounded by numerous gorges and 150 waterfalls,
including Taughannock Falls in Ulysses, which at 215 feet is higher than the
vertical drop at Niagara Falls. Downtown Ithaca features one of the only pedestrian malls in the country as well as numerous restaurants, including the famous Moosewood vegetarian restaurant.
Tompkins has a population of approximately 100,000 people, and is home to Cornell University,
Ithaca College,
and Tompkins Cortland Community College.
These three higher education institutions are major intellectual and economic
drivers locally. Agriculture also plays a key role in the county’s economy, and
the growing number of regional farms and vineyards that dot our lakes’ shores
reflect broad support for the local food movement; not surprisingly, given this
support, the local farmers market in Ithaca has gained national recognition.
The county is also home to a vibrant arts and music scene.
