Binghamton – Parlor City, The Valley of Opportunity and The Southern Tier’s Struggling Metro
Located in the forgotten southern edge of Upstate NY, Binghamton is not a city that makes big waves outside of its borders. A decaying husk of its former self, the city like many others has shed much of its population. Yet for those who remained, and are gainfully employed, they have found themselves in a beautiful part of the state away from the hustle and bustle of its more major metropolitan centers.
Geography
Located at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, surrounded by low lying hills Binghamton occupies a beautiful natural area.
A Brief History
The area was occupied by peoples of the Iroquois Confederacy, but we know little of this period. The city’s history is mostly tied to its industrial boom.
Colonial and Early American Eras
The Iroquois were removed from the region during the Sullivan Expedition of the Revolutionary War, in 1779. Years latter in 1786 the land was scooped up by a certain William Bingham, a well to do Philadelphian. It would become a village in 1834 on the back of its agricultural growth.
Industrial Boom
This period of agricultural growth was followed by an industrial boom. This shift in paradigm was brought forth by the construction of two important engineering works for the purpose of transportation; both the Chenango Canal (1837) that connected the city to the Erie Canal, and later the Erie Railroad between Binghamton and Jersey City, NJ in 1849. Other railroads would follow. The canal was the catalyst for growth, connecting the city to the most important waterway in the north east, allowing goods to flow to the Atlantic ocean via the Hudson river, then it was accelerated by the railways.
The city became home to major employers such as the second largest manufacturers of cigars in the United States and Endicott Johnson, a shoe manufacturer that pioneered welfare capitalism . The arrival of industry brought about a new wave of immigration and unlike some cities, socio-economic conditions were relatively good for the works. So good that the working class prosperity found in the city had the region be named the “Valley of Opportunity”.
Decline and Present Era
Like many other Rust Belt cities, traditional manufacturers fell into a sustained period of decline. This is as true here as anywhere else, however Binghamton’s technology industry limited the damage. The city attempted several times to turn things around. Urban renewal efforts in the 1960s and early 1970s failed and even to compound their failure also led to the destruction of many ornate buildings. The city continued its decline, loosing a large share of its population. In these years government jobs increase and the city developed into a cultural center for the Southern Tier.
The end Cold War in 1991 led to a second devastating decline for the city. Defense-related industries situated in Binghamton including IBM’s Federal Systems division closed down in response. To put things into perspective long-prevalent manufacturing jobs were reduced by 64% from 1990 to 2013.
The city was again hit with misfortune during the 2000’s when it was batted by two tropical starts Mid-Atlantic United States flood of 2006 and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, the latter causing $1 billion of damage. The city is still attempting to recover from these setbacks, and time will tell if it is successful in doing so.
What to do in Binghamton?
While not exactly bustling, there are a gamut of things to do in the city, including several memorable museums. Most of them are concentrated in the downtown, the triangular area at the confluence of the rivers, yet you will find a few museums on the west side of the Chenango River as well. Unfortunately the construction of interstates through the city’s core, as well as the construction of massive government complexes, has made much of the core not as pleasant as it once was.
The Bundy Museum of History & Art
The this Queen Anne style structure was once the home of IBM founder Harlow L. Bundy and his wife. Built in 1892, this institution has an illustrious history with multiple exhibits worth a visit. Today, one can tour the home to learn more about the famous inhabitant who lived here and his family. The price of entry is cheap and included you will find an exhibit on clocks, corporate barber shops, IMB and the Rod Serling Archive among others. It is also host to a free art gallery. Mr. Serling of course is the famous narrator in the Twilight Zone series who spend his youth in the city.
Harlow L. Bundy for his part manufactured recording clocks in town with his brother Williard. He would found the the Bundy Manufacturing Company, latter IMB, and would eventually employ thousands. This place is cooler then it looks!
Roberson Museum and Science Center
Once home to Alonzo Roberson, it was built in 1934. Today a modern extension was attached to the original Roberson Mansion to house a science museum. Mr. Roberstson was a rich local businessman and the opulence of his guilded age home reflects this. It is said that it is haunted with apparitions appearing along the upper corridors.
Phelps Mansion Museum
Due to the presence of several stately homes within the confines of the city, Binghamton was nicknamed the Parlor City. The most iconic of these structures is surely the famed …
Confluence Park
Built at the tip of the downtown triangle, this park offers lovely view of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, most notably the river valley of the former.
State Street (Downtown)
There are two primary arteries in Binghamton Court Street (East / West) and State Street (North / South). State street tuns by much of Binghamton’s worst buildings, on its south end near the river, the much maligned goverment buildings as well as the arena. The government complex, taking up a large block, is a great example of how modernist architecture destroyed much of the city’s most beautiful structures and replaced it with something imposingly ugly.
The street does improve as it prepares to meet court street with street art adorning buildings.
On the north end, as it approaches the railway tracks, the streetscape once again takes shape with a beautiful flatiron-esk building and a lot of old masonry structures. This is the best part of the street. Once you past the federal building you will find a traditional main street of grungy yet elegant masonry buildings. There is a beautiful theatre, art galleries such Atomic Tom’s (my favourite building in this strech), bars, clubs and restaurants. Really this is the only part of the street worth visiting.
Broome County Court House and Court Street (Downtown)
Back at Court Street, you will find the prettiest assortment of building in the city. This is the city’s primary artery with most of its businesses. It is also home to Boscov’s, a painfully outdated independent shopping mall, that brings in much needed traffic into the core. Despite its age, it is vital to the downtown core.
The street transitions from low to hi-rise near the geographic center of the city. Constructed in the early 20th century they represent the very best in Binghampton’s architecture. A great example of this is the the Beaux-Arts Security Mutual Life Building dating from 1905 featured in the photo below.
Surrounded by these early skyscrapers you will find the Broome County Courthouse, dating from 1898. The landmark building in Binghampton, it is the center of its administrative core.
Surrounding the structure you will find a plethora of beautiful buildings serving in the administration of justice for the county or municipal structures.
Railroad Terminal Historic District
This up and coming district lies at the northern extent of downtown, where the railway tracks bisect the city. Although still very sparce, with lots of the land now dedicated to parking space, there are over a dozen points of interests in its vicinity ranging from the old train station itself to the old masonry warehouses that line the lands around Depot Street and the tracks.
Sports Teams
For a city of its size, Binghamton has a relatively good selection of sporting teams to choose from… the most prominent of witch is the Binghamton Devils (previously the Binghampton Senators) and the Rumble Ponies. Here is a quick list of the city’s main sports teams.
- Binghamton Devils, Hockey (AHL)
- Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Baseball (AA)
- Binghamton Bulldogs, Basketball (ABA)
- Broome County Stallions, Football (EFL)
Conclusion
She may be a little rough around the edges, but at its heart Binghamton is not such a bad place. Unfortunately, I cant say I recommend it for more then a short amount of time. Maybe the following decades will be kinder to the city and allow it to once again be a regional leader, with dignity and poise.
