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About Chemung County
Indigenous Heritage
Long before European settlement, the land that is now Chemung County was home to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy)—particularly the Seneca Nation, known as the “Keepers of the Western Door.” Their territory extended into present-day Chemung County, including major villages along the Chemung River corridor. The name “Chemung” comes from a Delaware (Lenape) word meaning “Place of the Big Horn”, said to reference a mammoth tusk discovered along the riverbanks.
The Revolution & Battle of Newtown
In August 1779, the Revolutionary War engulfed the region during the Sullivan Expedition, conducted by Continental forces aiming to neutralize British-aligned Iroquois influence. The pivotal Battle of Newtown took place on August 29, 1779, near present‑day Elmira. It was the campaign’s only major engagement, resulting in an American victory and leading to the destruction of many Iroquois villages—with lasting consequences for Indigenous settlement in western New York..
County Formation & Growth
Chemung County was officially established in 1836, carved out of Tioga County. Its strategic position along the Chemung River made it a vital trade and transportation corridor, further enhanced by the Chemung Canal (completed in 1833) and the arrival of the Erie and Elmira & Williamsport Railroads, catalyzing industrial and population growth.
Civil War & Elmira Prison Camp
During the Civil War, Elmira became the site of a Union training base—Camp Rathbun—which in 1864 was converted into a Confederate prison camp. From July 1864 to July 1865, over 12,000 prisoners were held there; nearly 3,000 died due to harsh conditions. They were interred at Woodlawn National Cemetery, managed by John W. Jones, an ex‑slave who meticulously recorded burials. Woodlawn remains the northernmost Confederate cemetery in the United States.
Twain’s Elmira & Soaring Innovation
During the late 19th century, author Mark Twain made Elmira his summer home. He wrote many of his iconic works—including Huckleberry Finn—from his hilltop octagonal study overlooking the Chemung Valley, and is buried with his family in Woodlawn Cemetery.
In the 20th century, nearby Harris Hill emerged as a birthplace of American glider aviation. Elmira was the site of glider training in World War II and remains known as the “National Soaring Capital,” home to the National Soaring Museum and a hub of soaring innovation.
Chemung County’s past spans Indigenous communities, Revolutionary War conflict, Civil War tragedy, literary legacy, and aviation pioneering. Its rich history is preserved through museums, battlefield parks, historical sites, and heritage tours—inviting visitors to connect with a remarkable story that shaped upstate New York.