Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Elmira is the county seat in Chemung, and was incorporated in 1864. Her population is approximately 29,000 and 12% of them are over 65 years old. The City of Elmira joined the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities in 2014 in partnership with AARP.

“The City of Elmira is committed to a process of continual improvement to support active and healthy aging and sustain economic and social vitality,” Elmira Mayor Susan J. Skidmore explained upon joining the networks.

Elmira is home to the highest number of standing Victorian homes in New York State and maintains a small-town character with older brick buildings and holiday parades along its main streets. There are several street festivals and fresh produce farmers markets spread throughout her very walkable communities.There is no lack of outdoor activities, culture, history, theater and art.

Elmira is home to writer Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Clemens and his family spent summers at Quarry Farm where he was inspired to write The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Clemens married Elmira native Olivia Langdon and the family is buried in our Woodlawn Cemetery.

City leaders have been working with other leaders from across Chemung County to develop a series of community action plans that will be implemented over a three-year period beginning in 2015. Local organisations gave input to each plan that specifies steps to achieve success in in the World Health Organization’s 8 domains of an age-friendly city. The plans also address the need for affordable housing and a greater variety in housing options, including independent- and assisted living-communities and multi-generational, mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can walk, bike, live, shop, work, learn, worship and play.

To learn more about the City of Elmira and Chemung County visit: cityofelmira.net and chemungcounty.com