Ithaca

Located in central Upstate New York at the southern end of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is famous as the home of Cornell University. It is also the seat of Tompkins County, a center of agriculture and industry, and a summer resort. The City of Ithaca is surrounded on three sides by the Town of Ithaca, home of Ithaca College. The two entities form a single community and share many public services.

Major buildings cluster in four areas: Cornell University, Collegetown (just south of Cornell across Cascadilla Creek), Ithaca College, and downtown. The Titus Towers housing complex stands alone several blocks south of downtown.

Ithaca was founded in 1789 and named for the home of the ancient Greek hero Ulysses. It was incorporated as a village in 1821 and as a city in 1888. Cornell University was founded in 1865. Ithaca College began as a conservatory of music in 1892, but is now a full liberal arts institution.