CAYUGA COUNTY
County Offices
160 Genesee St
Auburn 315-253-1271
http://www.cayugacounty.us/
Chamber of Commerce
2 State Street
Auburn 315-252-7291
http://cayugacountychamber.com/
Communities in Cayuga County
Auburn, Brutus, Cato, Conquest, Fleming, Genoa, Ira, Ledyard, Mentz, Moravia, Owasco, Sennett, Springport, Sterling, Weedsport
Cayuga County is located in the west central part of the state, in the Finger Lakes region. Owasco Lake is in the center of the county, and Cayuga Lake forms part of the western boundary. Lake Ontario is on the northern border, and Skaneateles Lake is at the eastern border. Cayuga County has more waterfront land than any other county in the state not adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Its county seat is Auburn, which is also the largest community in the county. The county is home to more than 80,000 residents.
Lifestyle
The entire family will enjoy the natural beauty and recreational possibilities that this Finger Lakes region county offers. With eight lakes, three State Parks, and the Erie Canal, summer seasonal water recreation is always available. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding and skating are all popular activities during the winter months. Cayuga County’s three State Parks – Fair Haven Beach State Park, Fillmore Glen State Park and Long Point State Park – are among the finest parks in the Finger Lakes region. In addition, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge offers 7,000 acres of habitat for over 300 species of birds and wildlife. Emerson Park, near Auburn, offers swimming, boating, picnic facilities, playgrounds and disk golf. Hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders enjoy the Cayuga County Erie Canal Recreational Trail. Those that prefer to see the beauty of the area from their cars will want to drive the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway and the Seaway Trail.
The county surrounds Owasco Lake, it is the sixth largest and third easternmost of the Finger Lakes. Owasco Lake is an excellent recreation spot. Because it is smaller and shallower than many other Finger Lakes, its waters warm up much more quickly, so swimming, skiing, and boating are popular. At the lake’s northern end is Emerson Park, a county park featuring a beach and boat launch. The lake’s northeastern corner is home to the private Owasco Yacht Club, founded in 1889. Cayuga County is a golfer’s paradise with ten public golf courses available from April – October. All of the courses are beautiful and offer challenges for any level of player.
Wineries are plentiful in this region and it’s easy to spend a day touring wine country and tasting wine along the Cayuga Wine Trail and the Lake Ontario Wine Trail, as well as the nearby Seneca Wine Trail. Shopping is easily found in Cayuga County with numerous boutiques; family owned antique stores and specialty shops, as well as national chain stores. The Finger lakes Mall makes the shopping experience easy and fun with national specialty retailers. There are also historically oriented places for shopping including museums, restored homes and farms.
The county is also home to several fine arts dance and theatrical productions by the NY Institute of Dance, Broadway musicals at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and comedy at Auburn Public Theater offer entertainment for all tastes.
Services
Situated in central New York State between Syracuse and Rochester, Cayuga County has an ideal location and business climate. Wage rates, work ethic and cost of living are highly favorable to business and industry. The crime rate is substantially lower than the national average and the quality of life in the heart of the Finger Lakes region ranks second to none. Among Cayuga County’s principal sources of employment is manufacturing, with most of the industry located in or near the City of Auburn. Products include electrical and electronic components, fiber optics, diesel engines, auto parts, glass bottles, plastic products, and high quality steel and machined products. Agriculture is also vital to the area’s economy, with Cayuga County producing some of New York State’s finest livestock, dairy products and cash crops. Cayuga County is the State’s number 1 corn producing county and ranks 4th in milk production.
Education is very important in Cayuga County, represented by institutions of higher education and a strong network of public, private and parochial elementary and secondary schools. These schools offer educational programs to fit the needs of all students in all disciplines, including business, the arts and education. Neighborhood schools stress basic skills in reading, writing and math. Education is strengthened by a public library system and communities committed to supporting quality, affordable education for their young people. Adult and student vocational education is available from the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Many area high schools also offer continuing education for adults.
For higher education residents can choose from several institutions located close to home. Cayuga Community College is one of 64 accredited institutions that make up the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. For the central New York region and for a growing number of distance-learning students around the world, Cayuga provides an affordable gateway to higher education, with courses and degree programs offered at two campuses and online. Empire State College, State University of New York, is one of the university’s 13 colleges of arts and sciences, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Programs are designed to serve adults pursuing associate, bachelors and master’s degrees. The college offers affordable, SUNY degrees onsite at locations in New York state and abroad, as well as entirely online. Wells College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college located in the village of Aurora. The College is known as an exceptional value, pairing top quality academic programs with affordable tuition. Historically a women’s college, Wells became coeducational in 2005.
Cayuga County health needs are served by Auburn Memorial Hospital, a 226-bed acute care facility with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. Founded in 1878, the AMH team has 153 medical/dental practitioners in virtually all medical specialties. Specific clinical services offered by Auburn Memorial include emergency care, intensive care, coronary care, maternity, lab services, pediatrics, psychiatric and others. Nearby Syracuse and Rochester both have significant medical communities and hospitals. Upstate Medical Center of Syracuse University and Strong Memorial Hospital are nationally known. Both are teaching hospitals with leading-edge equipment and techniques.
Cayuga County’s Community Health Services Division offers nursing, health promotion, health guidance, injury prevention programs, maternity and post-partum programs. Clinics are offered to assist in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, promotion of dental health, immunization, lead poisoning prevention, breast and cervical screening, adolescent pregnancy prevention and childbirth education classes.
