About our Town

The Town of Ithaca is located at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in Central New York; home to Ithaca College and Cornell University. The Town has a population of 23,000 people and includes rural, suburban and urban landscapes surrounding the City of Ithaca. The Ithaca area includes beautiful natural areas and Buttermilk Falls, Treman, and Taughannock State Parks.

Vision
The Town of Ithaca will be a desirable place where any person can live, work, learn, and play, offering a vibrant mix of rural, suburban, and urban features, including treasured natural resources.

Mission
We promote quality of life, equity, and safety of all Town of Ithaca residents through planning, innovation and continual adaptation to change.

The Town strives to:

* provide responsive services
* be fiscally responsible
* protect and preserve its open spaces and water resources
* implement sustainable initiatives
* pursue beneficial intermunicipal collaborations.

Town of Ithaca at a glance 

Founded March 16, 1821 with the first Town meeting held on April 3, 1821.  

  • Approximately  30.3 square miles (total), 29.1 square miles (land only)  
  • There are approximately 9,000 households with 22,000 residents. 
  • The Town’s annual budget is around $26 million.
  • Currently there are 61 employees in two locations, historic Town Hall at the corner of N. Tioga and Buffalo Streets which was the former Post Office built in 1909, and our Public Works Facility located at 114 Seven Mile Dr.
  • Visit the Town Demographics & Facts page for additional information.

A Little More information

The Town of Ithaca is a mosaic of rural, suburban, and urban landscapes  that surrounds the City of Ithaca. It is a college town, a farm town, a Finger  Lakes community, and a tourist destination renowned for its scenic vistas,  forested hillsides, gorges, waterfalls and Cayuga Lake. The Town is  fortunate to have three State Parks nearby and many small Town parks and  trails. It is a town where institutions of higher learning flourish, where  comparatively stable employment centers reside, and where there is easy  access to outdoor recreational opportunities, cultural events, shopping,  eclectic restaurants, and a thriving arts and music scene. This mix of rural  and small town charm with a cultural vibrancy and a nearby city vibe is  what makes the Town distinctive. It’s what residents value about living here  and what attracts newcomers to visit and stay.  


Ithaca’s reputation for a high quality of life and for being one of the few  expanding economies in upstate New York draw people here. This growth  brings new businesses, new employers, and new ideas. An expanding  population means a broader base to support the arts, culture, and our many  non-profit organizations. The attractiveness of Ithaca has brought many  positive changes but it also brings the challenge of accommodating more  people well and in a sustainable fashion—preserving valuable farmland and  open space, and ensuring that the quality of life that brought people here in  the first place is not jeopardized.

Town Historian

The position of Town Historian is open. If you are interested in this position please email clerks@townithacany.gov.

The Town Historian answers questions from the public, staff and board members regarding our history and locations of historical significance and highlights our history through our newsletter, website, displays and an occasional talk.

Special Bits and Pieces

Town of Ithaca’s East Hill Drone Video and Narration

Town of Ithaca’s South Hill Drone Video and Narration

Town of Ithaca’s West Hill and Narration

Spirit of Tompkins – A Celebration in Portraits

This project was a collaboration of the Discovery Trail, the town of Ithaca (celebrating our bicentennial in 2021) and photographer Robyn Wishna. The images and stories aim to remind us of the connections between people and their places and the stories about what this shared place means to them personally. Link

Honoring Indigenous History – Video Presentation hosted by Rod Howe, Town Supervisor

Ithaca Welcomes Students – An introduction to the area by former student Stella Frank

The Town of Ithaca as a P.L.A.C.E. – Presentation – People Land Architecture Culture Enterprises