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Auburn, NY

Frequently asked questions

Auburn, NY

Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States. Located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, the city had a population of 26,866 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city of Cayuga County, the county seat, and the site of the maximum-security Auburn Correctional Facility, as well as the William H. Seward House Museum and the house of abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Auburn is located at 42.9317° N, 76.5661° W at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, which is drained by the Owasco Outlet – also known as the Owasco River – which runs north through the city on its way to the Seneca River. A dam, owned and operated by the city, controls the outflow of the lake, which is used for drinking water and recreation. The city is required to keep a sufficient amount of water in the river to deal with the effluent from its waste disposal treatment facility.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which 8.3 square miles (21.6 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.2 km²), or 0.89%, is water.

US 20 is an important east-west highway passing through the city, and New York State Route 34 and New York State Route 38 are north-south highways that intersect US-20 in Auburn. Seneca Falls is 15 miles (24 km) west on US 20, and Syracuse is 26 miles (42 km) to the northeast via New York State Route 5.

Auburn was founded in 1793, during the post-Revolutionary period of settlement of western New York. The founder, John L. Hardenbergh, was a veteran of the Sullivan-Clinton campaign against the Iroquois during the American Revolution. Members of the Haudenosaunee allied with the British during the American Revolution, and the Sullivan Campaign, ordered by the American military general George Washington, aimed to crush Haudenosaunee forces in the area. According to historian Robin Bernstein, the Sullivan Campaign and its soldiers destroyed "at least forty Native communities." After the war, Hardenbergh was granted a tract of land, Military Tract 47, from the very territory he fought to remove the Haudenosaunee from. Hardenbergh settled in the vicinity of the Owasco River on Military Tract 47 with his infant daughter and two enslaved African-Americans, Harry and Kate Freeman. After his death in 1806, Hardenbergh was buried in Auburn's North Street Cemetery, and was re-interred in 1852 in Fort Hill Cemetery – the first burial in the city's newly opened burial ground. The community grew up around Hardenbergh's gristmill and sawmill. Harry and Kate Freeman were eventually released by the Hardenbergh family, with Kate freed in 1805 before John Hardenbergh's death, and Harry seven months later by Hardenbergh's heirs.

Originally known as Hardenbergh's Corners in the town of Aurelius, the settlement was renamed Auburn in 1805 when it became the county seat. It became an incorporated village in 1815, and was chartered as a city in 1848. It was only a few miles from the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825 and allowed local factories to inexpensively ship goods north or south. In 1871, the Southern Central Railroad, financed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad, completed a line primarily to carry anthracite coal from Athens, Pennsylvania through Auburn to wharves on Lake Ontario at Fair Haven.

Auburn, NY offers a variety of spas, gyms, and health and wellness activities to cater to the health and fitness needs of its residents. Lift - Live it Fitness and Training provides a state-of-the-art gym experience with personal training, group fitness classes, and modern equipment. Serenity Wellness offers a peaceful retreat with massages, facials, and holistic therapies designed for relaxation and rejuvenation. Zen Den Studio hosts yoga and Pilates classes, focusing on core strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. Homic Advanced Chiropractic specializes in spinal health, pain relief, and comprehensive wellness care. Planet Fitness in Auburn promotes a judgment-free environment with a wide array of exercise equipment and group fitness classes to suit all fitness levels. Auburn YMCA offers diverse fitness programs, swimming lessons, and wellness workshops for all ages. These diverse facilities and activities make Auburn a hub for wellness and active living, enriching the lives of its residents.

Top sites in Auburn, NY are Harriet Tubman Home, Seward House Museum, Auburn Public Theater, and Cayuga Museum of History & Art.

Population: 25,983 (2023). ZIP codes: 13021, 13024. Area code: 315. Elevation: 686 ft (209 m). Area: 8.41 sq mi (21.78 km sq).

FAQs

Why is Auburn, NY famous?

The City of Auburn is rich in history, arts, and culture, offering a great array of museums, historic sites, and national landmarks such as the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Seward House Museum. Auburn is also known for its thriving arts scene featuring the Auburn Public Theater and the Schweinfurth Art Center.  Visitors are encouraged to start their visit at the new NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center located in downtown Auburn which houses Auburn's Visitor Information Center.

Is Auburn, NY A good place to live?

The city is one of the most welcoming suburbs in the state. Known for its affordable homes, low cost of living, and top-quality schools, Auburn keeps attracting people from all over New York and beyond. The west side of the town and a few neighborhoods on the east side are relatively affordable, and a sizable portion of the east side is filled with moderate homes and neighborhoods, but there is also the large neighborhood of Melrose Park, which has higher-class homes and amenities. Despite being an average town, Auburn has a few distinguishing features.

Is Auburn, NY a safe place to live?

The crime rate in Auburn is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 27 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Auburn is 1 in 37. Based on FBI crime data, Auburn is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to New York, Auburn has a crime rate that is higher than 93% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Auburn

Lift - Live it Fitness and Training

Serenity Wellness

Zen Den Studio

Homic Advanced Chiropractic

Planet Fitness

Auburn YMCA

Mover Junction

Neighborhood Scout

Harriet Tubman Home

Seward House Museum

Auburn Public Theater

Cayuga Museum of History & Art

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