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A Short Profile of
Cayuga County, New York

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Cayuga means "people of the wetlands."
It is pronounced kA-'yü-ga in the Iroquoian language
of the Cayuga people.

  Demographic Profile     Geographic Profile  
  Economic Profile     Quality of Life  
  Historic Profile     Directions and Maps  


Demographic Profile
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    Cayuga County's total population for 2000 was 81,963. The largest proportion of this population resides within the center of the County and includes the City of Auburn with a population of 28,574, surrounded by the five towns of Sennett, Throop, Owasco, Fleming and Aurelius. Other than the City of Auburn, there are twenty-three incorporated towns in Cayuga County ranging in population from Brutus with 4,777 residents in 2000 to Sempronius with 893 residents.

    The total number of households in the County is approximately 30,558, with approximately 11,411 of those in Auburn. Although the County offers a diversity of housing choices, the majority of homes were built before 1939 and the County is well known for its wealth of 19th century architecture.


Geographic Profile
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    Nearly sixty-five miles long, Cayuga County's land area of 700 square miles stretches from the shores of Lake Ontario into the heart of the Finger Lakes Region and the Southern Tier of Central New York. The County is blessed with plentiful water resources. Cayuga Lake on the west and Skaneateles and Cross Lakes on the east form natural boundaries ranging from four miles to nineteen miles. In addition to the surrounding lakes, its own Owasco Lake offers a prime water supply source. Owasco has a surface area of 10.4 square miles, maximum depth of 177 feet and a watershed area of approximately 225 square miles.

    The County is crossed by the New York State Erie Canal Barge System and is connected through scenic waterways to the Great Lakes and to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Hudson River. The landforms vary from the hilly southern plateau through a relatively flat central plain region to the drumlins of the north.


Economic Profile
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    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, fibre 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. Agriculture generates $125.4 million in income for the County.

    Economic development is a team effort in Cayuga County. Principal contacts for developers are the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development and the Auburn Department of Planning and Economic Development. Bond financing and tax incentive packages for new projects are available through the Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency and the Auburn Industrial Development Agency. The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce provides promotional support. Cayuga County Community College, the Cayuga County Employment and Training Department, and the NYS Department of Labor offer training opportunities.

    Qualified Work Force: The Pathfinders, Site Selection/Location Analysis Consultants, from Dallas Texas recently completed a Workforce Audit for the Central New York area. Shown below are excerpts from the final report. The Pathfinders has employed its experience in workforce assessments for corporate site selection clients and a methodology developed for U.S. Department of Defense projects, in assessments of the civilian workforce in locations where military installations were scheduled for closure, to produce this assessment of the Central New York area workforce. The Central New York survey area includes Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. The region has a combined civilian labor force of approximately 386,000 people. All of whom are within an hour commute of any employment site within the region. The findings include:

    1. While the unemployment rate in the Central New York area is low, a new employer will be able to attract employees from an additional pool of about 76,000 UNDEREMPLOYED workers.

    2. Those workers possess the skills, experience and education to qualify them for the pay rates at which they would take a new job, ranging from less than $7.00 to over $25.00 per hour.

    3. About 25% of those workers would take a new job for $9.50 per hour or less. At the upper end, the 25% most qualified and experienced would command more than $19.00 per hour.

    4. Almost 13,000 people who are not employed nor seeking work might re-enter the workforce for the proper job.

    The results of this assessment determined that in addition to unemployed people, there are approximately 76,000 people defined as UNDEREMPLOYED who would take a better job if offered by a new employer and who possess the skills, education and experience to qualify them for a better job. Over 18,000 would do so for $9.99 or less, while almost one-half would take that job for just under $13.50 per hour.

    More than one-quarter of those individuals have some college and almost 30% have a college degree. As these data relate solely to those underemployed, they will vary from data representative of the population as a whole.

    Quality development Sites: Cayuga County maintains an inventory of over two dozen green field sites ready for business development. Visit the inventory at co.cayuga.ny.us/bdsip

    Water and Sewer: Most sites in the Cayuga County Business Development Site Inventory can meet typical water and sewer demands. However, the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority stands ready to upgrade these services to meet the needs of particular firms.

    Utilities: Typical industrial electric demand can be met by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) at all sites. The Company has indicated an intent to supply electricity at nationally competitive prices. There are no supply concerns. Natural gas is also available from NYSEG.

    Transportation: Highway transportation is excellent. Local highways are uncongested and provide easy access to the interstate system. For example a business development site in central Cayuga County near Auburn is within 11 miles (15 minutes) of interchange 40 of Interstate Rt. 90. Air service is very convenient and diversified. This central county site is 12.5 miles (15 minutes) from a general aviation airport near the Rt. 90 interchange and 36 miles to Hancock, International Airport (40 minutes) in Syracuse. Rochester International Airport, and the Ithaca Airport are each reachable in just over an hour, and offer additional arrival and departure options daily.

    Site Availability and Permitting: All inventory sites are zoned for industrial uses and the local review process can usually be completed in less that 120 days. All sites have been submitted by persons interested in selling now!

    Regional Issues: The availability of support industries and access to population is an area advantage. Sixteen (16) major cities lie within 500 miles of the site including New York City (255 miles), Boston (300 miles), Baltimore (260 miles), Pittsburgh (320 miles), Toronto (200), Rochester (70 miles), and Syracuse (25 miles). Immediate support industries include trucking, warehousing and an array of small manufacturing facilities.

    Cost of Living: The cost of living in Cayuga County is highly competitive. National experts recently predicted low housing costs and increasing appreciation rates for Cayuga County, perhaps the best combination of factors possible. A new 2400 square foot house in the Central NY area costs $183,000 according to an American Chamber of Commerce researchers Association study released in February 2001.

    Higher Education: Cayuga County is within easy commuting distance to the following Collages and Universities:


Quality of Life
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    The quality of life in Cayuga County, the heart of the Finger Lakes Region, is second to none. With low-cost modern, and architecturally intact historical housing availability, advanced telecommunications service, high quality schools, cultural activity, parks and recreational opportunities, and low crime rates, it is the location of choice for successful people. Thus an increasingly intelligent population of forward thinking people are choosing to call it home.

    Cayuga County's outdoor recreation opportunities abound. With over 65 miles of trails, plus the County owned Sterling Nature Center located on the shores of Lake Ontario, there are many locations for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and enjoying the outdoors.

    With the County having access to 3 Finger Lakes, a Great Lake, 5 smaller lakes, and the New York State Canal System, there is plenty of opportunity for water activities such as boating, sailing, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, and sport fishing.


Historic Profile
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    Cayuga County is well known for several historical reasons. Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the U.S. was born in the County. The splendid Home of William Seward, President Lincoln's Secretary of State can be visited in Auburn.
    Willard Chapel, also located in Auburn, is the only complete Louis Comfort Tiffany religious interior remaining in the world. Ted Case, at Case Research Lab in Auburn, pioneered the sound used in talking movies. The county houses the Harriet Tubman Home and Reference Library. These are a few of the many notable sites that can be enjoyed by visitors to the county.

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