About Chemung County
Chemung County is located in the Southern Tier region of New York State, bordering Pennsylvania to the south. Chemung County Seat is Elmira, which is the primary population and commercial center. Chemung County includes approximately 411 square miles and has a population of around 84,000 residents as of recent census estimates. Chemung County was established in 1836, carved from Tioga County, and its name derives from a Native American term meaning 'big horn' in reference to the large elk antlers found in Chemung County.
The Chemung River flows through Chemung County, eventually joining the Susquehanna River system. Major landmarks include the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, which celebrates Chemung County's rich aviation history, and the Elmira Correctional Facility. Mark Twain's study, where he wrote many of his famous works, is preserved at Elmira College.
Chemung County played a significant role during the American Revolution, particularly the Sullivan Expedition of 1779. Key government offices include Chemung County Clerk located at 203 Lake Street in Elmira, the County Clerk's Office which handles land records at the same address, and the Real Property Tax Services (Assessor) office at 203 Lake Street, PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902. Chemung County Office Building is the central hub for most county administrative functions, providing residents access to various public services and records.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
Chemung County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining law and order across Chemung County, particularly in the unincorporated areas. The office oversees Chemung County jail, processes arrests, and maintains criminal records. The Sheriff's Office is also involved in community outreach programs and has specialized divisions such as the Criminal Investigation Division and the Road Patrol Division, which focus on crime prevention and investigation.
Police Departments
Law enforcement in Chemung County is provided by Chemung County Sheriff's Office and several municipal police departments, including the Elmira Police Department and the Horseheads Police Department. Each agency has jurisdiction within its respective area, with the Sheriff's Office covering the broader county. These agencies collaborate on major crimes and emergencies, making sure of full public safety coverage.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
Chemung County Sheriff's Office, located at 203 William Street, Elmira, NY 14901, is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of Chemung County. The Sheriff's Office operates Chemung County Jail and provides patrol, investigations, civil process service, and court security. Their main phone number is, and they maintain a website at chemungcountyny.gov for public information.
- Requests must be submitted in writing to the specific agency's records access officer.
- Processing times for FOIL requests typically range from 5 to 20 business days.
Inmate searches for Chemung County Jail can be conducted through the Sheriff's Office website or by calling the jail directly for The inmate lookup system typically provides booking information, charges, bond amounts, and expected release dates. Municipal police departments operating within Chemung County include the City of Elmira Police Department (located at 317 East Church Street, Elmira), which is the largest municipal force in Chemung County, and the Village of Horseheads Police Department. Under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, Section 87, citizens have the right to request arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs from law enforcement agencies.
Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the Sheriff's Office, though some photographs may be restricted if they pertain to ongoing investigations or involve juveniles. The Sheriff's Office also maintains records of pistol permits, sex offender registries (accessible through the state's online database), and accident reports, all of which are subject to public records requests with certain statutory exemptions for privacy and investigative purposes.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
The criminal records system in Chemung County includes felony, misdemeanor, traffic, and sex offender registry records. Chemung County Sheriff's Office and local police departments maintain these records. Background checks can be conducted through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, which provides full criminal history information. The New York Bureau of Investigation also offers resources for residents seeking detailed background checks.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Chemung County are maintained by Chemung County Sheriff's Office and local police departments. These records can be requested by residents and attorneys under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). A typical arrest record includes the individual's personal information, details of the arrest, charges filed, and the arresting agency. Requests for these records can be submitted in writing to the respective law enforcement agency, with some records accessible through online portals.
Jail & Inmate Records
Chemung County Jail, located in Elmira, is the primary detention facility for people arrested within Chemung County. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and documenting personal information. Inmate lookup services are available online, allowing the public to search for current detainees. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring visitors to schedule appointments and adhere to security protocols.
- The bond and bail process follows New York State guidelines, and recently arrested individuals can be located through the Sheriff's Office or the jail's online resources.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
Mugshots in Chemung County are taken and retained by Chemung County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the arrest records and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or via online databases. New York State does not have specific mugshot removal laws, but individuals may request removal from certain online platforms depending on the site's policies.
Courts & Case Records
Chemung County's court system includes Chemung County Supreme and County Court, located at 224 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901, which handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $25,000, and appeals from lower courts. The phone number is. Chemung County Family Court, at the same address (phone: 607-873-9460), has jurisdiction over family offense proceedings, custody matters, juvenile delinquency, and child support cases. Chemung County Surrogate's Court (607-873-9440), also at 224 Lake Street, handles probate, estate administration, and guardianship proceedings.
- Multiple Town and Village Justice Courts operate throughout Chemung County, handling traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims up to $3,000, and civil cases up to $3,000.
- Fees for certified court documents typically range from $6 to $20 depending on the document type and certification requirements.
These include Elmira City Court at 317 East Church Street. New York's court system provides online case search capabilities through the Unified Court System's WebCivil Supreme portal for certain case types, though many local court records require in-person or written requests. Public access to court records is governed by New York Judiciary Law Section 255 and Court Rules (22 NYCRR Part 216), which establish the presumption of public access while allowing for sealing in specific circumstances involving privacy interests.
Chemung County Clerk's office maintains historical court records and case indexes. Online case lookup for Supreme Court civil cases is available through the e-courts system, though criminal case information is more restricted and typically requires direct contact with the court clerk.
Property & Public Records
Chemung County Clerk's Office, located at 203 Lake Street, PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902, is the official custodian of land records and maintains Chemung County's Register of Deeds functions. The office can be reached at and operates a website at chemungcountyny.gov. Available records include real property deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, mechanic's liens, easements, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, and subdivision plat maps dating back to Chemung County's formation.
- Certified copies of recorded documents cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, with additional certification fees of $5 per document.
- Same-day service is typically available for in-person requests, while mail requests may take 5-10 business days.
- The office accepts requests by mail, in person, or through their online ordering system for certain document types.
The Clerk's office provides an online land records search system through a vendor portal, allowing remote access to scanned documents and indexes, though there may be subscription fees for extensive use or printing capabilities. Property assessment and tax records are maintained by Chemung County Real Property Tax Services office at 203 Lake Street (607-737-2482), which administers property valuations, exemption programs, and assessment rolls for all municipalities within Chemung County. An online property tax and assessment database allows free public searching by owner name, address, or parcel number, providing information on assessed values, tax amounts, property characteristics, sales history, and exemptions.
Chemung County maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping portal offering visual parcel searches with aerial imagery and property boundary overlays.
Vital Records
Vital records for Chemung County are maintained by multiple agencies depending on the record type and date. Birth and death certificates occurring within Chemung County can be requested from Chemung County Clerk's Office at 203 Lake Street, PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902 (phone: 607-737-2920) for events occurring from 1880 forward, though the office primarily holds records for events outside New York City. The current fee for a certified birth or death certificate is $30 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously.
- Processing time is typically 2-4 weeks for mail requests and same-day or next-day for in-person requests when records are readily available.
- Online ordering through VitalChek is available for an additional convenience fee.
The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section in Albany is the central repository for all New York vital records (excluding New York City) and can be contacted at or through vitalrecords.health.ny.gov. Marriage licenses must be obtained from any City or Town Clerk in New York State, with Chemung County Clerk issuing licenses for ceremonies to be performed within Chemung County; the fee is $40 and there is a 24-hour waiting period. Marriage certificates (proof of recorded marriage) are available from the issuing clerk or the State Health Department.
Divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk where the divorce was granted, with indexes available but actual divorce decrees requiring proper identification and proof of entitlement. Applicants must provide valid photo identification, and only certain individuals have legal access to birth and death certificates under New York Public Health Law Section 4174, including the registrant, immediate family members, or those with court orders or documented lawful purposes.
Business & Licensing
Business licensing and registration in Chemung County involves multiple agencies depending on the business type and activities. Chemung County Clerk's Office at 203 Lake Street, Elmira (607-737-2920) accepts Doing Business As (DBA) certificates and certificates of assumed name for sole proprietors and partnerships conducting business under a name other than their legal name, as required by New York General Business Law Section 130. The filing fee is typically $25 plus an additional newspaper publication requirement.
- This free search tool provides information on entity names, addresses, registered agents, formation dates, and status.
For formal business entity formation including corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and limited partnerships, filings must be made with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, which maintains a searchable online database at dos.ny.gov/corps where the public can look up registered business entities, view filing histories, and verify good standing status. Professional licenses for occupations such as real estate agents, contractors, cosmetologists, and healthcare providers are issued by New York State licensing boards and can be verified through the state Education Department's online verification system. Chemung County Planning Department, located at the Hazlett Building, 203 Lake Street (607-737-2066), handles building permits, zoning compliance, and land use applications.
Sales tax certificates of authority are issued by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The Greater Elmira Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 400 East Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901 (website: chemungchamber.org, phone: 607-734-5137), is a resource for business development, networking, and economic information, though it is not a regulatory body.
Elections & Voter Records
Elections in Chemung County are administered by Chemung County Board of Elections, located at 203 Lake Street, PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902. The office can be reached at and maintains information at Chemung County website chemungcountyny.gov. New York State requires voter registration at least 25 days before an election, though recent legislative changes have expanded early voting and simplified registration processes.
- Chemung County Board of Elections provides a polling place lookup tool on their website where voters can enter their address to find their assigned Election Day location, early voting sites, and sample ballots.
- In the November 2024 general election, Chemung County reported voter turnout of approximately 60-65% of registered voters, consistent with patterns in similar upstate New York counties during presidential election years.
- Election transparency is governed by New York Election Law, which provides for poll watchers, public canvassing of results, and access to election materials subject to certain restrictions to protect voter privacy.
- Citizens can request election night results, audit information, and voting machine test protocols under the Freedom of Information Law.
Voters can register online through the New York State Board of Elections website at vote.nyc or DMV.ny.gov, or submit paper applications available at the County Board of Elections, public libraries, and various government offices. Public election records include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under Election Law Section 5-210), campaign finance filings for local candidates (available through the State Board of Elections for state candidates and locally for county positions), official election results broken down by election district, and candidate petition filings. The next major election will be held on November 3, 2026, featuring United States House of Representatives seats, one United States Senate seat from New York, the Governor of New York and other statewide offices, State Senate and Assembly seats, and various county positions.
Absentee ballots in New York can be requested online through the State Board of Elections absentee ballot portal or by submitting a written application to Chemung County Board of Elections; applications must be received no later than 10 days before the election for mail delivery or the day before the election for in-person pickup. New York expanded early voting in 2019, providing nine days of early voting at designated sites before each primary and general election.
Economy & Demographics
Chemung County's economy has historically been rooted in manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail trade. Major employers include Arnot Ogden Medical Center and other components of Arnot Health, Elmira College, and various manufacturing facilities. Chemung County experienced significant economic transitions following the decline of traditional heavy industries in the late 20th century, including the closure of major manufacturing plants. Current economic development efforts focus on diversifying the employment base and supporting small business growth.
- The median household income in Chemung County is approximately $52,000 to $56,000 according to recent American Community Survey estimates, which is below the New York State median.
- Chemung County benefits from its proximity to Pennsylvania markets and the Interstate 86 corridor, which provides transportation access for goods movement.
Healthcare and social assistance represent the largest employment sector, followed by retail trade, manufacturing, and educational services. Tourism plays a moderate role in the local economy, driven by the National Soaring Museum, Elmira's Mark Twain heritage sites, the Finger Lakes region's wine tourism overflow, and outdoor recreation along the Chemung River. The unemployment rate has typically tracked slightly above state averages, ranging from 4% to 6% in recent non-pandemic years.
Economic development is coordinated through the Southern Tier Economic Growth organization and Chemung County Industrial Development Agency, which offers tax incentives and financing programs for qualifying businesses. Notable facilities include several precision manufacturing operations and distribution centers. The presence of Elmira Correctional Facility also represents a significant employment component of the local economy.
Agriculture remains present in Chemung County's rural areas, particularly dairy farming and some crop production, though its economic contribution has diminished compared to historical levels.
Transparency Score
Court Records: Yes: Partial Online (civil cases) | Property: Yes: Free Online Search | Arrest/Jail: Limited: Must Contact Sheriff | Vital Records: Limited: In-Person or Mail | Business: Yes: State Online Database | Elections: Yes: Online Results/Info | Overall Score: 7/10, Chemung County provides good online access to property and election records, with court and arrest records requiring more direct agency contact.
Official Government Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Cities & Towns in Chemung County
Explore public records for 13 cities and communities in Chemung County, New York.