Geography
Ithaca, the center of Tompkins County, is located at southern end of Cayuga Lake, in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes Region. The 491 square mile area of Tompkins County is characterized by rolling farmlands, forested hills and deep gorges with spectacular waterfalls. The highest elevation is 2,099 feet at Connecticut Hill and the lowest is 382 feet at Cayuga Lake, which is 40 miles long. More than one third of the U.S. population lives within a day’s drive of Ithaca.
Population
The population in Tompkins County has climbed slowly and steadily over the past ten years, and projections indicate this trend will likely continue.
- Resident Population: Tompkins County: 96,169
- City of Ithaca: 29,541
- Student Population: Cornell University: 18,428
- Student Population: Ithaca College: 5,630
- Student Population: Tompkins Cortland Community College: 3,000.
Climate
The climate in Tompkins County provides for a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from boating, swimming and hiking in the summer to cross country skiing and ice skating in the winter. The average temperature is 68.5 °F (20°C) in July and 21.5°F (-6°C) in January. The average yearly rainfall is 35.4 inches, and the average snow fall is 67.3 inches. It is often said, "If you don’t like the weather in Ithaca, just wait five minutes." If you're coming to Cornell from a much warmer climate, you might need some tips on keeping yourself warm during Ithaca’s changeable winter weather. The International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) has compiled a list of helpful hints on surviving the Ithaca winter. Please refer to the ISSO website at http://www.isso.cornell.edu for more information.
Don’t let the weather scare you. Ithaca is beautiful! See for yourself - visit the Ithaca web page at http://www.visitithaca.com/.