Elmira, New York

Elmira is a city of approximately 30,000 residents in Chemung County, New York, just north of the Pennsylvania state line. Elmira is located along the Chemung River, in an area prone to floods such as the one spawned in 1972 by Hurricane Agnes. The Harris Hill area northwest of the city, is notable for its association with the sport of soaring, and is the site of the National Soaring Museum. Elmira is also home to Elmira College, founded in 1855 and notable for its substantial Mark Twain archive and related programs. Major manufacturers in Elmira include Anchor Glass Container Corporation and Caf USA Inc, a train manufacturer.

Elmira was formed from three villages which merged in 1792 to form the village of Newtown. The town changed its name to Elmira in 1828, and reincorporated as a city in 1864. That same year, one of Elmira's four Union army camps, Camp Rathbun, was converted into a prison camp for Confederate soldiers. Overcrowding, disease, and flooding quickly earned the camp the nickname "Hellmira." Nearly 3,000 prisoners died there before the camp was closed in 1865. The numerous rail lines crossing the city made Elmira a locus for manufacturing as well as for the army camps. In 1907, the Kennedy Valve Manufacturing Company opened a factory which produced some eight million valves for Victory ships in WWII and currently employs more than 400 workers. In 1941, the Schweizer Brothers purchased the former Elmira Knitting Mill to establish a glider factory. The Schweizer Aircraft Company was the oldest privately-owned aircraft company in the country when Sikorsky purchased it in 2004. Although manufacturing and the railroads declined after 1950, Elmira still maintains a manufacturing base, and has developed several areas, including its historic district, as retail and dining destinations.

Manufacturing and construction in Elmira put workers in a high risk category for exposure to asbestos. Asbestos exposure is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. Mesothelioma clinics in and around Elmira are listed at the bottom of the page. If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos in Elmira, you may benefit by seeking counsel from a mesothelioma attorney.

Jobsites in Elmira where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Elmira, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Elmira, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Elmira, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.