Have you lived in or visited BROOME County? Tell us about it!
Binghamton, Broome County, New York, USA (North America) – March 2018 — I live in Binghamton, a small town in upstate New York (zip code 13905). Binghamton is in Broome County and is famous for its notoriously unfriendly weather — has broken records for blizzards and snow storms this current Winter — and, of course, Binghamton University, a part of the SUNY (State University of New York) system which brings a lot of young people and activities to town. I love Binghamton. I was born here and grew up here (I am 33 years old) and have seen this city go through its best and worst times in recent memory. Growing up, this was a lively town. Rock and roll bands, important keynote speakers, politicians and even famous celebrities like Bob Dylan were a staple every once in a while. However, a lot has changed since IBM moved its headquarters from the area and resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs and the displacement of thousands of working class families.
Binghamton, Broome County, New York USA (North America) — Binghamton is what I like to think of as a recovering city, a bit like a tiny post-industrial Detroit as far as changes in the city’s culture, demographics and physical outlook that has been brought about by huge economical strains. Nice suburban homes have paved way for apartment projects, industries have been turned into prisons and some banks and schools have simply closed down and remained so for decades with no new businesses to replace them. It is not exactly a ghost town but it comes very close. A friend once told me that many locals here believe that Binghamton has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. While there is no proof for that, a trip here would lend a lot of credence to that belief. The thing that makes me proudest about Binghamton is its residents. Despite all the negative changes that have taken place, this largely remains a folksy suburban/rural American town at heart. The people here are kind, diverse and welcoming. Not to forget, also very hardworking. They give me hope that one day this city will turn things around and rediscover the verve and buoyancy that defined it decades ago. The industries may have left, but at its core, the heritage of Binghamton thrives.