BINCHAMTON, bing'am-ton. A city and the county-seat of Broome County, N. Y., on the New York, Lake Erie and Western, the main line and branches of the Lackawanna. and the Delaware and Hudson railroads (Slap: New York. E 3). It occupies an area of 10 square miles at an elevation of about 850 feet, and has a picturesque location. The Susquehanna and Chenango rivers unite within the city, and are crossed by several bridges. Among the more prominent buildings may be mentioned the Stone Opera House, courthome, city hall, post-office, State Hospital for the Insane. city hospital, State armory, Central High School, and Susquehanna Valley and Saint Slary's homes for orphan chil dren. Other features of interest are Ross Park, of about 100 acres, Bennett Park, the driving park, and exposition grounds. The city contains a law library of the Supreme Court and a eityandschool library of over 13.000 volumes. Binghamton has extensive manufacturing industries.whiehinclude cigars, spices, carriages and carriage-trimmings, wagons, sleighs, leallier, boots, shoes, clothing, hats, felt, scales. time-recording clocks. motors, dynamos, electrical apparatus, steam and gas en gines, furniture, glass, bottles, hoes, proprietary medicines, wood-alcohol, and envelopes. First
settled in 17S7, Binghamton was called Chenango Point until, in 1500. its situation was slightly changed and its present name adopted in honor of William Bingham. the proprietor of the land in the vicinity. It was incorporated as a village in 1S34, and in 1S67 as a city. Its charter pro vides for a mayor, elected biennially, who ap points the boards of fire, police, street, civil service, and school commissioners, and a city council which controls the appointments of other important officials excepting the city judge, asses sors, and board of water commissioners, chosen by popular vote. The annual expenditures of the city amount to about 8520.1)00, the principal items of expense being $:30.000 each for the de partments of fire and police, and $130,000 for schools. The water-works. built by the city in 1S67, are under municipal operation. Popula tion, in 1S90. 33,003 in 1900. 39.647. Consult: Wilkinson. The Annals of Binghamton (Bing hamton, I540) ; and Lawyer, Binghamton, Its Settlement, Groirth, and Dcyclownent (Bingham ton, 1900).