Southport mixes suburban and rural lifestyles just outside Elmira
Southport borders the town of Elmira, offering a quiet bedroom community on one end that transitions to sprawling rural landscapes toward the outskirts. “It’s a very residential area, leaning from suburban to more agricultural,” says Toni Granger, a local broker with over 25 years of experience and owner of Hatfield Real Estate. “There are all the amenities you would want in a city, with more of a small-town feel.” The diversity of landscapes and housing styles, from vintage Cape Cods to spacious farmhouses, reflects the diversity of lifestyles in the area, allowing for easy access to quiet forests and downtown Elmira in the same short distance.
A variety of housing styles, some rural homes with acreage
Most of the dense residential development is focused on Southport’s northeast corner, on the edge of Elmira, where buyers can find a wide range of housing styles. “There’s everything from mobile homes, single-family, multifamily, ranch-style, Cape Cod, expensive and inexpensive,” Granger says. “It's a crazy mix of everything.” Many of the area’s housing dates to the early 20th century, including cottages, Cape Cod and American Foursquares. Toward the mid-20th century, many ranch-style homes were added as well, including secluded multiacre properties farther out in the forested countryside. Prices generally range from $50,000 to $400,000, though older homes and fixer-uppers can sell for less. Many homes have been converted into duplexes and multifamily homes, which are popular among investors. Prices for these can range from $80,000 to $180,000.
Grade levels are split between five public schools
Students may attend Pine City Elementary, which earns a B from Niche, from prekindergarten through second grade. The C-plus-rated Broadway Elementary serves third through sixth grades, the C-minus-rated Ernie Davis Academy serves seventh and eighth grades, and the unrated Broadway Academy serves ninth grade. Students begin at B-rated Elmira High in 10th grade, and the school offers an Academy of Finance program, along with career-oriented courses in animal science and automotive technology. Southport is also home to the A-minus-rated Notre Dame High, a private Catholic school that offers classes in Mandarin, financial literacy and coding.
Small parks with playgrounds and hiking trails through oak forests
Chapel Park is the main community space, with playgrounds, basketball courts and ball fields, and the nearby Universal Park has a summer splash pad. Millers Pond Park is a popular fishing and birdwatching spot with a playground and a serene pond surrounded by maple trees. Farther out in the county, there’s lots of open land for hunting and cross-country skiing in the winter. Plymouth Woods Nature Preserve is one destination for outdoorsy locals, made up of oak-hickory forests with several multiuse hiking trails. On cold or rainy days, locals can visit Dixie Bowling Lanes.
Bradley Farms hosts family-friendly events and activities
Bradley Farms doubles as a seasonal produce vendor and an entertainment venue with various family-friendly events throughout the year. These include an egg hunt at Easter, a large holiday light show in December and The Coldbrook Curse, a Halloween haunted house. Throughout the fall, the farm offers wagon rides, a corn maze and kids’ games, which visitors can enjoy while shopping for pumpkins.
Local businesses with more nearby restaurants in Elmira
Though Southport is mostly a bedroom community, its location puts locals close to restaurants and businesses in Elmira. Anne’s Pancakes is a popular breakfast spot. Manzari’s Bar & Grill, a casual Italian staple, has been family owned and operated since 1929. Tops is nearby for groceries.
Nearby highways and Chemung County buses
Just south of Elmira, Southport is located along state routes 14 and 328 and is also bordered by Interstate 86. Chemung County buses, operated by CTran, serve the community and connect locals within other towns in the Elmira area. Saint Joseph’s Hospital is a few miles away, while the Elmira Corning Regional Airport is about 15 miles away.
