Horseheads’s unusual name comes from the area’s colorful past. In 1797, the Sullivan Expedition left behind a number of packhorse skulls, after being forced to slaughter the starving animals to feed themselves. This expedition was launched against the Tory British Loyalists and the Iroquois Indian tribes inhabiting Chemung County.  The famous Battle of Newtown was fought on the site of present-day Elmira.  The Horseheads Historical Museum preserves a number of artifacts from this era.  It also maintains a vast collection of works by the famous political cartoonist Eugene Zimmerman, who was published in the renowned Puck Magazine in the early 1900’s.

Horseheads, NY lies just north of the city of Elmira.  Census 2000 reported its population as 19,561.  The town covers almost forty square miles.  Within the town is also the village of Horseheads, population 6,363, and the suburb of Elmira Heights, population 4,170.  The tiny hamlets of Orchard Knoll and Slabtown are also within the Horseheads town limits.

The Elmira Metro Area public educational system is one of New York State's finest, consistently achieving high national ranking.  Three colleges are located within an easy twenty-mile drive from Horseheads. Elmira College, Cornell University and Ithaca College all provide excellent choices for top-notch higher education of Horseheads students. 

Horseheads is home to the Wings of Eagles Museum, an educational institute preserving and honoring military aircraft.  Also housed within the institute is the Horseheads Science and Discovery Center.  It contains a number of marvelous exhibits including a gravity well and an audio kinetic ball machine. 

Harris Hill in Horseheads boasts one of the most scenic views of the Finger Lakes Region, and has made Chemung County, NY the ‘soaring capital of the world’.  Sailplanes and gliders take wing from April to October.  The Harris Hill Park provides 400 acres of beautiful wooded trails that are used by cross-country skiers through the winter months.  Equipped with a pool and a three-hole golf course, residents enjoy their park year round. For a larger course, Horseheads offers Mark Twain State Park and Soaring Eagle Golf Course.  One of the most challenging courses in the area, the terrain was carved by retreating ice glaciers, leaving a maze of ‘kettle ponds’ and stunning scenery. Also home to the Chemung County Fairgrounds, Horseheads hosts the annual fair as well as many horse races at its quarter mile track and monthly agricultural exhibits.