C h a n g e  o f  A d d r e s s USPS Online Address Change C o u n t y Onondaga   A r e a   C o d e 315 G e o g r a p h y Syracuse is located in the north-central section of the state, just east of New York's Finger Lakes Region. Terrain of the area is gently rolling, and elevations in the city range from 364 to 681 feet above sea level. Topographical features include the Erie Canal, Seneca River, Onondaga Lake and Onondaga Creek. Oneida Lake is located northeast of the city. C l i m a t e Continental. The area's climate is influenced by the proximity of Lake Ontario and the Adirondack Mountains. Average temperatures range from 16°F to 81°F. Average annual precipitation totals 26 inches of rainfall and 112 inches of snowfall. P o p u l a t i o n City: 163,860 County: 468,973 G o v e r n m e n t City - Mayor/Common Council County - Legislature/Executive County Seat - Syracuse Information about city and county government policies and procedures can be obtained from: Syracuse City Hall - 233 East Washington Street, Syracuse 13202, 448-2489, City Of Syracuse Web Site - www.syracuse.ny.us Onondaga County Court House - 401 Montgomery Street, Syracuse 13202, 435-2222   T a x e s Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. For information contact the City Assessment Department, phone 448-8281. L i c e n s e s State auto and driver licenses may be obtained from: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles - (518) 473-5595 5801 East Taft Road, North Syracuse 13212 620 West Erie Boulevard, Syracuse 13204 E c o n o m y   &   E m p l o y m e n t The local economy is primarily based on manufacturing, government employment, finance, insurance, real estate, printing and publishing and the wholesale, retail and service industries. Among important products are electrical and nonelectrical machinery, transportation equipment, chemicals, primary and fabricated metals, food and kindred products. For current information about employment opportunities in the area, contact: Department of Labor - Community Service Center, 450 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202, 479-3261 H o u s i n g Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspapers, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information. Or, contact the following for assistance and/or names of realtors: Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors - 1020 7th North Street, Syracuse 13088, 457-5979 Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce - 572 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202-3320, 470-1800, web site address - www.cny.com   U t i l i t i e s Water & Refuse - City of Syracuse, Water Department - 448-8238; Refuse Department - 448-2489 Gas & Electric - Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation - 800-932-0301 Cable - Time Warner Cable, 437-1401 Phone - Bell Atlantic, 890-7100 E d u c a t i o n Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from: Syracuse City School District - 725 Harrison Street, Syracuse 13210, 435-4499, Special Education Department - 435-4204 Colleges/Universities Public - Onondaga Community College, State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and SUNY's Health Science Center at Syracuse. Private - Le Moyne College, Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Syracuse University, Bryant & Stratton Business Institute and Central City Business Institute. B a n k s The community has eight banks, several with a number of office locations, and two savings and loan associations. In order to transfer credit information, ask your present banker for assistance. New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores will not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards. P l a c e s   o f   W o r s h i p Syracuse has five synagogues and more than 200 churches of various denominations. Information concerning them may be obtained from: Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse - Chancery Office, 240 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse 13202, 422-7203 Jewish Federation - 5655 Thompson Road, Dewitt 13214, 445-0161 Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce - 572 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202-3320, 470-1800, web site address - www.cny.com N e w s p a p e r s Local newspapers include the Post-Standard (mornings), the Herald-Journal (evenings) and the Sunday version of the Journal, the Herald American (Sunday only). To arrange home delivery, contact: Herald-Journal & Herald American - 470-6397 L i b r a r y Onondaga County Public Library - Robert P. Kinchen Central Library, 447 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202, 435-1900, web site address - www.cny.com/OCPL/ In addition to the Central Library, there are eight branch libraries and two satellite libraries located in Syracuse. M e d i c a l   C a r e Local hospitals include Community-General Hospital of Greater Syracuse (492-5011), Crouse Hospital (470-7111), St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center (488-5111), University Hospital, operated by the State University of New York, (464-5540) and Veterans Medical Center (476-7461). For assistance in selecting a family doctor or dentist, contact the referral services of: Onondaga County Medical Society - 224 Harrison Street, Syracuse 13202, 424-8118 Onondaga County Dental Society - 6320 Fly Road East, Syracuse 13507, 434-9161 For Medicare information, contact the Social Security Administration, 100 South Clinton, Syracuse 13261, 800-772-1213 O r g a n i z a t i o n s A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book, or your present chapter can usually refer you to the local organization in your in your new city. C u l t u r e Among the cultural organizations and attractions in the area are the Salt City Center for Performing Arts, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Syracuse Stage, Erie Canal Museum, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse Opera Company, Discovery Center of Science & Technology, Onondaga Historical Association Museum, Landmark Theatre, Famous Artists Limited and events sponsored by the local colleges and universities. R e c r e a t i o n For information about county and municipal recreational programs and facilities, contact: City Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs - 412 Spencer Street, Syracuse 13204, 473-4330, 24-Hour Information Line - 473-4336 County Parks & Recreation Department - 106 Lake Drive, Liverpool 13088, 451-7275 YMCA - Metropolitan Offices - 340 Montgomery Street, Syracuse 13202, 474-6851 YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County - 120 East Washington Street #415, Syracuse 13202, 424-0040 S h o p p i n g Over 200 retail business are located in downtown Syracuse. In addition, Armory Square and Downtown Farmer's Market are also located in the downtown area. Other major shopping centers in the area are Camillus Mall, Carousal Center, Fairmount Fair Mall, Fayetteville Mall, Great Northern Mall, Marketplace Mall, Marshall Square Mall (on Syracuse University Campus), Penn Can Mall, Shop City Shopping Center and Shoppingtown Mall. Major Retail Outlets - Ames, Bon-Ton, Family Dollar, Hills, K-Mart, Kaufman's, J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, Marshalls, Sam's Club, Sears, Service Merchandise, TJ Maxx and Wal-Mart. Grocers - Convenient Food Mart, Green Hills, Nice N Easy, P & C, Peter's Groceries, Price Chopper, Stop-N-Go, William Grocery & Meats Fair, Red Apple, Smith's and Wegmans. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Bus service throughout Syracuse and surrounding cities is provided by Centro; phone 442-3400 for routes, fares and schedules. Area rail service is provided by Ontrack; phone 424-1212 for information. Adirondack Trailways offers bus transportation to New York City, Long Island and throughout New England. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is provided by Amtrak, with a passenger station in East Syracuse, and Greyhound Bus Lines, with a terminal in Syracuse. Hancock International Airport, six miles north of the downtown business district, services several commercial airlines and private aircraft. C h a m b e r  o f  C o m m e r c e Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce - 572 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202-3320, 470-1800, web site address - ww.cny.com       A d d i t i o n a l  I n f o r m a t i o n Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau - 572 South Salina Street, Syracuse 13202-3320, 470-1981, 800-234-4797, web site address - www.syracusecvb.org