Onondaga County

Onondaga County is located in the Central New York region and has a population of approximately 467,000. The county has a land area of 793.5 square miles and is approximately 35 miles in length and 30 miles in width. The City of Syracuse is situated in the approximate center of the County and serves as the focus for commercial and business activities.

Onondaga County is a center for higher learning, with 32,000 students currently attending colleges within the County. It is home to Syracuse University, which is one of the nation's most highly regarded private colleges, offering a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degrees to its 18,200 students. Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Newhouse School of Communications are consistently ranked as the country's best schools of public administration and journalism, respectively.

Syracuse University sports provide upstate New York with nationally ranked men's and women's collegiate athletics. The 50,000-seat Carrier Dome, America's only on-campus domed stadium, is the home of Syracuse University football, basketball, track and lacrosse. The Syracuse University lacrosse program is a perennial powerhouse and its men’s basketball program is consistently ranked among the top teams in the country.

Also located within Onondaga County are Le Moyne College, a Jesuit-run liberal arts college; the State University of New York's Upstate Medical University, the largest medical school in upstate New York; and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. In addition, more than 6,500 students attend Onondaga Community College, a two-year college that is part of the State University of New York system.

Onondaga County's quality of life and its economy are enhanced by a high quality, comprehensive health care system that serves a 15 county region. The County's health care system includes Upstate Medical University Hospital, Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, and Community General Hospital. There are over 1,500 practicing physicians, two mental health centers, numerous ambulatory care programs, and a full range of long-term care facilities. Area hospitals provide approximately 1,800 licensed beds. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 beds in fourteen extended care facilities and nursing homes.

Syracuse Stage produces and performs both classical and modern plays with professional actors. It maintains a close working relationship with Syracuse University's drama department. Its Arts-In-Education Program in county schools seeks to develop young audiences and addresses problems of literacy, problem solving and cultural diversity in the community.

Alliance Bank Stadium is home to the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Stadium has been called the finest minor league baseball facility in the country, combining modern amenities for athletes and fans with old-fashioned brick facade architecture. Designed by HOK- the architects of Camden Yards in Baltimore, Coor's Field in Denver and Jacobs Field in Cleveland - Alliance Bank Stadium is designed to serve as a multi-purpose facility for a variety of area sporting and entertainment events.
 
The Syracuse Crunch, the top minor league affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, brought professional hockey back to Onondaga County in 1994. The 6,230-seat Onondaga County War Memorial, renovated as part of the development of the OnCenter Complex, is the home ice for the Crunch. The Crunch have played host to the American Hockey League All Star Game and NHL Exhibition Games.

The County-owned Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park was featured on the Discovery Channel's "Ultimate Guide to Elephants". The Zoo was selected for this documentary based on the high quality of its programs. The Zoo's Asian elephant exhibit is among its most widely recognized. The in-city Zoo added several new attractions- the Amur (Siberian tigers), lion cubs, red pandas and Rainforest Exhibit. An Antiquity Cave has examples of animals that existed over 600 million years ago, and the Diversity Exhibit houses colorful birds in a lush tropical setting.

Congresswoman Buerkle is a resident of Onondaga County as she resides in the Town of Onondaga. Her office in Onondaga County is located at 100 South Clinton Street - Suite 1340, Syracuse, NY 13261