A historical look at the founding of Elmira

It was resident and prominent banker Jerome Bank who, in 1871, named Elmira after his birthplace in New York.

Settlement started in 1854 when Hazen Hoyt and Allen Van Fleet settled near the present town site. The first crop was barley raised by Stephen Hoyt and Van Fleet and shipped to Sacramento. Hoyt also marketed the first lot of hogs fattened in the vicinity.