After the boom of the cigar industry in the 1880s, the Binghamton area became increasingly reliant on large manufactures, with both Endicott Johnson, a shoe manufacturer, and IBM employing 15,000 to 20,000 local workers at their peak.
Other companies with a significant historical presence included Link Aviation Devices, Ansco, and General Electric.
Several other notable businesses started in Binghamton, such as Valvoline, the Nineteen Hundred Washer Company (which merged to form Whirlpool), and Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root, a famous patent medicine.
Dick's Sporting Goods started out as a fishing store in the East Side in 1948, and remained headquartered in Binghamton until 1994.

Much of Binghamton's current employment base is still oriented towards technology and defense manufacturing, though the sector has been diminishing since 1990.
Areas of specialization include systems integration, flight simulation, and printed circuit board manufacturing.
The largest such companies in the area are Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, IBM, Sanmina-SCI, and Universal Instruments.
Other notable technology firms include i3 Electronics, Rockwell Collins, and L-3 Communications, which absorbed the Link Aviation operations.
 Although not a large employer, the McIntosh Laboratory is a well-known high-end manufacturer of audio amplifiers, receivers, and other components.
Despite the sustained job losses, 13% of New York State's computer and electronics manufacturing jobs are in the Binghamton MSA as of 2010.

Education and health care are also becoming significant sectors in the regional economy.
In particular, Binghamton University and Broome Community College employ many researchers and educators.
Binghamton University contains a New York State Center of Excellence for small-scale systems integration, and has also provided the major impetus behind the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator in downtown Binghamton, which aims to encourage local growth of startups.
Upstate Medical University has been working on expanding the presence of its clinical campus by establishing a permanent home at the former New York State Inebriate Asylum on the East Side.
Major companies in the private healthcare industry include United Health Services and Lourdes Hospital.

There is also a large presence of food services and distribution companies in Binghamton.
 Both Maines Paper & Food Service and Willow Run Foods are headquartered in the region, and are two of the largest food distributors in the country, servicing a large region of restaurants and chains throughout the United States.
Maines is one of the largest private companies in the country.
Crowley Foods, a subsidiary of HP Hood, maintains headquarters in Binghamton, and Frito-Lay has a large plant in the region.
Agriculture has long played a notable role in the regional economy, and the farm bureau movement started in Binghamton in 1911.

Other notable local employers include New York State Electric & Gas and Johnson Outdoors.
Two insurance companies, Security Mutual Life and Columbian Financial Group, maintain headquarters in the area.

Several large shopping areas exist within the region.
 Downtown Binghamton is home to a Boscov's department store, and the development of large student housing projects has resulted in a resurgence of restaurants and service-oriented business downtown.
Previously, downtown was also home to several major department stores, and was the center of regional shopping.
Most shopping, however, has now shifted away from the traditional downtown area towards the suburbs.
 The town of Vestal has several shopping centers and big-box stores along a five-mile stretch of the Vestal Parkway.
The village of Johnson City is home to the Oakdale Mall, the only indoor super regional mall in the area.
Significant commercial development has also taken place in the town of Dickinson, with numerous shopping centers just north of the city.
 In the First Ward, Clinton Street is home to Antique Row, a collection of antique shops.
After the boom of the cigar industry in the 1880s, the Binghamton area became increasingly reliant on large manufactures, with both Endicott Johnson, a shoe manufacturer, and IBM employing 15,000 to 20,000 local workers at their peak. Other companies with a significant historical presence included Link Aviation Devices, Ansco, and General Electric. Several other notable businesses started in Binghamton, such as Valvoline, the Nineteen Hundred Washer Company (which merged to form Whirlpool), and Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root, a famous patent medicine. Dick's Sporting Goods started out as a fishing store in the East Side in 1948, and remained headquartered in Binghamton until 1994.
Much of Binghamton's current employment base is still oriented towards technology and defense manufacturing, though the sector has been diminishing since 1990. Areas of specialization include systems integration, flight simulation, and printed circuit board manufacturing. The largest such companies in the area are Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, IBM, Sanmina-SCI, and Universal Instruments. Other notable technology firms include i3 Electronics, Rockwell Collins, and L-3 Communications, which absorbed the Link Aviation operations.  Although not a large employer, the McIntosh Laboratory is a well-known high-end manufacturer of audio amplifiers, receivers, and other components. Despite the sustained job losses, 13% of New York State's computer and electronics manufacturing jobs are in the Binghamton MSA as of 2010.
Education and health care are also becoming significant sectors in the regional economy. In particular, Binghamton University and Broome Community College employ many researchers and educators. Binghamton University contains a New York State Center of Excellence for small-scale systems integration, and has also provided the major impetus behind the Southern Tier High Technology Incubator in downtown Binghamton, which aims to encourage local growth of startups. Upstate Medical University has been working on expanding the presence of its clinical campus by establishing a permanent home at the former New York State Inebriate Asylum on the East Side. Major companies in the private healthcare industry include United Health Services and Lourdes Hospital.
There is also a large presence of food services and distribution companies in Binghamton.  Both Maines Paper & Food Service and Willow Run Foods are headquartered in the region, and are two of the largest food distributors in the country, servicing a large region of restaurants and chains throughout the United States. Maines is one of the largest private companies in the country. Crowley Foods, a subsidiary of HP Hood, maintains headquarters in Binghamton, and Frito-Lay has a large plant in the region. Agriculture has long played a notable role in the regional economy, and the farm bureau movement started in Binghamton in 1911.
Other notable local employers include New York State Electric & Gas and Johnson Outdoors. Two insurance companies, Security Mutual Life and Columbian Financial Group, maintain headquarters in the area.
Several large shopping areas exist within the region.  Downtown Binghamton is home to a Boscov's department store, and the development of large student housing projects has resulted in a resurgence of restaurants and service-oriented business downtown. Previously, downtown was also home to several major department stores, and was the center of regional shopping. Most shopping, however, has now shifted away from the traditional downtown area towards the suburbs.  The town of Vestal has several shopping centers and big-box stores along a five-mile stretch of the Vestal Parkway. The village of Johnson City is home to the Oakdale Mall, the only indoor super regional mall in the area. Significant commercial development has also taken place in the town of Dickinson, with numerous shopping centers just north of the city.  In the First Ward, Clinton Street is home to Antique Row, a collection of antique shops.
Binghamton, New York