According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.14 square miles (28.9 km²).
10.49 square miles (27.2 km²) of it is land and 0.65 square miles (1.7 km²) of it (5.83%) is water.

Binghamton is located at the confluence of two rivers, in the middle of a long but relatively narrow valley.
The north branch of the Susquehanna River passes south of downtown.
This branch rises in eastern New York and receives a number of tributaries above Binghamton.
 In the center of the city, the Chenango River feeds into the Susquehanna from the north.
As a result, eleven bridges span the rivers inside city limits.
Broome County has 17.5 miles of levees, many of which are in Binghamton.
Major floods have occurred in 1865, 1935, 1936, 2006, and 2011.

The incorporation of Binghamton united various communities located on both shores of the two rivers.
The majority of the city's population and development lies along the rolling terrain nearest the riverbanks with sparse development in the hills that define the city limits.
 The old city was laid out on a grid system by Joshua Whitney, Jr., but as development spread to the outer regions of the city and merged with other settlements, several grids were eventually juxtaposed against each other.
 In the Southside, the grid breaks down, as more curvilinear roads make up the predominantly residential areas along the hills.

The city was the traditional economic center of the region, and contains several historic districts.
 The Railroad Terminal Historic District consists of several factories and buildings along the railroad line in the northern limits of downtown.
Over 1,000 properties on the West Side contribute to the Abel Bennett Tract Historic District, mainly made up of residential properties along Riverside Drive.
The State Street-Henry Street Historic District in downtown consists of several older low-rise buildings.
The Court Street Historic District contains some of the most notable architecture in the city, including the Press Building and Security Mutual Building, early 20th century high rises, and the Broome County Courthouse.
The Press Building was the tallest building in Binghamton until the completion of the State Office Building in Government Plaza, which remains the tallest in the city.
Away from downtown, the majority of the buildings are single- and multi-family dwellings, along with low-rise business buildings lining commercial arteries.
 Along the railroad corridors, a number of factories, mostly abandoned, rise above the otherwise-uniform landscape.

Main Street runs through the West Side, and continues west to serve as Main Street in the villages of Johnson City and Endicott.
 On the east side of the Chenango River, the road becomes Court Street, the major east-west artery in downtown and the East Side.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.14 square miles (28.9 km²). 10.49 square miles (27.2 km²) of it is land and 0.65 square miles (1.7 km²) of it (5.83%) is water.
Binghamton is located at the confluence of two rivers, in the middle of a long but relatively narrow valley. The north branch of the Susquehanna River passes south of downtown. This branch rises in eastern New York and receives a number of tributaries above Binghamton.  In the center of the city, the Chenango River feeds into the Susquehanna from the north. As a result, eleven bridges span the rivers inside city limits. Broome County has 17.5 miles of levees, many of which are in Binghamton. Major floods have occurred in 1865, 1935, 1936, 2006, and 2011.
The incorporation of Binghamton united various communities located on both shores of the two rivers. The majority of the city's population and development lies along the rolling terrain nearest the riverbanks with sparse development in the hills that define the city limits.  The old city was laid out on a grid system by Joshua Whitney, Jr., but as development spread to the outer regions of the city and merged with other settlements, several grids were eventually juxtaposed against each other.  In the Southside, the grid breaks down, as more curvilinear roads make up the predominantly residential areas along the hills.
The city was the traditional economic center of the region, and contains several historic districts.  The Railroad Terminal Historic District consists of several factories and buildings along the railroad line in the northern limits of downtown. Over 1,000 properties on the West Side contribute to the Abel Bennett Tract Historic District, mainly made up of residential properties along Riverside Drive. The State Street-Henry Street Historic District in downtown consists of several older low-rise buildings. The Court Street Historic District contains some of the most notable architecture in the city, including the Press Building and Security Mutual Building, early 20th century high rises, and the Broome County Courthouse. The Press Building was the tallest building in Binghamton until the completion of the State Office Building in Government Plaza, which remains the tallest in the city. Away from downtown, the majority of the buildings are single- and multi-family dwellings, along with low-rise business buildings lining commercial arteries.  Along the railroad corridors, a number of factories, mostly abandoned, rise above the otherwise-uniform landscape.
Main Street runs through the West Side, and continues west to serve as Main Street in the villages of Johnson City and Endicott.  On the east side of the Chenango River, the road becomes Court Street, the major east-west artery in downtown and the East Side.
Binghamton, New York