Geographically, Auburn is located in the heart of one of the most spectacular landscapes in the United States. Owasco Lake at the city's outskirts, is closely flanked on either side by nearly a dozen other lakes which comprise the Finger Lakes Region. Summer sporting opportunities in the area include golfing, boating, swimming and fishing.

The Indians of the Iroquois Confederacy were the first recorded peoples to occupy this bountiful region. Later, American Revolutionary War veterans received land grants in lieu of cash payment, and by the early 1800s, the woodlands in and around Auburn were transformed into productive farms. Water resources, such as the city's Owasco River, ushered in the industrial age and fueled Auburn's prosperity.

Auburn is a community rich in culture and history. As the seat of government for Cayuga County, social leaders, inventors, reformers and captains of industries alike built their impressive residences along Auburn's main thoroughfares. The South Street Area, where many of these homes are located, has been designated as a National Register HIstoric District.