The Village of Dryden is a rural community located 12 miles northeast of Ithaca and 13 miles southwest of Cortland, within the eastern tip of Tompkins County. The Village of Dryden is fully encompassed by the Town of Dryden and is surrounded by an environment of beautifully wooded hillsides, dramatic valleys and farmland.

This quaint Village is nestled above Yellow Barn State Forest and Hammond Hill State Forest. New York State (NYS) Route 13 crosses the rural setting from east and north and US Route 38 comes up from the south. Dryden’s location at the crossroads of these important routes makes it a natural center for services. Along with the Village’s close proximity to Virgil Creek and Dryden Lake, the location created opportunities for many early factory, trade and service businesses.

To this day, the Village has maintained a local downtown business district. Two of the biggest employers in the Village are the school, nursing home, and Tompkins County Community College servicing both the Village and the surrounding communities.