Tompkins County is located in west central New York and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. Tompkins County has a total area of approximately 492 square miles of which 97% is land and 3% water. As of the census of 2000, there were 96,501 people, 36,420 households, and 19,120 families residing in Tompkins County, New York. It is the 25th most populous county in New York state. The name is in honor of Daniel D. Tompkins, who served as Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States of America.