Abner Treman was the founder or Trumansburg. He built the first frame building on what is now Main Street in 1796. The Village of Trumansburg was incorporated in 1872 and the first election was held in that year as well.
Waterway transportation had a great influence on the development of Trumansburg and Ulysses. Cayuga Lake was linked by canals and rivers to New York City and other metropolises. Industry in Trumansburg consisted of sawmills, gristmills, stores, restaurants, and hotels. Trumansburg was considered a summer resort area for years.
Native American tribes such as the Cayugas, the Senecas, and the Iroquois also called this area home prior to the Revolutionary War. Several local areas, including Taughannock Falls, bear Native American names.
Many buildings have been established or remodeled in Trumansburg such as the Village Offices in the
1980's, the Tompkins County Trust Company in 1994, the Ulysses Historic Building, the Town Building,
the Post Office, and the American Legion from 1999-2000.