Clinton County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
in the north-easternmost corner of the
state of
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, in the United States and bordered by the Canadian province of
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...
. As of the
2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...
, the population was 79,843.
Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
is the city of
Plattsburgh. The county lies just south of the
border
Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders ca ...
with the
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British Nor ...
of
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...
and to the west of the
State of
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...
.
The county is named for
George Clinton, the first
Governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor h ...
, who later was elected as
Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...
. He had been a
Founding Father who represented New York in the
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...
.
Clinton County comprises the Plattsburgh, New York
Micropolitan statistical area.
History
When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Clinton County was part of
Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present state of
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...
and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of
Cumberland County Cumberland County may refer to:
Australia
* Cumberland County, New South Wales
* the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, Australia
Canada
*Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
United Kingdom
*Cumberland, historic county
*Cumberla ...
, and further on March 16, 1770, by the creation of
Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont. On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces,
Charlotte County, contained the eastern portion.
In 1784, the name "Charlotte County" was changed to
Washington County to honor
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
, the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
General and later the first
President of the United States of America.
In 1788, Clinton County split off from Washington County.
In 1799,
Essex County split from Clinton County.
In 1802, parts of Clinton,
Herkimer, and
Montgomery counties formed the new
St. Lawrence County.
In 1808,
Franklin County split from Clinton County.
Geography
Clinton County lies at the
northeast corner of New York state. Its northern border abuts the
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British Nor ...
of
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirte ...
. Its eastern border abuts the state of
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...
(across Lake Champlain). The encompassing region is referred to as the ''Adirondack Coast''.
The
Saranac River flows easterly through the central part of the county, discharging into Lake Champlain at
Plattsburgh, and the
Great Chazy River
Chazy River is the name of two tributaries of Lake Champlain in Clinton County, New York in the United States.
The more northerly river is the Great Chazy River, which empties into Lake Champlain at King Bay in the Town of Champlain.
The more s ...
flows northeastward through the upper part of the county, discharging into Lake Champlain at
Coopersville. The
Ausable River Au Sable or Ausable may refer to various places:
Michigan
* Au Sable Township, Iosco County, Michigan
**Au Sable, Michigan, an unincorporated community in the above township
* Au Sable Township, Roscommon County, Michigan New York
*Au Sable, New ...
forms a large part of the southern county line.
[Clinton County NY - Google Maps (accessed 6 July 2019)]
/ref> The county's highest point is Lyon Mountain, in the town of Dannemora, at 3,830' (1167m) ASL. According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (7.1%) is water.
Adjacent counties and municipalities
* Grand Isle County, Vermont — east
* Chittenden County, Vermont — southeast
* Essex County — south
* Franklin County — west
* Le Haut-Richelieu Regional County Municipality, Quebec — north
* Le Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality, Quebec — north
* Les Jardins-de-Napierville Regional County Municipality, Quebec — north
Protected areas
* Adirondack Park
The Adirondack Park is a part of New York's Forest Preserve in northeastern New York, United States. The park was established in 1892 for “the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure”, and for watershed protection. The park ...
(part)
* Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area
* Cadyville State Forest
* Chazy Fossil Reef National Natural Landmark (part)
* Dannemora State Forest
* Dunkin's Reserve State Forest
* Flat Rock State Forest
* Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area
* Macomb State Forest
* Miner Lake State Park
* Monty's Bay Wildlife Management Area
* Point au Roche State Park
* Valcour Island
** Valcour Island Primitive Area
Lakes
* Chazy Lake[
* Fern Lake
* ]Lake Champlain
, native_name_lang =
, image = Champlainmap.svg
, caption = Lake Champlain-River Richelieu watershed
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = New York/ Vermont in the United States; and Quebec in Canada
, coords =
, type ...
(along east border)
* Mead Reservoir
* Military Pond
* Miner Lake
* Mud Pond
* Newberry Pond
* Patterson Reservoir
* Silver Lake
* Slush Pond
* Taylor Pond
* Union Falls Pond (part)
* Upper Chateaugay Lake
Government and politics
Like much of the North Country region, Clinton County has historically been a Republican county. However, it has voted for Democratic candidates at the state and national level in recent times. Since 1996, it has voted for the Democratic candidate for president in every election. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
carried the county by a 22.9% margin over John McCain
John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two te ...
(Obama won every municipality in the county), and won by a 26.9% margin over McCain statewide. In 2006, both Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer (born June 10, 1959) is an American politician and attorney. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 54th governor of New York from 2007 until his resignation in 2008.
Spitzer was born in New York City, attended P ...
and Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
carried the county, winning 63% and 64% of vote, respectively. In 2010, Governor Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo ( ; ; born December 6, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 56th governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to the same position that his father, Mario Cuo ...
, and Senators Chuck Schumer
Charles Ellis Schumer ( ; born November 23, 1950) is an American politician serving as Senate Majority Leader since January 20, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Schumer is in his fourth Senate term, having held his seat since 1999, an ...
and Kirsten Gillibrand won the county, each receiving more than 60% of the vote.
Republicans still win most local races. The county's Congressional district did not elect a Democrat to Congress until 2009 when Bill Owens defeated Doug Hoffman
Douglas L. Hoffman (born 1953) is an American businessman, accountant and former congressional candidate. He was the Conservative Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2009 special election for New York's 23rd congressional ...
in the special election
A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
to replace John McHugh, who resigned to serve as the Obama Administration
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. A Democrat from Illinois, Obama took office following a decisive victory over Republican ...
's Secretary of the Army
The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...
. The special election received nationwide attention due to Hoffman, a third-party candidate and Tea Party favorite, polling higher than the Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava
Dierdre Kathryn "Dede" Scozzafava ( ; born April 28, 1960) is an American politician in New York. She represented District 122 in the New York State Assembly from 1999 to 2010. Scozzafava held office as a member of the Republican Party, but la ...
, which ultimately led to her dropping out of the race and supporting Owens. It had not elected a Democrat to the State Senate or State Assembly
State Assembly is the name given to various legislatures, especially lower houses or full legislatures in states in federal systems of government.
Channel Islands
States Assembly is the name of the legislature of the Bailiwick of Jersey. The Bail ...
in over a half-century until Billy Jones was elected to the State Assembly in 2016.
The Clinton County Legislature is the lawmaking body of the county. It consists of 10 members, each elected from single member district
A single-member district is an electoral district represented by a single officeholder. It contrasts with a multi-member district, which is represented by multiple officeholders. Single-member districts are also sometimes called single-winner vot ...
s. As of 2021, the County Legislature consists of five Republicans and four Democrats and a vacancy.
Demographics
2020 Census
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 c ...
, there were 79,894 people, 29,423 households, and 19,272 families in the county. The population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was . There were 33,091 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.33% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 3.58% Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
or African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.36% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 1.10% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 2.46% of the population were Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of French, 15.0% French Canadian
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fre ...
, 12.5% American, 11.8% Irish, 7.6% English and 5.5% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.1% spoke English, 2.8% French and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.
There were 29,423 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98.
The county population contained 23.00% under the age of 18, 12.40% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.60 males.
The median household income was $37,028, and the median income for a family was $45,732. Males had a median income of $33,788 versus $25,520 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $17,946. About 9.40% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The State University of New York at Plattsburgh
The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh) is a public college in Plattsburgh, New York. The college was founded in 1889 and officially opened in 1890. The college is part of the State University of New York (SUN ...
is located in the City of Plattsburgh. The county is also served by Clinton Community College, which is located in the Town of Plattsburgh.
Infrastructure
Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison is located in the village of Dannemora. Altona Correctional Facility
Altona Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in New York in the United States. The prison is in the Town of Altona in Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New ...
is a medium-security prison in the town of Altona.
Transportation
Highways
* Interstate 87 - runs N-S, to the Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: ...
* US-2
* US-9
U.S. Route 9 (US 9) is a north–south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in the Northeastern United States. It is one of only two U.S. Highways with a ferry connection (the Cape May–Lewes Ferry, betw ...
* US-11
{{Infobox road
, country=USA
, type=US
, route=11
, map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map
, map_custom=yes
, map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...
* NY-3
* NY-9N
* NY-22
* NY-22B
* NY-190
* NY-191
* NY-374
* NY-442
* NY-456
Airports
* Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) – Plattsburgh
* Clinton County Airport
Clinton County Airport is a former county-owned public-use airport in Clinton County, New York, United States. It is located west of the central business district of the city of Plattsburgh. It served Plattsburgh and the western side of Lake C ...
(PLB) – Plattsburgh
* Rouses Point Seaplane Base (K21) – Rouses Point
Rail
Amtrak's Adirondack Train travels through the county, connecting Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...
to New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. Two trains a day (one north and one south) stop in the county in Plattsburgh and Rouses Point.
Mass-Transit
The Clinton County Public Transit runs bus routes that branch from Plattsburgh to towns in the county.Welcome to Clinton County Public Transit (accessed 6 July 2019)
/ref>
Communities
Larger Settlements
† - County Seat
†† - Former Village
‡ - Not Wholly in this County
Towns
* Altona
* Au Sable
* Beekmantown
* Black Brook
* Champlain
Samuel de Champlain (; Fichier OrigineFor a detailed analysis of his baptismal record, see RitchThe baptism act does not contain information about the age of Samuel, neither his birth date nor his place of birth. – 25 December 1635) was a Fre ...
* Chazy
* Clinton
* Dannemora (town)
* Ellenburg
* Mooers
* Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
* Plattsburgh
* Saranac
* Schuyler Falls
Hamlets
* Churubusco
Churubusco is a neighbourhood of Mexico City. Under the current territorial division of the Mexican Federal District, it is a part of the borough ''(delegación)'' of Coyoacán. It is centred on the former Franciscan monastery ''(ex convento de C ...
* Coopersville
* Swastika
The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. I ...
* Morrisonville
See also
* Lake Champlain
, native_name_lang =
, image = Champlainmap.svg
, caption = Lake Champlain-River Richelieu watershed
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = New York/ Vermont in the United States; and Quebec in Canada
, coords =
, type ...
* Cumberland Head
* SUNY Plattsburgh
* List of counties in New York
There are 62 counties in the state of New York.
The first 12 were created immediately after the British took over the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam; two of these counties were later abolished, their land going to Massachusetts. The newes ...
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Clinton County, New York
References
Further reading
*
External links
Clinton County, NY webpage
*
Clinton County Historical Association Museum
{{authority control
1788 establishments in New York (state)
Populated places established in 1788