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St. Lawrence County, New York

Coordinates: 44°30′N 75°04′W / 44.50°N 75.07°W / 44.50; -75.07
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St. Lawrence County, New York
County
The Raquette River in Colton, New York
The Raquette River in Colton, New York
Flag of St. Lawrence County, New York
Flag
Official seal of St. Lawrence County, New York
Seal
Map of New York highlighting St. Lawrence County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°30′N 75°04′W / 44.5°N 75.07°W / 44.5; -75.07
Country United States
State New York
Founded1802 (1802)
Named afterSaint Lawrence River
SeatCanton
Area
 • Total
2,821 sq mi (7,310 km2)
 • Land2,680 sq mi (6,900 km2)
 • Water141 sq mi (370 km2)  5.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
108,505
 • Estimate 
(2024)[1]
106,198 Decrease
 • Density39.6/sq mi (15.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district21st
Websitestlawco.gov

St. Lawrence County is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 108,505.[2] The county seat is Canton.[3] The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River. This was as named by early French explorer Jacques Cartier for the Christian saint Lawrence of Rome, as he visited the river on the saint's feast day. The county is part of the North Country region of the state.

St. Lawrence County comprises the Ogdensburg-Massena, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area and is New York's largest county by area.

History

[edit]

When counties were established by England in the Province of New York in 1683, the present St. Lawrence County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous territory, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. The county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766, by the creation of Cumberland County, 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. The other two were called Tryon County (later renamed Montgomery County) and Charlotte County (later renamed Washington County).

Tryon County contained the western portion (and, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County included what are now 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York. Charlotte County contained the eastern portion of Albany County.

In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name "Charlotte County" was changed to Washington County to honor George Washington, the American Revolutionary War general and later President of the United States. Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County to honor the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died trying to capture the city of Quebec. It replaced the name of the British governor, hated by the rebels.

In 1788, Clinton County was split off from Washington County. This was a much larger area than the present Clinton County, including part of what would later become St. Lawrence County, as well as several other counties or county parts of the present New York State.

In 1789, the size of Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of Ontario County from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.

St. Lawrence County is part of Macomb's Purchase of 1791.

In 1791, Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being Otsego, and Tioga County). This was much larger than the present county, however, and was reduced by a number of subsequent splits. The first was the splitting off in 1794 of Onondaga County. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present Cayuga, Cortland, and part of Oswego Counties. This was followed by the splitting off in 1798 from Herkimer County of two portions: one, Oneida County, was larger than the current Oneida County, including the present Jefferson, Lewis, and part of Oswego Counties; another portion, together with a portion of Tioga County, was taken to form Chenango County.

In 1799, Clinton County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Essex County from Clinton County.

In 1802, parts of Clinton, Herkimer, and Montgomery counties were taken to form the new St. Lawrence County. At that time Ogdensburg was the county seat. In 1828 the county seat was moved to Canton. The selection of Canton as the county seat was a compromise by the state legislature to end competition between factions supporting Ogdensburg and Potsdam for the county seat.[4]

Earthquake

[edit]

On September 5, 1944, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Massena struck the county. The earthquake was felt from Canada to Maryland, and from Maine to Indiana. The earthquake was the strongest earthquake in New York State history.[5]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,821 square miles (7,310 km2), of which 2,680 square miles (6,900 km2) is land and 141 square miles (370 km2) (5.0%) is water.[6]

It is the largest county by area in the state of New York. It is larger than either of the states of Rhode Island (1544.9 square miles) or the state of Delaware (2488.72 square miles). St. Lawrence County is part of the North Country region.

Part of the county is in the Adirondack Park. It includes much of the Oswegatchie River, Cranberry Lake and Lake Ozonia.

The Port of Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County is the only U.S. port on the St. Lawrence Seaway. This waterway allows ships and vessels to pass through the St. Lawrence River and on to the Great Lakes. Ogdensburg Harbor Light is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and in the National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Lawrence County, New York

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18107,885—
182016,037103.4%
183036,354126.7%
184056,70656.0%
185068,61721.0%
186083,68922.0%
187084,8261.4%
188085,9971.4%
189085,048−1.1%
190089,0834.7%
191089,005−0.1%
192088,121−1.0%
193090,9603.2%
194091,0980.2%
195098,8978.6%
1960111,23912.5%
1970111,9910.7%
1980114,2542.0%
1990111,974−2.0%
2000111,9310.0%
2010111,9440.0%
2020108,505−3.1%
2024 (est.)106,198−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

[edit]
St. Lawrence County, New York – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 112,490 107,708 104,777 103,943 96,556 98.46% 96.19% 93.61% 92.85% 88.99%
Black or African American alone (NH) 219 1,364 2,531 2,259 2,788 0.19% 1.22% 2.26% 2.02% 2.57%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 443 811 927 1,051 1,143 0.39% 0.72% 0.83% 0.94% 1.05%
Asian alone (NH) 395 789 793 1,074 1,089 0.35% 0.70% 0.71% 0.96% 1.00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 32 26 19 x x 0.03% 0.02% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 145 27 70 111 298 0.13% 0.02% 0.06% 0.10% 0.27%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 793 1,334 3,780 x x 0.71% 1.19% 3.48%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 562 1,275 2,008 2,146 2,832 0.49% 1.14% 1.79% 1.92% 2.61%
Total 114,254 111,974 111,931 111,944 108,505 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 113,931 people, 40,506 households, and 26,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 inhabitants per square mile (16/km2). There were 49,721 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.51% White, 2.38% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population. 16.9% were of French, 16.1% Irish, 13.9% American, 11.6% English, 8.1% French Canadian, 7.9% German and 7.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.6% spoke only English, while 3.2% spoke French and 1.2% Spanish at home.

There were 40,506 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,356, and the median income for a family was $34,510. Males had a median income of $30,135 versus $24,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,728. About 12.30% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

[edit]

School districts

[edit]

There are 17 school districts with territory in St. Lawrence County. 17 of those centered in the county are under the jurisdiction of the St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Supervisory District along with Harrisville Central School District in Lewis County, New York.

Other school districts with territory in the county include:[21]

All public high schools in St. Lawrence County compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section X Northern Athletic Conference.

Universities and colleges

[edit]

Saint Lawrence County is home to St. Lawrence University, State University of New York at Potsdam, Clarkson University, the SUNY-ESF Ranger School, and the State University of New York at Canton.

Politics and government

[edit]
United States presidential election results for St. Lawrence County, New York[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 25,919 58.68% 18,010 40.78% 239 0.54%
2020 24,608 54.80% 19,361 43.11% 938 2.09%
2016 19,942 50.93% 16,488 42.11% 2,728 6.97%
2012 15,138 40.70% 21,353 57.41% 700 1.88%
2008 16,956 41.03% 23,706 57.36% 664 1.61%
2004 18,029 43.17% 22,857 54.73% 875 2.10%
2000 16,449 41.34% 21,386 53.75% 1,951 4.90%
1996 10,827 28.14% 21,798 56.65% 5,852 15.21%
1992 13,901 32.85% 18,197 43.00% 10,219 24.15%
1988 20,290 51.39% 18,921 47.92% 270 0.68%
1984 26,062 61.83% 15,963 37.87% 124 0.29%
1980 18,437 46.53% 17,006 42.92% 4,181 10.55%
1976 22,249 55.71% 17,503 43.83% 182 0.46%
1972 26,145 63.00% 15,286 36.83% 72 0.17%
1968 20,982 55.31% 15,662 41.29% 1,289 3.40%
1964 12,102 29.30% 29,173 70.62% 32 0.08%
1960 25,848 57.06% 19,430 42.89% 24 0.05%
1956 31,897 74.54% 10,892 25.46% 0 0.00%
1952 28,036 68.27% 13,000 31.65% 32 0.08%
1948 21,160 60.59% 13,200 37.80% 565 1.62%
1944 21,919 58.89% 15,223 40.90% 77 0.21%
1940 24,339 60.86% 15,569 38.93% 82 0.21%
1936 26,031 65.81% 12,763 32.27% 762 1.93%
1932 22,650 63.48% 12,687 35.56% 343 0.96%
1928 25,804 66.23% 12,567 32.26% 589 1.51%
1924 22,583 71.50% 7,103 22.49% 1,898 6.01%
1920 24,651 75.60% 7,213 22.12% 742 2.28%
1916 13,142 66.77% 6,056 30.77% 485 2.46%
1912 8,404 44.98% 5,329 28.52% 4,952 26.50%
1908 14,151 67.87% 5,898 28.29% 800 3.84%
1904 15,274 70.43% 5,798 26.74% 614 2.83%
1900 15,296 71.02% 5,699 26.46% 544 2.53%
1896 15,287 70.97% 5,749 26.69% 505 2.34%
1892 13,177 64.17% 6,156 29.98% 1,202 5.85%
1888 14,611 67.56% 6,509 30.10% 508 2.35%
1884 13,441 67.86% 6,035 30.47% 331 1.67%

Prior to the 1992 presidential election, St. Lawrence County was a traditionally Republican county, supporting the Democrats only in their sweep of New York State counties in 1964. From 1992 through the 2012 election, St. Lawrence County swung Democratic, posting double-digit victories for Democratic candidates, most notably in 1996 when Bill Clinton won the county by 28-point margin over Bob Dole. The first Republican victory in the county since 1988 came in 2016 when Donald Trump carried the county by an eight-point margin. In 2020, it was one of only a few counties in Upstate New York where Trump improved his margin, this time carrying it by over 10 points. Trump improved on his margin again in 2024, this time performing better than any candidate from any political party since 1984.

The county is governed by a fifteen person board of legislators which oversees the county departments, drafts policies, and sets an annual budget. They serve four year terms, with the last election being in 2022.[23][24] They appoint an administrator to carry out their policies.[25] Other elected officials include a clerk, a district attorney, four coroners, a sheriff, and a treasurer.[26]

St. Lawrence County Legislators as of October 2025
District Legislator Party First elected[27] Communities represented
1 James E. Reagen R 2018 Ogdensburg (part)
2 David Forsythe R 2006, 2014[note 1] Lisbon, Ogdensburg (part)
3 Joseph Lightfoot R 2010 Canton (part, including Rensselaer Falls Village and Morley Hamlet (part)), Morristown (including hamlet), Oswegatchie (including Heuvelton Village)
4 William J. Sheridan R 2018 Edwards (including hamlet), Fowler (including Hailesboro Hamlet), Hammond (including village), Macomb, Pitcairn, Rossie
5 Harry A. Smithers II R 2022 De Peyster, Gouverneur (including village)
6 Larry Denesha R 2014 Clare, Clifton (including Cranberry Lake Hamlet), De Kalb (including De Kalb Junction and Richville Village), Fine (including Star Lake and Wanakena hamlets), Hermon (including hamlet), Russell
7 Rick Perkins R[note 2] 2014 Colton (including Colton and South Colton hamlets), Hopkinton, Parishville (including hamlet), Piercefield, Pierrepont (including Crary Mills (part) and Hannawa Falls hamlets)
8 Benjamin Hull R 2022 Canton (part, including Crary Mills (part), Morley (part) and Pyrites hamlets), Madrid (including hamlet), Potsdam (part, including Crary Mills Hamlet (part))
9 Anthony Levato R 2025[note 3] Canton (part, including village)
10 Margaret I. Haggard D 2022 Potsdam Village (part)
11 Glenn J. Webster R 2022 Potsdam (part, including village (part)), Stockholm (including Winthrop Hamlet)
12 John Burke R 2014 Norfolk (including hamlet), Potsdam (part, including Norwood Village)
13 John Gennett R 2022 Brasher (including Brasher Falls and Helena hamlets), Lawrence, Massena (part, including Massena Village (part) and Massena Center and Rooseveltown hamlets)
14 Nicole Terminelli D 2018 Massena Village (part)
15 Rita Curran R 2018 Louisville, Massena Village (part), Waddington (including village)

Media

[edit]

Radio

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]

Airports

[edit]

The following public use airports are located in the county:[31]

Communities

[edit]

Larger settlements

[edit]
# Location Population Type Area
1 ‡Akwasasne About 12,000 CDP/Reservation Riverside
2 Massena 10,883 Village Riverside
3 Ogdensburg 10,436 City Riverside
4 Potsdam 9,428 Village East
5 †Canton 6,314 Village Center
6 Gouverneur 3,949 Village Riverside
7 Norwood 1,560 Village Riverside
8 Norfolk 1,327 CDP Riverside
9 Hannawa Falls 1,042 CDP East
10 Waddington 972 Village Riverside
11 Star Lake 809 CDP South
12 Madrid 757 CDP Riverside
13 Heuvelton 714 Village Riverside
14 Brasher Falls 669 CDP East
15 Parishville 647 CDP East
16 Hailesboro 624 CDP South
17 DeKalb Junction 519 CDP East
18 Winthrop 510 CDP East
19 Edwards 439 CDP South
20 Hermon 422 CDP Center
21 Morristown 395 CDP Riverside
22 Colton 345 CDP East
23 Rensselaer Falls 332 Village Riverside
24 Richville 323 Village South
25 Hammond 280 Village Riverside
26 Cranberry Lake 200 CDP Southeast

† - County Seat

‡ - Not Wholly in this County

Towns

[edit]

Hamlets

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Forsythe was originally elected in 2006, then unsuccessfully ran for the State Assembly in 2010. He was re-elected to his seat on the county board in 2014.
  2. ^ Perkins was elected as a Democrat in 2014 and 2018 before running as a Republican in 2022.
  3. ^ Appointed on October 27th to fill a seat vacated by the death of previous legislator Daniel Fay [1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "St. Lawrence County, New York". Census.gov.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: St. Lawrence County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Linda Casserly, County Courthouse Has 'Fiery' History Archived June 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, St. Lawrence Plaindealer, May 23, 2000. Archived copy on website of New York 4th Judicial District, St. Lawrence County.
  5. ^ "Historic Earthquakes". United States Geological Survey. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  11. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - New York - Table 15 - Persons by Race and Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 34/29-34/70)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - New York - Table 3 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 45-215.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – St. Lawrence County, New York". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Lawrence County, New York". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – St. Lawrence County, New York". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  21. ^ Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Lawrence County, NY (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2024. - Text list
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  23. ^ "Board of Legislators | St. Lawrence County". www.stlawco.gov.
  24. ^ "General Election 2022 Countywide Statement of Canvass" (PDF). St. Lawrence County Government. St. Lawrence County Board of Elections.
  25. ^ "County Administrator Ruth A. Doyle Biography | St. Lawrence County". www.stlawco.gov.
  26. ^ "Elected Officials | St. Lawrence County". www.stlawco.gov.
  27. ^ "Past Elections | St. Lawrence County". www.stlawco.gov.
  28. ^ "Home". 1340wmsa.com.
  29. ^ "Home". mymix961.com.
  30. ^ "Home". 1015thefox.com.
  31. ^ St. Lawrence County Public and Private Airports, New York Archived October 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Places adjacent to St. Lawrence County, New York
Municipalities and communities of St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
City
Towns
Villages
CDPs
Hamlets
Footnotes
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Albany (capital)
Topics
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44°30′N 75°04′W / 44.50°N 75.07°W / 44.50; -75.07

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