Clinton County, New York

County in New York, United States

County in New York

Clinton County

County

Clinton County Courthouse

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of New York

New York's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 44°44′N 73°41′W﻿ / ﻿44.74°N 73.68°W﻿ / 44.74; -73.68
Country|  United States
State|  New York
Founded| 1788
Named after| George Clinton
Seat| Plattsburgh
Largest city| Plattsburgh
Area

• Total

| 1,117.53 sq mi (2,894.4 km2)
• Land| 1,037.85 sq mi (2,688.0 km2)
• Water| 80 sq mi (200 km2)  7.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 79,843
• Density| 71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 21st
Website| www.clintoncountygov.com

Clinton County is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 79,843.[1] Its county seat is the city of Plattsburgh.[2] The county lies just south of the border with the Canadian province of Quebec, and to the west of the State of Vermont. The county is named for George Clinton, the first Governor of New York, who later was elected as Vice President. He had been a Founding Father who represented New York in the Continental Congress. Clinton County comprises the Plattsburgh, New York micropolitan statistical area. The county is part of the North Country region of the state.

## History

[edit]

George Clinton, namesake of Clinton County. First Governor of New York, Vice President under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and representative of New York in the Continental Congress

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 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, 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, the American Revolutionary War 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 off from Clinton County.

In 1802, parts of Clinton, Herkimer, and Montgomery counties formed the new St. Lawrence County.

In 1808, Franklin County split off from Clinton County.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

Clinton County lies at the northeast corner of New York state. Its northern border abuts the Canadian province of Quebec. Its eastern border abuts the state of Vermont (across Lake Champlain). The encompassing region is referred to as the Adirondack Coast.[4]

The Saranac River flows easterly through the central part of the county, discharging into Lake Champlain at Plattsburgh, and the Great Chazy River flows northeastward through the upper part of the county, discharging into Lake Champlain at Coopersville. The Ausable River forms a large part of the southern county line.[5] The county's highest point is Lyon Mountain, in the town of Dannemora, at 3,830 ft (1,170 m) ASL.[6] According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,117.53 square miles (2,894.4 km2), of which 1,037.85 square miles (2,688.0 km2) is land and 79.67 square miles (206.3 km2) (7.1%) is water.[7]

### Adjacent counties and municipalities

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* Adirondack 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[8]
* Monty's Bay Wildlife Management Area
* Point au Roche State Park
* Valcour Island
* Valcour Island Primitive Area

### Lakes

[edit]

* Chazy Lake[5]
* Fern Lake
* Lake Champlain (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

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Clinton County, New York[9] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 18,247  | 50.95% | 17,478  | 48.80%  | 92  | 0.26%
2020 | 16,514  | 46.60%  | 18,364  | 51.82% | 559  | 1.58%
2016 | 14,449  | 45.01%  | 15,059  | 46.91% | 2,597  | 8.09%
2012 | 11,115  | 36.26%  | 18,961  | 61.85% | 580  | 1.89%
2008 | 12,579  | 37.73%  | 20,216  | 60.64% | 542  | 1.63%
2004 | 15,330  | 45.44%  | 17,624  | 52.24% | 782  | 2.32%
2000 | 13,274  | 43.44%  | 15,542  | 50.86% | 1,743  | 5.70%
1996 | 9,759  | 33.58%  | 15,386  | 52.95% | 3,915  | 13.47%
1992 | 13,455  | 42.06% | 12,881  | 40.27%  | 5,652  | 17.67%
1988 | 15,702  | 54.97% | 12,670  | 44.36%  | 191  | 0.67%
1984 | 19,549  | 64.22% | 10,804  | 35.49%  | 90  | 0.30%
1980 | 13,120  | 48.79% | 11,498  | 42.76%  | 2,272  | 8.45%
1976 | 15,433  | 56.94% | 11,555  | 42.63%  | 115  | 0.42%
1972 | 17,048  | 63.60% | 9,703  | 36.20%  | 53  | 0.20%
1968 | 11,951  | 51.58% | 10,153  | 43.82%  | 1,064  | 4.59%
1964 | 6,078  | 24.82%  | 18,398  | 75.12% | 16  | 0.07%
1960 | 11,154  | 44.70%  | 13,782  | 55.24% | 15  | 0.06%
1956 | 16,295  | 70.46% | 6,833  | 29.54%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 14,535  | 64.50% | 7,963  | 35.34%  | 37  | 0.16%
1948 | 9,694  | 49.07% | 9,357  | 47.37%  | 704  | 3.56%
1944 | 8,775  | 46.66%  | 9,996  | 53.15% | 35  | 0.19%
1940 | 10,369  | 47.56%  | 11,378  | 52.19% | 53  | 0.24%
1936 | 10,521  | 48.85%  | 10,898  | 50.60% | 119  | 0.55%
1932 | 8,263  | 42.67%  | 11,027  | 56.94% | 75  | 0.39%
1928 | 7,824  | 41.68%  | 10,888  | 58.00% | 59  | 0.31%
1924 | 7,918  | 57.80% | 5,138  | 37.51%  | 642  | 4.69%
1920 | 9,062  | 67.70% | 4,110  | 30.71%  | 213  | 1.59%
1916 | 4,986  | 53.68% | 4,130  | 44.47%  | 172  | 1.85%
1912 | 3,903  | 44.74% | 3,323  | 38.09%  | 1,497  | 17.16%
1908 | 5,474  | 55.54% | 3,866  | 39.22%  | 516  | 5.24%
1904 | 6,327  | 59.06% | 3,988  | 37.23%  | 397  | 3.71%
1900 | 6,326  | 58.81% | 4,287  | 39.86%  | 143  | 1.33%
1896 | 6,005  | 65.35% | 3,074  | 33.45%  | 110  | 1.20%
1892 | 5,135  | 50.60% | 4,773  | 47.03%  | 241  | 2.37%
1888 | 6,271  | 56.72% | 4,724  | 42.73%  | 61  | 0.55%
1884 | 5,973  | 53.44% | 5,151  | 46.08%  | 54  | 0.48%

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. Beginning in 1996, it voted for the Democratic candidate for president in every election until 2024. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Barack Obama carried the county by a 22.9% margin over John McCain (Obama won every municipality in the county), and won by a 26.9% margin over McCain statewide.[10] In 2006, both Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Clinton carried the county, respectively winning 63% and 64% of the vote. In 2010, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand won in the county, each receiving more than 60% of the vote. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump flipped the county by a 2.1% margin over Kamala Harris, despite previously losing the county to Joe Biden by a 5.2% margin in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Republicans continue to win most local races. The county's Congressional district did not elect a Democrat to Congress until 2009 when Bill Owens defeated Doug Hoffman in the special election to replace John McHugh, who resigned to serve as the Obama Administration's Secretary of the Army. 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, 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 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 districts.[11] As of 2021, the County Legislature consisted of five Republicans, four Democrats, and a vacancy.[12]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 1,615| | —
1800| 8,514| | 427.2%
1810| 8,002| | −6.0%
1820| 12,070| | 50.8%
1830| 19,344| | 60.3%
1840| 28,157| | 45.6%
1850| 40,047| | 42.2%
1860| 45,735| | 14.2%
1870| 47,947| | 4.8%
1880| 50,897| | 6.2%
1890| 46,437| | −8.8%
1900| 47,430| | 2.1%
1910| 48,230| | 1.7%
1920| 43,898| | −9.0%
1930| 46,687| | 6.4%
1940| 54,006| | 15.7%
1950| 53,622| | −0.7%
1960| 72,722| | 35.6%
1970| 72,934| | 0.3%
1980| 80,750| | 10.7%
1990| 85,969| | 6.5%
2000| 79,894| | −7.1%
2010| 82,128| | 2.8%
2020| 79,843| | −2.8%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[1]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Clinton County Racial Composition[17] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 69,251  | 86.73%
Black or African American (NH)  | 2,753  | 3.45%
Native American (NH)  | 238  | 0.3%
Asian (NH)  | 957  | 1.2%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 24  | 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 3,764  | 4.71%
Hispanic or Latino | 2,856  | 3.6%

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[18] there were 79,894 people, 29,423 households, and 19,272 families in the county. The population density was 77.0 people per square mile (29.7 people/km2). There were 33,091 housing units at an average density of 31.9 units per square mile (12.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.33% White, 3.58% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 2.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of French, 15.0% French Canadian, 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 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 for the county was $17,946. About 9.40% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[19]

* AuSable Valley Central School District
* Beekmantown Central School District
* Chateaugay Central School District
* Chazy Union Free School District
* Northeastern Clinton Central School District
* Northern Adirondack Central School District
* Peru Central School District
* Plattsburgh City School District
* Saranac Central School District
* Saranac Lake Central School District

The State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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

[edit]

Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison is located in the village of Dannemora. Altona Correctional Facility is a medium-security prison in the town of Altona.

## Transportation

[edit]

### Highways

[edit]

* I-87 \- runs N-S, to the Canada–United States border[20]
* US 2
* US 9
* US 11
* NY 3
* NY 9N
* NY 22
* NY 22B
* NY 190
* NY 191
* NY 347
* NY 442
* NY 456

### Airports

[edit]

* Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) – Plattsburgh
* Clinton County Airport (PLB) – Plattsburgh
* Rouses Point Seaplane Base (K21) – Rouses Point[21]

### Rail

[edit]

Amtrak's Adirondack Train travels through the county, connecting Montreal to New York City. Two trains a day (one north and one south) stop in the county in Plattsburgh and Rouses Point.[22]

### Mass transit

[edit]

The Clinton County Public Transit runs bus routes that branch from Plattsburgh to towns in the county.[23]

## Communities

[edit]

### Larger settlements

[edit]

{{years?}}

#  | Location  | Population  | Type  | Area

|
|
|
|

1  | †Plattsburgh | 19,989  | City  | Champlain Shore
2  | Dannemora | 3,936  | Village  | Mainland
3  | Rouses Point | 2,209  | Village  | Champlain Shore
4  | ‡Keeseville | 1,815  | CDP  | Adirondack Park
5  | Cumberland Head | 1,627  | CDP  | Champlain Shore
6  | Peru | 1,591  | CDP  | Adirondack Park
7  | Morrisonville | 1,545  | CDP  | Mainland
8  | Plattsburgh West | 1,364  | CDP  | Mainland
9  | Champlain | 1,101  | Village  | Mainland
10  | Altona | 730  | CDP  | Mainland
11  | Chazy | 565  | CDP  | Champlain Shore
12  | Au Sable Forks | 559  | CDP  | Adirondack Park
13  | West Chazy | 529  | CDP  | Mainland
14  | Cadyville | 479  | CDP  | Mainland
15  | Redford | 477  | CDP  | Adirondack Park
16  | ††Mooers | 442  | CDP  | Mainland
17  | Lyon Mountain | 423  | CDP  | Adirondack Park
18  | Parc | 254  | CDP  | Champlain Shore

† - County seat

†† - Former village

‡ - Not wholly in this county

### Towns

[edit]

* Altona
* Au Sable
* Beekmantown
* Black Brook
* Champlain
* Chazy
* Clinton
* Dannemora
* Ellenburg
* Mooers
* Peru
* Plattsburgh
* Saranac
* Schuyler Falls

### Hamlets

[edit]

* Churubusco
* Coopersville
* Swastika
* Morrisonville

## See also

[edit]

* New York (state) portal

* Lake Champlain
* Cumberland Head
* SUNY Plattsburgh
* List of counties in New York
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Clinton County, New York

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "U.S.Census Bureau QuickFacts: Clinton County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Spafford, Horace. A Gazetteer of New York State, first edition, 1814, p. 78
4. ^ "GoAdirondack.com-About The Adirondack Coast". goadirondack.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
5. ^ a b Clinton County NY - Google Maps (accessed 6 July 2019)
6. ^ Lyon Mountain, New York. PeakBagger.com (accessed 6 July 2019)
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
8. ^ Miner Lake State Park. stateparks.com (accessed 6 July 2019)
9. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
10. ^ US Election Atlas
11. ^ Legislative District Maps
12. ^ (accessed 6 July 2019)
13. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clinton County, New York".
18. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
19. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Clinton County, NY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2024. \- Text list
20. ^ I-87 Multimodal Corridor Study Archived September 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, New York State Department of Transportation, Retrieved June 13, 2016.
21. ^ Clinton County Public and Private Airports, New York. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
22. ^ AMTRAK/Plattsburgh, New York station (accessed 6 July 2019)
23. ^ Welcome to Clinton County Public Transit (accessed 6 July 2019)[usurped]

## Further reading

[edit]

* Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter III. Clinton County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 591-94, hdl:2027/mdp.39015019994048, Wikidata Q114149636

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clinton County, New York.

* Clinton County, NY webpage
* Summary early history of Clinton County and its towns
* Clinton County Historical Association Museum

Places adjacent to Clinton County, New York

|  | Regional County Municipalities of Le Haut-Richelieu / Le Haut-Saint-Laurent / Les Jardins-de-Napierville, Quebec Canada |

|
|

|  |
Franklin County |

Clinton County, New York

| Grand Isle County, Vermont
|  |
| Essex County | Chittenden County, Vermont

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Clinton County, New York, United States

County seat: Plattsburgh

City|

* Plattsburgh

Map of New York highlighting Clinton County

Towns|

* Altona
* Au Sable
* Beekmantown
* Black Brook
* Champlain
* Chazy
* Clinton
* Dannemora
* Ellenburg
* Mooers
* Peru
* Plattsburgh
* Saranac
* Schuyler Falls

Villages|

* Champlain
* Dannemora
* Rouses Point

CDPs|

* Altona
* Au Sable Forks
* Cadyville
* Chazy
* Cumberland Head
* Keeseville‡
* Lyon Mountain
* Mooers
* Morrisonville
* Parc
* Peru
* Plattsburgh West
* Redford
* West Chazy

Other hamlets|

* Churubusco
* Coopersville
* Ellenburg Center
* Ellenburg Depot
* Swastika

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* New York portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of New York

Albany (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Airports
* Bibliography
* Climate change
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Geography
* Gun laws
* Healthcare
* History
* Homelessness
* LGBT rights
* Museums
* Music
* Nickname
* Parks
* People
* Politics
* Sports
* Symbols
* Transportation
* Tourist attractions

Politics|

* Abortion
* Administrative divisions
* Congressional districts
* Constitution
* Delegations
* Senators
* Representatives
* Elections
* Government
* Law

Regions|

* Adirondack Mountains
* Allegheny Plateau
* Capital District
* Catskill Mountains
* Central Region
* Central New York
* Champlain Valley
* Tri-State area
* Finger Lakes
* Holland Purchase
* Hudson Highlands
* Hudson Valley
* Long Island
* Mohawk Valley
* Niagara Frontier
* North Country
* Ridge and Valley
* St. Lawrence Seaway
* Shawangunks
* Ski country
* Southern Tier
* Southtowns
* Tech Valley
* Thousand Islands
* Tug Hill
* Upstate
* Western

Metro areas|

* Albany / Schenectady / Troy
* Binghamton
* Buffalo / Niagara Falls
* Elmira / Corning
* Glens Falls
* Ithaca
* Jamestown
* Kingston
* Kiryas Joel / Poughkeepsie / Newburgh
* New York City
* Rochester
* Syracuse
* Utica / Rome
* Watertown

Counties|

* Albany
* Allegany
* Bronx
* Broome
* Cattaraugus
* Cayuga
* Chautauqua
* Chemung
* Chenango
* Clinton
* Columbia
* Cortland
* Delaware
* Dutchess
* Erie
* Essex
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Genesee
* Greene
* Hamilton
* Herkimer
* Jefferson
* Kings
* Lewis
* Livingston
* Madison
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Tryon
* Nassau
* New York
* Niagara
* Oneida
* Onondaga
* Ontario
* Orange
* Orleans
* Oswego
* Otsego
* Putnam
* Queens
* Rensselaer
* Richmond
* Rockland
* Saint Lawrence
* Saratoga
* Schenectady
* Schoharie
* Schuyler
* Seneca
* Steuben
* Suffolk
* Sullivan
* Tioga
* Tompkins
* Ulster
* Warren
* Washington
* Charlotte
* Wayne
* Westchester
* Wyoming
* Yates

Places|

* Cities
* Towns
* Indian reservations
* Villages
* Census-designated places

History|

* Lenape
* New Netherland
* Rensselaerswyck
* History of slavery in New York
* Province of New York
* Stamp Act Congress
* Invasion of Canada (1775)
* Saratoga campaign
* New York and New Jersey campaign
* State cessions
* New York in the American Civil War
* 9/11 attacks

New York (state) portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Yale LUX

44°44′N 73°41′W﻿ / ﻿44.74°N 73.68°W﻿ / 44.74; -73.68
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template