Have you ever heard of New York’s North Country? In this post, learn where North Country is and how it got its name.
Plus, you will also find out:
- Which counties and cities are considered part of “North Country”
- What North Country is best known for
- Fun things to do in NY’s North Country
I didn’t realize that the northern-most part of New York had its own special name until I moved here. While listening to the public radio station, I heard the announcer thank the listeners for listening to “North Country Public Radio”.
The name “North Country” inspired some curiosity, especially since I was new to the area. After living here for some time, I realize that this truly is a unique part of the state of New York, and the name fits perfectly.
What is considered North Country in New York?
North Country New York has loosely defined boundaries which may differ depending on which organization is doing the defining. According the New York Department of Economic Development, the North Country is Region 5 and includes the following counties:
- Jefferson
- St. Lawrence
- Clinton
- Lewis
- Franklin
- Hamilton
- Essex
Other definitions of North Country include any county that has part of the Adirondack park. This would include Herkimer, Washington, Fulton, Saratoga, Oswego, Oneida, and Warren Counties.
Most of the articles on this website focus on New York’s most northern North Country, which are the four most northern counties in New York, which share a lot in common as far as population, economy, and recreation opportunities: Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton Counties.
How far is North Country from the city?
The distance between North Country and New York City and how long it might take you to drive will depend on exactly where you would like to visit in the North Country. For example, Alexandria Bay, a beautiful summer vacation spot on the St. Lawrence River, is about 350 miles (5.5 hours driving) from Manhattan.
On the Saint Lawrence, you can visit many state parks, such as Keewaydin State Park in Alexandria Bay. If Lake Ontario is more to your liking, definitely check out Wescott Beach State Park.
If cold mountain lakes, hiking, and breathtaking views are more your style, you might enjoy visiting Wilmington, NY, where you can find Whiteface Mountain, High Falls Gorge, and wilderness regions such as the MacKenzie Mountain Wilderness and the Sentinel Range Wilderness nearby. You can reach Wilimington, NY from Manhattan in about 4.5 hours (281 miles).
In just under 3 hours and 50 minutes, or 226 miles, you can go from Manhattan to Speculator, NY, where you can visit Lake Pleasant and the local Adirondacks.
What towns and cities are in North Country NY?
The biggest towns and cities in New York’s North Country are Watertown, Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg, Malone, Canton, Potsdam, Massena, Saranac Lake, and Gouverneur. The largest of these population centers is Watertown, with just over 25,000 residents.
There are hundreds of smaller towns and villages located throughout the region. Some of the most notable are Sackets Harbor, Alexandria Bay, Potsdam, Schroon Lake, Lake Placid, and Tupper Lake.
It should also be noted that one of the largest population centers in North Country is the Army base of Fort Drum.
When did the term North Country come in to use to describe upstate New York?
There are many regions in the world that have a region that the locals call “North Country. In fact, there is even one in England.
But when did places like Watertown, Massena, and Plattsburgh become known as located in the “North Country”?
On October 6, 1869, the New York Herald printed updates of news from around the state of New York. The term “North Country” was used to describe the area near Troy, which is not far from Albany.
It is understandable that, especially as far back as the 1860s, Troy was probably considered to be wilderness to those who lived in New York City. Troy is located in Rensselaer County, which is immediately south of Washington County.
According to the Adirondack North Country Association, Washington County is a part of North Country. In other words, Troy is relatively close to the currently defined North Country region.
This means that we know that North Country was being used to describe regions of Northern New York since at least the 1860s.
The term North Country was made popular by called Eben Holden by the author Irving Bacheller. Part of the title was “a tale of the North Country”, and if you take a minute to read the introduction, you will understand that the North Country that Bacheller refers to is the one newly populated with migrants from New England – the Adirondack region of New York.
Bacheller’s book was published about 1900, but we can see that the term North Country, used to describe the far reaches of northern New York, likely had been in use for decades.
What is the North Country NY known for?
New York’s North Country is best known for cold, snowy winters and beautiful summers with nature-filled recreation opportunities. Home to the Adirondack Mountains, you can find the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, excellent universities, Fort Drum, dozens of lakes and rivers, campgrounds, hiking, swimming, and beautiful fall landscapes.
Conclusion
I hope that you have learned everything that you wanted to know about how the North Country got its name, which counties and cities are located in the region, and what it is best known for. New York’s North Country is a truly beautiful place with a lot to offer, and so I hope that you are inspired to visit and explore.
If you have any questions about something that you read, or if you would like to offer a suggestion of an activity that people can do while they are in the North Country, please leave a comment below!