Historical Markers in
Jefferson County, New York

10th Mountain Division & Fort Drum Museum 10th Mountain Division (1985) 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Heroes Walk Memorial 10th Mountain Division Monument 1820 Oliver Bates Home 1913 Centennial Monument 2d Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment Memorial 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Memorial After the Battle of Big Sandy Alster Tower & Peristyle American Dragoon Commander Wounded Barben-Jones Post 1400 V.F.W. Memorial Bartlett's Point Battle of York Memorial Birthplace of Melvil Dewey Blockhouse Boldt Castle British Attack on Sackets Harbor Brown Mansion Camp de L'Observation Camp Drum (1951) Camp Hughes (1907) Cape Vincent Lighthouse Cape Vincent Village Green, Inc. Carrying Cable Route Carrying Cable Route Carrying Cable Route Chaumont Civil War Cannon Civil War Memorial Civil War Memorial Civil War Memorial Clayton Opera House Cornwall Brothers Store County of Jefferson County of Jefferson: Celebrating 200 Years Cranberry Creek Wildlife Management Area Dedicated to the Men and Women Dovecote & Garden Eagle Wing Group Early Settlers of Watertown Fallen Warrior Memorial Fight for the Cantonment Area Fort Chauncey Fort Drum (1974) Fort Drum - North Country Memorial Flag Pole Fort Kentucky Fort Pike Fort Tompkins Fort Virginia Fort Volunteer Frank Winfield Woolworth Grand Entrance Henry Keep Home Hollenbeck • Mein • Handley Memorials Home of Dr. Samuel Guthrie Horse Island Hubbard Home In Memory of In Memory of Our Comrades Indian River Lakes Italian-American Civic Association Founders Johnson House Korean War • Honor Roll • Vietnam War Madison Barracks McCarn Hill Methodist Episcopal Church Bell Military Mountaineers New Brunswick's 104th Regiment of Foot Ninth U.S. Infantry Memorial Pine Camp (1908) Pine Camp Cantonment (1941) Polo Field Power House President James Monroe Public Square Fountain Reactivation and Contingency Operations Redwood Glass Replica of the Statue of Liberty Roswell Pettibone Flower Sackets Harbor Sackets Harbor - Fall 1814 Sackets Harbor Military Cemetery Memorial Sackets Harbor Shipbuilding Sackets Harbor War of 1812 Peace Garden Sackett Mansion Samuel de Champlain Semper Fidelis Smoothbore Muzzle Loader Cannon Smoothbore Muzzle Loader Cannon Soldiers Memorial Stone House Swan Pond The Battle of Big Sandy The Battle of Cranberry Creek The British Advance is Halted The British Observation Point The British Withdrawal The Global War on Terrorism The Landing Area The Muskie The Seaway Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Keepers Tibbits Point Lighthouse Trooper Joel R. Davis U.S.S. Maine Memorial Union Hotel Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial War Memorial War Memorial War of 1812 Barracks War of 1812 Unknown Soldiers Memorial War of 1812, Burial Ground Memorial War of 1812, Burial Grounds Water Tower Observation Tower Watertown Region Welcome to Sackets Harbor Battlefield World War I Memorial World War I • Honor Roll • World War II World War II World War II Memorial World War Memorial World War Memorial Yacht House & Wellesley Island
New York State was home to several utopian communities in the 19th century, including the Oneida Community in central New York, which practiced communal living and free love, and the Shakers, who were known for their furniture and craftsmanship.
New York random facts
Jefferson County, located in upstate New York, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Iroquois Confederacy, who lived off the land and utilized the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario for transportation and trade routes.

European exploration and settlement began in the 16th century, when French explorers explored the area as part of their efforts to establish fur trading posts in the New World. In 1800, the land that would become Jefferson County was part of the larger Oneida County, under New York state. However, in 1805, it was split off to become Jefferson County, named after Thomas Jefferson, the then-president of the United States.

During the War of 1812, the county played a significant role as a strategic location along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The village of Sackets Harbor became an important military base for the American military, serving as a shipyard, barracks, and naval headquarters for the region. The Battle of Sackets Harbor in 1813 marked a pivotal moment in the conflict, as American forces successfully repelled British attacks, securing a crucial victory.

As the 19th century progressed, Jefferson County continued to develop economically and socially. Agriculture became a key industry, with farmers cultivating crops such as wheat, corn, and dairy products. The county's fertile soil and proximity to transportation routes helped it to become a major hub for trade and commerce. Additionally, the construction of the Erie Canal in the early 19th century further connected the county to other parts of New York state, boosting its economic growth.

Today, Jefferson County retains its historical significance and is known for its beautiful natural landscapes and rich heritage. The region's museums and historic sites, such as the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, offer visitors an opportunity to learn more about the county's past and appreciate its historical impact.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Jefferson County, New York.

  • 1805: Jefferson County is established in the state of New York.
  • 1807: Watertown becomes the county seat of Jefferson County.
  • 1812: The War of 1812 begins, and Jefferson County provides soldiers to fight in the conflict.
  • 1817: The Erie Canal is completed, bringing economic growth to Jefferson County.
  • 1838: The Great Fire of 1838 destroys much of the business district in Watertown.
  • 1861-1865: Jefferson County residents serve in the American Civil War.
  • 1894: The Thousand Islands Bridge linking Jefferson County to Canada is completed.
  • 1905: The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station is established in Watertown.
  • 1940s-1950s: The Goodrich Island nuclear power plant is built in Jefferson County.
  • 1998: The Thompson Park Zoo opens in Watertown.
  • 2010: Jefferson County celebrates its 205th anniversary.