St. Lawrence County Antique Maps

Like many other counties in upstate New York, St. Lawrence County was once part of Albany County, which was comprised of most of northern New York State and part of Vermont, as can be clearly seen on historic maps of the era.  Albany County was created in 1683, when colonial lands in New York were first separated into counties.  Over the course of more than 100 years, the larger county of Albany would be reduced again and again to create further counties, St. Lawrence included. Located on the northern tip of New York State, the county was named for its proximity to the St. Lawrence River.  The St. Lawrence River was so named because of its discovery by French explorers on the feast day honoring Saint Lawrence in the Catholic religion.

 St. Lawrence County would not show up on antique maps until after March 3, 1802, when the county was established.  Formerly part of Clinton, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties, (which were just smaller parts of the original Albany County), St. Lawrence County became independent when residents petitioned to form a new county due to the difficulty of traveling to the distant county seat of Clinton County at Plattsburgh. At the time St. Lawrence County was established, vintage maps of St. Lawrence County show the county seat situated in Ogdensburg.  However, expansion and population growth in the central and southern portions of the county eventually prompted fresh complaints about the difficulty of travel to Ogdensburg, especially in the winter. In 1828, as historical maps of St. Lawrence County show, the county seat was moved to more centralized Canton.  Canton beat out Ogdensburg and Potsdam despite bitter competition for the honor.

 St. Lawrence County is known for industrial interests that center largely on timber, including wood and paper products.  However, it is probably better known as a natural retreat for vacationers thanks to its inclusion in the beautiful and popular Adirondack region of upstate New York. During the summer months, the Adirondacks are a vacationer's paradise for anyone seeking commune with nature.  Hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, bird watching, and boating are common summertime activities, while the winter months bring vacationers interested in skiing, snowmobiling, and other seasonal sports.  With so much state land devoted to recreational use, it's no wonder that this county's claim to fame is wilderness.

 Today, St. Lawrence County is notable as the largest county by area in New York State, although it is not nearly the most populous.  Old maps of the area highlight how much the northern part of New York has changed over the years, and it remains to be seen if further changes will occur in the coming years.