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== Summary ==
{{Infobox U.S. County|
Low resolution book cover, [[Captive Hearts, Captive Minds]], [[1994]]
county = Jefferson County|
== Licensing ==
state = New York |
{{Non-free book cover}}
seal = |
map size = 250|
founded = [[1805]]|
seat = [[Watertown (city), New York|Watertown]] |
area = 4,810 [[km²]] (1,857 [[square mile|mi²]]) |
area land = 3,295 km² (1,272 mi²) |
area water = 1,515 km² (585 mi²) |
area percentage = 31.49% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 111,738 |
density = 34|
web = www.co.jefferson.ny.us |
|}}
'''Jefferson County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York]]. As of 2000, the population was 111,738. It is named after [[Thomas Jefferson]], third [[President of the United States of America]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Watertown (city), New York|Watertown]].
When Jefferson County was created in [[1805]], it was named after the currently serving President, [[Thomas Jefferson]].
== History ==
When counties were established in New York State in [[1683]], the present Jefferson County was part of [[Albany County, New York|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, New York|Cumberland County]], and further on [[March 16]], [[1770]] by the creation of [[Gloucester County, New York|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, [[Tryon County, New York|Tryon County]], contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of [[Schenectady, New York|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 now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for [[William Tryon]], colonial governor of New York.
In the years prior to [[1776]], most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to [[Canada]]. In [[1784]], following the peace treaty that ended the [[American Revolutionary War]], the name of Tryon County was changed to [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery County]] to honor the general, [[Richard Montgomery]], who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of [[Quebec]], replacing the name of the hated British governor.
In [[1789]], the size of Montgomery County was reduced by the splitting off of [[Ontario County, New York|Ontario County]] from Montgomery. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present [[Allegany County, New York|Allegany]], [[Cattaraugus County, New York|Cattaraugus]], [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua]], [[Erie County, New York|Erie]], [[Genesee County, New York|Genesee]], [[Livingston County, New York|Livingston]], [[Monroe County, New York|Monroe]], [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara]], [[Orleans County, New York|Orleans]], [[Steuben County, New York|Steuben]], [[Wyoming County, New York|Wyoming]], [[Yates County, New York|Yates]], and part of [[Schuyler County, New York|Schuyler]] and [[Wayne County, New York|Wayne Counties]].
In [[1791]], Herkimer County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery (the other two being [[Otsego County, New York|Otsego]], and [[Tioga County, New York|Tioga County]]). This was much larger than the present county, however, and was reduced by a number of subsequent splits. The first one of these, in [[1794]], produced [[Onondaga County, New York|Onondaga County]]. This county was larger than the current Onondaga County, including the present [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga]], [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland]], and part of [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego Counties]].
[[Oneida County, New York|Oneida County]] (as well as a part of [[Chenango County, New York|Chenango County]]), was split off from Herkimer County in [[1798]].
Jefferson County was split off from Oneida County in [[1805]].
==Geography==
Jefferson County is on the western side of northern New York State, adjacent to the area where the [[Saint Lawrence River]] enters [[Lake Ontario]]. It is almost due north of [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], and northwest of [[Utica, New York|Utica]]. The county is at the international border with [[Canada]].
The [[Black River (New York)|Black River]], which also empties into Lake Ontario, is an important stream in the county. Part of the [[Tug Hill Plateau]] is in the southern part of the county.
The county also includes nearby islands in the St. Lawrence River, including such large islands as Carleton Island, [[Grindstone Island]], and [[Wellesley Island]].
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 4,810 [[square kilometre|km²]] (1,857 [[square mile|mi²]]). 3,295 km² (1,272 mi²) of it is land and 1,515 km² (585 mi²) of it (31.49%) is water.
==Demographics==
As of the [[census]][[Geographic references#2|²]] of 2000, there were 111,738 people, 40,068 households, and 28,127 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 34/km² (88/mi²). There were 54,070 housing units at an average density of 16/km² (42/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.71% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 5.83% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.53% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.92% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.05% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.82% from two or more races. 4.19% of the population were [[Hispanic American|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.
There were 40,068 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 107.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,006, and the median income for a family was $39,296. Males had a median income of $28,727 versus $21,787 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,202. About 10.00% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.
== Cities, towns, villages, and other communities ==
*[[Adams (town), New York|Adams]] (town) [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/adams-ny.htm Adams history]
*[[Adams (village), New York|Adams]] (village)
*[[Adams Center, New York|Adams Center]]
*[[Alexandria, New York|Alexandria]] (town)
*[[Alexandria Bay, New York|Alexandria Bay]] (village)
*[[Antwerp (town), New York|Antwerp]] (town)
*[[Antwerp (village), New York|Antwerp]] (village)
*[[Black River, New York|Black River]] (village)
*[[Brownville (town), New York|Brownville]] (town)
*[[Brownville (village), New York|Brownville]] (village)
*[[Calcium, New York|Calcium]]
*[[Cape Vincent (town), New York|Cape Vincent]] (town)
*[[Cape Vincent (village), New York|Cape Vincent]] (village)
*[[Carthage, New York|Carthage]] (village)
*[[Champion, New York|Champion]] (town)
*[[Chaumont, New York|Chaumont]] (village)
*[[Clayton (town), New York|Clayton]] (town)
*[[Clayton (village), New York|Clayton]] (village)
*[[Deferiet, New York|Deferiet]] (village)
*[[Depauville, New York|Depauville]]
*[[Dexter, New York|Dexter]] (village)
*[[Ellisburg (town), New York|Ellisburg]] (town)
*[[Ellisburg (village), New York|Ellisburg]] (village)
*[[Evans Mills, New York|Evans Mills]] (village)
*[[Fort Drum, New York|Fort Drum]] (federal military installation)
*[[Glen Park, New York|Glen Park]] (village)
*[[Great Bend, New York|Great Bend]]
*[[Henderson, New York|Henderson]] (town)
*[[Herrings, New York|Herrings]] (village)
*[[Hounsfield, New York|Hounsfield]] (town)
*[[La Fargeville, New York|La Fargeville]]
*[[Le Ray, New York|Le Ray]] (town)
*[[Lorraine, New York|Lorraine]] (town)
*[[Lyme, New York|Lyme]] (town)
*[[Mannsville, New York|Mannsville]] (village)
*[[Natural Bridge, New York|Natural Bridge]]
*[[Orleans, New York|Orleans]] (town)
*[[Pamelia, New York|Pamelia]] (town)
*[[Philadelphia (town), New York|Philadelphia]] (town)
*[[Philadelphia (village), New York|Philadelphia]] (village)
*[[Redwood, New York|Redwood]]
*[[Rodman, New York|Rodman]] (town)
*[[Rutland, New York|Rutland]] (town)
*[[Sackets Harbor, New York|Sackets Harbor]] (village)
*[[Theresa (town), New York|Theresa]] (town)
*[[Theresa (village), New York|Theresa]] (village)
*[[Watertown (town), New York|Watertown]] (town)
*[[Watertown (city), New York|Watertown]] (city)
*[[West Carthage, New York|West Carthage]] (village)
*[[Wilna, New York|Wilna]] (town)
*[[Worth, New York|Worth]] (town)
: ''=> Designations in parentheses relate to official political status''.
== Adjacent counties and areas ==
Jefferson County shares its northeast border with [[St. Lawrence County, New York|St. Lawrence County]]. The northwest border is shared with [[Leeds and Grenville United Counties|Leeds and Grenville Counties]] and [[Frontenac County, Ontario|Frontenac County]] in the [[Ontario|Province of Ontario]] in [[Canada]]. [[Lake Ontario]] forms the western border, and [[Lewis County, New York|Lewis County]] is on the eastern border. To the south is [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego County]].
== Additional county information ==
Jefferson County contains part of the [[Thousand Islands]] and borders the [[St. Lawrence River]].
[[Jefferson Community College]] in Watertown provides higher education within the county.
The [[United States|U.S.]] [[Tenth Mountain Division]] is based at Fort Drum.
==External links==
* [http://www.co.jefferson.ny.us Jefferson County webpage]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyjeffer Guide to historical information]
* [http://www.northern-nys.com/jefferson_county.htm Jefferson County information]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/index.html Jefferson County history & genealogy]
* [http://marcmny.tripod.com/jeffco.htm Jefferson County History with pics and links]
* [http://www.jeffcowebboard.colm The Jefferson County Webboard, popular long-running discussion webboard for the area]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/cty-jefferson.htm Jefferson County history pages]
{{New_York}}
[[Category:Jefferson County, New York| ]]
[[Category:New York counties]]
[[de:Jefferson County (New York)]]
[[pl:Hrabstwo Jefferson (Nowy Jork)]]
[[pt:Condado de Jefferson (Nova Iorque)]]
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