North Country

Pristine waterways, rugged mountains, and thick forests make up the six million acres of Adirondack Park, a National Historic Landmark, and the bulk of New York’s North Country. In 1892, the state legislated the park as one of the nation's first Forever Wild Forest Preserves.

The Adirondacks are the ancestral home of the Algonquin people and nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Evidence of their rich culture and history in the area can be traced to over 11,000 years ago. After the American Revolution, the region became an important food resource for the new nation. As the 19th century progressed, logging and the development of new towns and villages profoundly affected the Adirondacks, resulting in massive deforestation, a reason for protecting the area.

Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau was one of the earliest white settlers to encourage tourism in the Adirondacks in the late 19th century. Believing that the fresh mountain air healed his tuberculosis, Trudeau opened the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium in Franklin County in 1884, which still operates as a research center for disease.

Farming and agriculture remain large economic engines for the region. Today, there are over one million acres of farmland, with Clinton County as the leading producer of poultry and eggs in New York. Lewis County milk is supplied to national companies such as Kraft, Inc.

Tourism has grown into a thriving part of the North Country’s economy. The village of Lake Placid in Essex County, the host of the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, offers seasonal adventures such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and more. Meanwhile, in Jefferson County, the 10th Mountain Division (LI) at the United States Army Fort Drum is a major employer, ensuring economic stability for the region.

The North Country stands as an enduring testament to New York’s legacy of resilience, adaptability, and innovation.