Jefferson County, New York

Jefferson County
Panoramic view of Boldt Castle on Heart Island
Panoramic view of Boldt Castle on Heart Island
Flag of Jefferson County
Official seal of Jefferson County
Map of New York highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°59′N 76°03′W / 43.99°N 76.05°W / 43.99; -76.05
Country United States
State New York
Founded1805
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatWatertown
Largest townLe Ray
Area
 • Total
1,857 sq mi (4,810 km2)
 • Land1,269 sq mi (3,290 km2)
 • Water589 sq mi (1,530 km2)  32%
Population
 • Total
116,721 Increase
 • Density63/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts21st, 24th
Websitewww.co.jefferson.ny.us

Jefferson County is a county on the northern border of the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 116,721.[1] Its county seat is Watertown.[2] The county is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America.[3] It is adjacent to Lake Ontario, southeast from the Canada–US border of Ontario. The county is part of the North Country region of the state.

Jefferson County comprises the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area. The popularity of the area as a summer tourist destination results in a dramatic increase of population during that season.

In 2014, it elected Colleen M. O'Neill as the first woman county sheriff in the state. She had served with the New York State Police for 32 years.[4]

The United States Army's 10th Mountain Division is based at Fort Drum. The base had a total population of nearly 13,000 according to the 2010 census.

  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts - Jefferson county, New York". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
  4. ^ staff (March 2016). "March 2016 20 Questions: Colleen O'Neill, Jefferson County Sheriff". NNY Business Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2019.[permanent dead link]