Jefferson County, New York

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 116,721.^[1] The county seat is Watertown.^[2] The county is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America.^[3] Jefferson County is west of Lake Ontario, and southeast from the Canada–US border. Jefferson County is mostly rural area. Fort Drum is inside Jefferson County. The 10th Mountain Division is inside Fort Drum. Jefferson County is part of New York's 21st and 24th congressional districts.

The location of Jefferson County in New York

The Public Square in Watertown, New York

Jefferson County was founded on March 28 1805.

History

The area of Jefferson County used to be part of Albany County when counties first started in the Province of New York in 1683.

The area of Jefferson County used to be part of Oneida County.^[4] On March 28, 1805, an act was passed that split the area of Jefferson County from Oneida County.^[5] Watertown became the county seat of Jefferson County when this act passed. When the act was passed, Watertown was one of the smallest hamlets in the county.^[4]

Jefferson County was named the most politically tolerant places in the United States in 2019 by Amanda Ripley.^[6]

Geography

Jefferson County is 1,857 square miles (4,810 square kilometres) large. Jefferson County is the fourth biggest county in New York by area.^[7] There are 1,226 square miles (3,180 square kilometres) of rural area in Jefferson County, and there are 43 square miles (110 square kilometres) of urban area.^[7]

Jefferson County is mostly rural area