Plattsburgh | |
|---|---|
 The skyline in 2024 | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname(s): "The Lake City" "La Ville sur le Lac" "The Burgh" | |
| Motto(s): Ipsa Sibi Præmium Virtus (in Latin) Virtue is its own reward | |
 Map of the city | |
 Location inClinton County and the state ofNew York. | |
| Coordinates:44°41′43″N73°27′30″W / 44.69528°N 73.45833°W /44.69528; -73.45833 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | TheAdirondacks; TheNorth Country |
| County | Clinton |
| Settled | 1785 |
| Incorporated | 1815 (village) 1902 (city) |
| Named after | Zephaniah Platt |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Wendell Hughes (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.59 sq mi (17.08 km2) |
| • Land | 5.04 sq mi (13.05 km2) |
| • Water | 1.56 sq mi (4.03 km2) 23.4% |
| Elevation | 138 ft (42 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,841 |
| • Density | 3,937.49/sq mi (1,520.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 12901, 12903 |
| Area code | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-58574 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0960698 |
| Website | CityofPlattsburgh-NY.gov |
Plattsburgh is a city in and thecounty seat ofClinton County, New York, United States, situated on the north-western shore ofLake Champlain. The population was 19,841 at the2020 census.[2] The population of the surrounding (and separately incorporated)Town of Plattsburgh was 11,886 as of the2020 census, making the combined population of Plattsburgh to be 31,727. Plattsburgh lies just to the northeast ofAdirondack Park, immediately outside of the park boundaries. It is the second largest community in theNorth Country region (afterWatertown), and serves as the main commercial hub for the sparsely populated northern Adirondack Mountains. The land around what is referred to as Plattsburgh was previously inhabited by the Iroquois, Western Abenaki, Mohican, and Mohawk people.Samuel de Champlain was the first ever recorded European that sailed into Champlain Valley and later claimed the region as a part of New France in 1609.[3]
Plattsburgh was the site of theamphibiousBattle of Plattsburgh in theWar of 1812, a key American victory that marked the end of hostilities in the Northern United States. It has been an important military outpost for much of its history, from hosting one of the largestCitizens' Military Training Camps prior toWorld War I, andPlattsburgh Air Force Base, the east coast center of operations for theStrategic Air Command during much of theCold War period. The conversion of the base to a civilian airport in the 1990s resulted from theBase Realignment and Closure process during the wind down of theCold War, and today it serves as a hub for economic development for the region. The city was named one of theFinancial Times Top 10 Micro Cities of the Future several times.[4][when?]
The city of Plattsburgh is the population center and county seat at the heart of the Plattsburghmicropolitan statistical area (μSA) with a population of 82,128 according to the 2010 Census.[5] A statistical area representing the greater Plattsburgh region (as defined by the U.S. government), the Plattsburgh μSA includes all communities in the immediateClinton County area.
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Plattsburgh was founded byZephaniah Platt in 1785 after he was granted the land byGeorge Clinton.[6] Platt, who was fromPoughkeepsie, New York, established the new city of Plattsburgh to buffer emerging American interests in theSaint Lawrence River valley andLake Champlain valley after the American victory in theAmerican Revolutionary War. The centralized American authority proclaimed Plattsburgh in 1785.
On March 3, 1815, an act was passed by the New York State legislature incorporating the Village of Plattsburgh out of an area that was formerly the eastern part of the town. The first village elections were held on May 2 of that year.[7]
The village incorporated as a city in 1903. The actual boundaries are unknown. The last expedition to survey the boundaries ended in disaster; all following endeavors for an accurate survey of the borders of the Town of Plattsburgh and the City of Plattsburgh were relinquished to fate and luck.
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With its significant location on a major water thoroughfare and proximity to theCanada–U.S. border, Plattsburgh has been the site of a number of historic events including theRevolutionary War'sBattle of Valcour Island and theWar of 1812'sBattle of Plattsburgh; the city has aWar of 1812 museum. The Battle of Plattsburgh is significant, as it was the final battle of the war between the British/Canadian forces and those of the Americans.
Plattsburgh Normal School was founded in 1889. It burned in 1929, and relocated to City Hall for three years.[8] In 1932 the college moved into the current Hawkins Hall which became the base of the modern campus. In 1948 it becameState University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Plattsburgh was home tominor league baseball. ThePlattsburgh Brewers team was based in Plattsburgh between 1895 and 1907. Plattsburgh teams played as members of the Eastern International League (1895),International League (1896),Northern New York League (1901–1905),Independent Northern League (1906),New Hampshire State League (1907) andVermont State League (1907).Baseball Hall of Fame memberEddie Collins played for Plattsburgh in 1906.[9]
In 1915, thePreparedness Movement established the first and best-known of its training camps for prospective military volunteers at Plattsburgh. The "Plattsburgh camps" trained about 40,000 potentialUnited States Army commissioned officers in the summers of 1915 and 1916.
During the Cold War, military functions took a prominent role in Plattsburgh, which was home toPlattsburgh Air Force Base (PAFB) and was the location of theStrategic Air Command's primary wing on the East Coast due to its geographic desirability. The base's location in theChamplain Valley (protected by therain shadow of theAdirondack Mountains) ensured consistent, year-round weather that was safe for take-offs and landings. The 380th Bombardment, Aerospace, and Refueling Wings, all stationed at PAFB, includedB-52 Bombers, air-refueling "tankers", andFB-111s. The base had a great deal[clarification needed] of land surface and was one of only four military bases in the United States with a landing strip large enough for aSpace Shuttle landing.[10]
On September 1, 1961, the 556 Strategic Missile Squadron was activated at Plattsburgh AFB. The Squadron consisted of 12 Atlas "F" Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, stored in underground silos at twelve sites surrounding the city of Plattsburgh. Ten of the silos were in New York, while two were across Lake Champlain in Vermont. The squadron played an active role in the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis, giving President Kennedy a powerful negotiating tool in dealing withNikita Khrushchev. The 556 SMS's life was relatively short lived since the Atlas was a liquid fuel system that was expensive and difficult to maintain. As the solid fuel Minuteman ICBM began to come on line, the liquid fueled missiles such as the Atlas and Titan were retired. The 556 SMS began inactivating in the spring of 1965, completing that task later that year.
Despite its numerous awards for performance excellence, PAFB was closed on September 29, 1995, in a round of national base closures in the early 1990s as the Air Force began to pare down its post-Cold War missions. The base property is now managed by the Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation (PARC) and is used by a number of industrial manufacturers and commercial airlines.
Plattsburgh remains a favorite tourist location for vacationers fromMontreal and southern Quebec.[10]Bilingual signs, in English and French, are found in various parts of the city.[10] Today, the city relies largely in part on new industries with a predominantly Canadian andQuébécois influence expanding on the former airbase as well as established manufacturing plants, such asBombardier,[11]Nova Bus,[12] and others.
Plattsburgh is sometimes historically spelled asPlattsburg, leaving off the "h". Many historic documents relating to the famous naval engagement between the United States and Britain in 1814 refer to theBattle ofPlattsburg.[13][14] As a result, some history has been written using the latter spelling. For example, historian and former president of the Society of the War of 1812 in Illinois, John Meloy Stahl, published in 1918 "The Battle of Plattsburg: A Study in and of The War of 1812."[15]
In 1950, the editor of the New York State Legislative Manual, seeking to simplify the organization of that year's manual, requested a listing of state post offices from theUnited States Postal Service. Upon review of the listing, the difference in spelling was noted. The city was contacted and an investigation was begun by postal authorities.
United States Postal Service records show that the name of the post office was originallyPlattsburg but was changed toPlattsburgh by 1828.[16] In 1891, the Postmaster General ordered that post offices follow the standards set by the newly createdUnited States Board on Geographic Names, which decided that the "h" should be dropped from place names ending in "burgh".[17][18] Subsequently, local postal officials changed the name of the village post office back toPlattsburg. As a result of the 1951 investigation, the name of the city post office was changed back again toPlattsburgh. At no time was the name of the city itself ever changed.
To this day, some signs (including U.S. and Canadian highway signs, and a sign at thePlattsburgh Amtrak Station, among others) point the way to "Plattsburg". There is also a former bank building withplattsburg bank inscribed at the top.
Plattsburgh is at44°41′43″N73°27′30″W / 44.69528°N 73.45833°W /44.69528; -73.45833 (44.695365, −73.458593).[19] According to theUnited States Census Bureau,[when?] the city has an area of 6.6 square miles (17.0 km2), of which 5.1 square miles (13.1 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (4.0 km2) (23.40%) is water.[citation needed]
Plattsburgh is on the western shore ofLake Champlain, in the northeastern part of the state ofNew York, just south ofCumberland Head.
TheSaranac River flows through the city, emptying into Lake Champlain.
Plattsburgh is classified as ahumid continental climate (KöppenDfb) with cold, snowy winters and warm, rainy summers.[20]
| Climate data for Plattsburgh, New York (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1945–present[a]) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 65 (18) | 85 (29) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 101 (38) | 95 (35) | 87 (31) | 75 (24) | 71 (22) | 101 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 40.1 (4.5) | 53.5 (11.9) | 67.5 (19.7) | 75.2 (24.0) | 80.0 (26.7) | 78.5 (25.8) | 70.5 (21.4) | 57.1 (13.9) | 45.8 (7.7) | 33.0 (0.6) | 55.0 (12.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.4 (−14.2) | 10.9 (−11.7) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 32.4 (0.2) | 44.8 (7.1) | 53.3 (11.8) | 58.5 (14.7) | 56.6 (13.7) | 48.1 (8.9) | 37.6 (3.1) | 27.5 (−2.5) | 16.2 (−8.8) | 34.4 (1.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −28 (−33) | −21 (−29) | 8 (−13) | 25 (−4) | 33 (1) | 40 (4) | 38 (3) | 25 (−4) | 17 (−8) | −5 (−21) | −21 (−29) | −34 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.85 (47) | 1.67 (42) | 1.89 (48) | 2.57 (65) | 2.91 (74) | 3.21 (82) | 3.31 (84) | 3.45 (88) | 2.79 (71) | 3.46 (88) | 2.60 (66) | 2.27 (58) | 31.98 (813) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.8 (43) | 13.4 (34) | 9.6 (24) | 3.0 (7.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 4.7 (12) | 12.9 (33) | 60.5 (154) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 11.9 | 9.3 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 13.1 | 11.5 | 10.5 | 11.6 | 10.1 | 11.2 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 133.5 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 9.3 | 7.7 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 6.5 | 33.3 |
| Source: NOAA (temperature normals atPlattsburgh International Airport, other normals at formerPlattsburgh AFB station)[22][23] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Plattsburg, New York (1991–2020 normals, extremes Nov. 1945–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 65 (18) | 85 (29) | 93 (34) | 94 (34) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 101 (38) | 95 (35) | 87 (31) | 75 (24) | 71 (22) | 101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48 (9) | 48 (9) | 61 (16) | 76 (24) | 85 (29) | 91 (33) | 92 (33) | 90 (32) | 86 (30) | 75 (24) | 64 (18) | 52 (11) | 93 (34) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.2 (−2.1) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 40.0 (4.4) | 54.0 (12.2) | 67.7 (19.8) | 75.4 (24.1) | 80.7 (27.1) | 78.9 (26.1) | 70.7 (21.5) | 57.6 (14.2) | 45.7 (7.6) | 34.1 (1.2) | 55.3 (13.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 19.1 (−7.2) | 21.0 (−6.1) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 43.5 (6.4) | 56.0 (13.3) | 64.4 (18.0) | 69.9 (21.1) | 67.7 (19.8) | 59.7 (15.4) | 48.0 (8.9) | 37.2 (2.9) | 26.4 (−3.1) | 45.3 (7.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.0 (−12.2) | 11.0 (−11.7) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 33.0 (0.6) | 44.4 (6.9) | 53.4 (11.9) | 59.1 (15.1) | 56.5 (13.6) | 48.7 (9.3) | 38.4 (3.6) | 28.8 (−1.8) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 35.2 (1.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −14 (−26) | −12 (−24) | 0 (−18) | 20 (−7) | 31 (−1) | 41 (5) | 48 (9) | 45 (7) | 34 (1) | 25 (−4) | 13 (−11) | −6 (−21) | −17 (−27) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −28 (−33) | −21 (−29) | 8 (−13) | 25 (−4) | 33 (1) | 40 (4) | 38 (3) | 25 (−4) | 17 (−8) | −5 (−21) | −21 (−29) | −34 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.41 (36) | 1.22 (31) | 1.33 (34) | 2.55 (65) | 2.88 (73) | 4.07 (103) | 3.61 (92) | 3.58 (91) | 3.11 (79) | 3.04 (77) | 2.33 (59) | 1.76 (45) | 30.89 (785) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 146 |
| Source: NOAA[24] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,032 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,139 | 69.5% | |
| 1880 | 5,245 | 2.1% | |
| 1890 | 7,010 | 33.7% | |
| 1900 | 8,434 | 20.3% | |
| 1910 | 11,138 | 32.1% | |
| 1920 | 10,909 | −2.1% | |
| 1930 | 13,349 | 22.4% | |
| 1940 | 16,351 | 22.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,738 | 8.5% | |
| 1960 | 20,172 | 13.7% | |
| 1970 | 18,715 | −7.2% | |
| 1980 | 21,057 | 12.5% | |
| 1990 | 21,255 | 0.9% | |
| 2000 | 18,816 | −11.5% | |
| 2010 | 19,989 | 6.2% | |
| 2020 | 19,841 | −0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] | |||
As of thecensus[2] of 2010, there were 19,989 people, 7,600 households, and 3,473 families residing in the city.
The population density was 3,919.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,513.3/km2). There were 8,691 housing units at an average density of 1,704.1 per square mile (658.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.88%White, 3.5%Black orAfrican American, 0.38%Native American, 2.77%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 1.03% fromother races, and 2.41% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 7,600 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.1% weremarried couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.5% under the age of 18, 27.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,846, and the median income for a family was $46,337. Males had a median income of $35,429 versus $26,824 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,127. About 13.6% of families and 23.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
The government is headed by a mayor elected by a citywide vote and a council of six members, one elected from each ward. Wendel Hughes, aDemocrat, is the current mayor of the city of Plattsburgh. He assumed office on January 1, 2025.[26]
The city is home toSUNY Plattsburgh, a public university which is a part of theState University of New York (SUNY) system, andClinton Community College, which is also part of the SUNY System. SUNY Plattsburgh has been a part of the city since its founding in 1889 as the Plattsburgh State Normal School.[27] Today, the college is host to about 5,500 undergraduates, 400 graduate students, and almost 400 faculty members.[28]
Students at the K–12 level who attend public schools in the city are served by thePlattsburgh City School District,[29] which educates 2,000 students in five different schools.
Plattsburgh has three commercial newspapers:
Plattsburgh has two television stations,WCFE-TV, channel 57, aPBS member station andWPTZ, channel 5, anNBC affiliate, though WPTZ moved their main offices to Burlington in 2019, leaving Plattsburgh as a small regional satellite bureau. Plattsburgh is part of a media market shared withBurlington, Vermont, which includesWCAX-TV (CBS, channel 3),WVNY-TV (ABC, channel 22),WNNE (CW, channel 31) andWFFF-TV (Fox, channel 44). Residents are also in the range ofMontreal,Quebec, and other Canadian television stations. Some of these Canadian stations, includingCBFT-DT,CBMT-DT andCFCF-DT, are available onCharter Communications, the cable franchise serving Plattsburgh.
The city is about a 60-minute drive fromMontreal, Canada's second most populous city, which is also the largest city inQuebec. Many people commute across the Canada–U.S. border, and the City of Plattsburgh advertises itself as "Montreal's U.S. suburb". New York state is Quebec's largest trade partner, with about $6 billion in trade annually.[33] The proximity leads to Plattsburgh's prominence as a large trade center for a city its size.[citation needed]
Interstate 87 bypasses Plattsburgh to the west, connecting Montreal withAlbany and points south. Three main exits serve the city of Plattsburgh, with a fourth serving theCumberland Head district of thetown.
U.S. Route 9 is a north–south highway crossing through the city on the east side.
New York State Route 3 is an east–west state highway that enters the city from the west as Cornelia Street, intersects Route 22 and then ends at Route 9.
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway that enters the city from the southwest, then turns north to run parallel to the west of Route 9. Part of Route 22 in downtown is a divided highway.
New York State Route 314 is a short east–west highway on the northern town line with the town of Plattsburgh connecting Interstate 87 with theGrand Isle–Plattsburgh Ferry to Vermont.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Plattsburgh, operating itsAdirondack daily in both directions between Montreal andNew York City.
The closest American city larger than Plattsburgh isBurlington, Vermont, which is reachable by aferry or a bridge located further north atRouses Point. Ferry service is provided atCumberland Head, and heads toGrand Isle by theLake Champlain Transportation Company. The seasonal ferry between Port Kent and Burlington has ceased operations and is unlikely to reopen.[34]
Plattsburgh International Airport uses therunway of the formerPlattsburgh Air Force Base, which closed in 1995. Theairport terminal was completed in February 2007 with the building being dedicated on April 27, 2007.
Direct flights from Plattsburgh include flights toPhiladelphia International Airport,Fort Lauderdale,Orlando,St. Petersburg, Florida, and others. Airlines flying out of Plattsburgh includeContour Airlines (which code shares withAmerican Airlines),Breeze Airways, andAllegiant Air.[35]
Plattsburgh flight demand is driven by the increased traffic fromMontreal, Quebec. At approximately 80% to 85% of total yearly demand, Plattsburgh's airport markets itself as Montreal's American Airport, given it is closer to Montreal's South Shore Residents thanMontreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, even with a 10 (workdays/Canadian side) to 20-minute (weekend/Canadian side) average border wait time.[36][37][38]
Cargo flights are offered byFedEx Feeder which delivers goods to more major airports aboard Cessna Caravans to be shipped on long haul flights andUPS which does similar service using Embrear 110 turboprop aircraft.
The city is serviced by the Clinton County Public Transportation (CCPT for short). The county-wide bus service offers passengers city and county-wide bus routes, allowing passengers from surrounding communities to travel to and from Plattsburgh. These routes operate five days a week, with a city-wide shopping shuttle offered on Saturdays. There is no bus service on Sundays or major holidays.
The North Country Express (NCE for short) runs every day between Plattsburgh and Potsdam, and every day except Sunday between Plattsburgh and Malone making several stops in between. There is no service on major holidays.
For those going longer distances,Greyhound andAdirondack Trailways offers multiple daily trips towards Montreal and Albany.
The largest employers in Clinton County areC.V.P.H. Medical Center,SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton County Government,Wal-Mart,Sam's Club, Advocacy and Resource Center, City of Plattsburgh, andSwarovski Lighting.[39] SUNY Plattsburgh contributes approximately $300 million to the regional economy each fiscal year.[40]
Other large companies in the area include:ALSTOM Transportation, which builds rail-cars in a 219,000 sq ft (20,300 m2) plant;[41] Norsk Titanium, which opened its U.S. branch in Plattsburgh to make parts for theaerospace industry through the use oftitanium rapid plasma deposition;[42][43] andNova Bus andPrevost which manufacturesbusses for the American market.[44]
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Municipalities and communities ofClinton County, New York,United States | ||
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| CDPs | ||
| Other hamlets | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
