About the Town of Plattsburgh

Local Community

The Town of Plattsburgh is located in the northeastern part of New York approximately 65 miles south of Montreal, Canada and on the western shore of Lake Champlain. Plattsburgh has traditionally been a transportation center. Situated along the main transportation route between New York City and Montreal, it is the closest large American municipality to the second largest Canadian City. Generally, Plattsburgh has an excellent overall transportation network. The CP railroad line provides a unique transportation opportunity and the Town of Plattsburgh offers a unique combination of natural and man-made advantages that include:

• Access to Canadian markets
• Multi-modal transportation network
• Motivated, creative and competitive labor force
• Good labor-management relationships
• Low cost of living
• Pro-business public agencies and less red tape
• In-place economic development resources and foreign trade zone
• Not dependent on aging, heavy-industrial infrastructure
• Superior access to recreational, cultural and historic resources
• Well-regarded schools and colleges
• Regional health care center
• Vibrant business districts
• Exceptional facilities
• Large hard-stand areas for storage of bulk goods.

Climate

The Town of Plattsburgh experiences moderate summer temperatures and cold winter temperatures. High temperatures range from the mid-70s to mid-80s, with low temperatures in the mid-teens. The average precipitation for the year is 41.4 inches; the average snowfall is 63 inches per season. Mean relative humidity is high, generally ranging from a low of 53 percent to a high of 80 percent. The prevailing winds are south-southeast with an annual speed of 6 miles per hour. Thunderstorms are commonly experienced in the summer months; historically, six to seven monthly thunderstorms occur in June, July, and August. Snowstorms develop in the winter due to storm systems moving through the area.

History

The first population enumeration for the Town of Plattsburgh, exclusive of the City of Plattsburgh, occurred in 1910 when 2,362 inhabitants were recorded in the U.S. Census. Prior to that time, what now is the City was simply part of the Town. The City of Plattsburgh received its charter in 1902. During the next two decades the town experienced some lean years with population actually declining between 1910 and 1920. A large increase occurred during the 1930’s that can be attributed to the U.S. Army civilian training program that was instituted at that time. Following moderate growth during the 1940’s, population mushroomed during the 1950’s due to the establishment of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base, adding between 5000 and 8000 military personnel and their families to the Town population in subsequent decades. Rapid expansion continued into the 1960’s with the construction of the Adirondack Northway and the State University at Plattsburgh. The Town continued its highest growth rate during the 1970’s and 1980’s, the beneficiary of being the hub, together with the City of Plattsburgh, of a strong regional economy.

Historic Markers (Click on image to enlarge)