Cape Vincent (Town)

Town of Cape Vincent

The Town of Cape Vincent was formed in 1849 from part of the Town of Lyme. Located in the northwestern part of the county. In the town is a village also called Cape Vincent. Both town and village are northwest of Watertown.

Early Settlement

(The following excerpt taken from Our County And Its People: A Descriptive Work on Jefferson County, New York; Edited by Edgar C. Emerson, The Boston History Company,1898.)

Within the jurisdiction of Cape Vincent is included Grenadier, Fox and Carlton Islands, the last mentioned of which has been noted in this chapter. Settlement on the mainland was begun in 1801 by Captain Abijah Putnam, at a point two miles below Cape Vincent village.

Communities and locations in the town

Burnham Point State Park – A park on the St. Lawrence River across the channel from the eastern shores of Carlton Island.
Carleton Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River opposite Burnham Point State Park. It was the site of the earliest settlement in Jefferson County, known as "King's Garden", where a fort was built in the late 17th century.
Cedar Point State Park – A state park on the St. Lawrence River near the eastern town line.
Cape Vincent - A village in the northwestern part of the town on NY-12E. It had a railroad station from 1852 until the mid 20th century.
Dablon Point – A headland on Lake Ontario between Mud Bay and Wilson Bay.
Fox Island – A 263-acre (1.06 km2) island in Lake Ontario, southeast of Grenadier Island; once owned by former New York Governor Horace White; island auctioned off August 24, 2007, for $3.78 million to Vance Wilson, who claims he will keep the estate as it currently is.
Fuller Bay – A bay of Lake Ontario at the western end of Cape Vincent peninsula.
Grenadier Island – A large island in Lake Ontario, southwest of Cape Vincent. It was an important military installation in the War of 1812.
Kents Creek – A stream flowing southwest to enter Lake Ontario at Mud Bay.
Millens Bay – A location northeast of Sunnybank on NY-12E.
Mud Bay – A bay of Lake Ontario at the western end of Cape Vincent peninsula.
Ponds Corners – A location at the junction of County Roads 8 and 56 in the southwestern part of the town.
Rosiere – A hamlet near the southeastern town line on County Road 4. One of the former stations on the old Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad.
St. Lawrence – A hamlet near the eastern town line on County Road 4. It was originally called "St. Oars' Corners", "Gotham's Corners", and "Crane's Corners".
Sunnybank – A hamlet located on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Cape Vincent village on NY-12E.
Tibbets Point – A headland on Lake Ontario, north of Wilson Point. The lighthouse marking the entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway is now a youth hostel operated by Hostelling International USA.[9]
Warren Settlement – A hamlet on County Road 4 near the town center. It was settled circa 1825 by members of the Warren family.
Wilson Bay – A bay of Lake Ontario at the western end of Cape Vincent peninsula.
Wilson Point – A headland on Lake Ontario at the northern headland of Wilson Bay.