Where In The World Is Ogdensburg?
Ogdensburg, situated on the St. Lawrence River in St. Lawrence County, New York, is the quaint home of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, once called the St. Lawrence State Hospital. The city is in northern New York, only a stones throw away from Canada. In fact, the Prescott International Bridge connects Ogdensburg to its Canadian neighbor. With a population of 11,128 at the 2010 census, Ogdensburg, is a tiny, secluded city. Small local shops, Victorian era homes, historic buildings, and sprawling streets stretching along side the St. Lawrence River give Ogdensburg a small town charm unparalleled to most cities that were once a bustling metropolis (as Ogdensburg was in its prime). Like much of the north country, Ogdensburg is situated among rolling hills at the base of the Adirondack Mountains, and is speckled with farmland and pastures. The atmosphere in the city is calm and quiet, with rich history permeating from many of the streets. Its larger neighboring towns, including Canton and Potsdam, are approximately thirty minutes away.
The Fight For Control
In 1748, Francois Picquet, a French priest from Montreal, set out to find a suitable location to build a village that he hoped to use as a resource for converting Native Americans to Christianity that could also serve as a post to spy on traders in the area. The camp he built at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie River became what we know as Ogdensburg today. The French began to build the small village into a larger town, and fortified it with a military fort called La Presentation. The land was occupied briefly by the French until 1760. It was then that the French heard of the advancing English, and destroyed the fort in defense against the advancement. The British took control of the village in August of 1760, during which they began to rebuild Fort La Presentation. They later renamed the fort Fort Oswegatchie. In 1796, Americans gained official control of the area, and shortly after, the land was named after Samuel Ogden, a prestigious English land owner. Ogdensburg became an official city in 1868. Throughout its early history, Ogdensburg was an important port for trade in the North Country, being situated on both the St. Lawrence River and the Oswegatchie River. Much of the conflict among the French and the British over Ogdensburg came from the city's ideal location for trade and shipping on the St. Lawrence River. Beyond trade, the city of Ogdensburg was an important hub in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. On top of its ideal location on the St. Lawrence River, Ogdensburg was an integral part in the development of many of the still operable railroads scattered throughout the north country.
Ogdensburg Today
In April of 1868, Ogdensburg became the only city in St. Lawrence County in New York State (all other locations are towns, villages, etc.). With its ideal location on two major waterways, the port of Ogdensburg is also the only city on the St. Lawrence Seaway, which was completed in 1959. The city that can be found today is bespattered with an array of charming historical landmarks, such as the Ogdensburg Public Library, the Frederic Remington Art Museum, and a host of historical military forts. In addition, the city is the home of the remains of the St. Lawrence State Hospital, which is the current location of a correctional facility. On the same grounds, the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center also calls Ogdensburg its home. The old and new are intertwined in Ogdensburg, with a tiny piece of history around every corner.
All sources for this information can be found under the "References and Works Cited" link of the "Acknowledgements" tab.
Ogdensburg, situated on the St. Lawrence River in St. Lawrence County, New York, is the quaint home of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, once called the St. Lawrence State Hospital. The city is in northern New York, only a stones throw away from Canada. In fact, the Prescott International Bridge connects Ogdensburg to its Canadian neighbor. With a population of 11,128 at the 2010 census, Ogdensburg, is a tiny, secluded city. Small local shops, Victorian era homes, historic buildings, and sprawling streets stretching along side the St. Lawrence River give Ogdensburg a small town charm unparalleled to most cities that were once a bustling metropolis (as Ogdensburg was in its prime). Like much of the north country, Ogdensburg is situated among rolling hills at the base of the Adirondack Mountains, and is speckled with farmland and pastures. The atmosphere in the city is calm and quiet, with rich history permeating from many of the streets. Its larger neighboring towns, including Canton and Potsdam, are approximately thirty minutes away.
The Fight For Control
In 1748, Francois Picquet, a French priest from Montreal, set out to find a suitable location to build a village that he hoped to use as a resource for converting Native Americans to Christianity that could also serve as a post to spy on traders in the area. The camp he built at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie River became what we know as Ogdensburg today. The French began to build the small village into a larger town, and fortified it with a military fort called La Presentation. The land was occupied briefly by the French until 1760. It was then that the French heard of the advancing English, and destroyed the fort in defense against the advancement. The British took control of the village in August of 1760, during which they began to rebuild Fort La Presentation. They later renamed the fort Fort Oswegatchie. In 1796, Americans gained official control of the area, and shortly after, the land was named after Samuel Ogden, a prestigious English land owner. Ogdensburg became an official city in 1868. Throughout its early history, Ogdensburg was an important port for trade in the North Country, being situated on both the St. Lawrence River and the Oswegatchie River. Much of the conflict among the French and the British over Ogdensburg came from the city's ideal location for trade and shipping on the St. Lawrence River. Beyond trade, the city of Ogdensburg was an important hub in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. On top of its ideal location on the St. Lawrence River, Ogdensburg was an integral part in the development of many of the still operable railroads scattered throughout the north country.
Ogdensburg Today
In April of 1868, Ogdensburg became the only city in St. Lawrence County in New York State (all other locations are towns, villages, etc.). With its ideal location on two major waterways, the port of Ogdensburg is also the only city on the St. Lawrence Seaway, which was completed in 1959. The city that can be found today is bespattered with an array of charming historical landmarks, such as the Ogdensburg Public Library, the Frederic Remington Art Museum, and a host of historical military forts. In addition, the city is the home of the remains of the St. Lawrence State Hospital, which is the current location of a correctional facility. On the same grounds, the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center also calls Ogdensburg its home. The old and new are intertwined in Ogdensburg, with a tiny piece of history around every corner.
All sources for this information can be found under the "References and Works Cited" link of the "Acknowledgements" tab.