Discovering Jefferson County

Part 1: The French Connection and Early Settlers

Special | 26m 6s  | Video has closed captioning.

For centuries, Oneida, Iroquois, and Algonquin tribes spent their summers in this undeveloped area, traveling south again when harsh winters hit. When Samuel Champlain visited in 1609, the potential of a transportation corridor was evident, attracting more French settlers to the area. The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 also played a part in further establishing the region.