Cape Vincent, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cape Vincent
Town
Town of Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent Location in New York Show map of New York Cape Vincent Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Jefferson
Area
• Total	89.78 sq mi (232.53 km2)
• Land	56.28 sq mi (145.76 km2)
• Water	33.50 sq mi (86.77 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,765
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13618
Area code(s)	315 & 680
FIPS code	36-045-12364

Cape Vincent is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,765 people lived here.

The town is located in the northwestern part of Jefferson County. There is also a small village within the town, which is also called Cape Vincent. Both the town and the village are northwest of the city of Watertown.

History of Cape Vincent

Early Exploration and Settlement

French explorers and missionaries first visited the area in the 1600s. At that time, the Onondaga people lived there. Modern settlement by Europeans began in 1801 at a place called Millens Bay.

War of 1812 and Town Formation

During the War of 1812, Cape Vincent was an important military camp. It helped protect against British forces from nearby Kingston, Ontario.

The town of Cape Vincent was officially formed in 1849. It was created from the northern part of the town of Lyme. Later, in 1895, the small community of Cape Vincent became an official village. Around this time, the area became a popular place for tourists because of the beautiful Thousand Islands.

Modern Landmarks

In 1935, the East Charity Shoals Light was built. This lighthouse helps guide ships at the entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Many historic buildings in Cape Vincent are protected, including the East Charity Shoal Light and the Tibbetts Point Light.

Geography of Cape Vincent

Location and Waterways

Cape Vincent covers about 89.8 square miles (232.7 km²) (89.78 square miles). A large part of this area, about 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) (33.50 square miles), is water.

The town's northwestern edge is along the St. Lawrence River. Its western border is Lake Ontario. Much of the town is on a peninsula, which is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. This peninsula sticks out into Lake Ontario, right where the lake flows into the St. Lawrence River.

Nearby Islands

Across the St. Lawrence River from Cape Vincent is Wolfe Island. This is the largest of the Thousand Islands. Wolfe Island is part of Ontario, Canada.

Roads and Transportation

New York State Route 12E is a main road that runs along the St. Lawrence River. It then turns southeast when it reaches Cape Vincent village.

Population and People

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Cape Vincent has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census years:

People in Cape Vincent (2000 Census)

In 2000, there were 3,345 people living in Cape Vincent. Most people were White (about 70.64%), and about 21.88% were African American. About 13.27% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 867 households in the town. About 25.7% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.36 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 13.2% were under 18 years old. The median age was 38 years.

Communities and Places in Cape Vincent

Here are some of the interesting communities and locations you can find in the town of Cape Vincent:

• Burnham Point State Park – A state park located on the St. Lawrence River. It's across the water from Carleton Island.
• Carleton Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River. It was one of the first places settled in Jefferson County, known as "King's Garden." A fort was built here a long time ago.
• Cedar Point State Park – Another state park on the St. Lawrence River, located near the eastern border of the town.
• Cape Vincent – This is the main village in the northwestern part of the town, along NY-12E. It used to have a train station.
• Dablon Point – A point of land on Lake Ontario, found between Mud Bay and Wilson Bay.
• Fox Island – A large island of about 263-acre (1.06 km²) in Lake Ontario. It was once owned by a former New York Governor.
• Fuller Bay – A bay on Lake Ontario at the western end of the Cape Vincent peninsula.
• Grenadier Island – A big island in Lake Ontario, southwest of Cape Vincent. It was important during the War of 1812.
• Kents Creek – A small stream that flows into Lake Ontario at Mud Bay.
• Millens Bay – A spot northeast of Sunnybank, located on NY-12E.
• Mud Bay – Another bay on Lake Ontario at the western end of the Cape Vincent peninsula.
• Ponds Corners – A location in the southwestern part of the town, where County Roads 8 and 56 meet.
• Rosiere – A small community near the southeastern town line, on County Road 4. It was once a stop on an old railroad line.
• St. Lawrence – A community near the eastern town line on County Road 4. It had a few different names in the past.
• Sunnybank – A community located on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Cape Vincent village.
• Tibbets Point – A point of land on Lake Ontario, north of Wilson Point. The lighthouse here, Tibbetts Point Light, helps mark the entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway. It is now a youth hostel.
• Warren Settlement – A community on County Road 4 near the center of the town. It was settled around 1825 by the Warren family.
• Wilson Bay – A bay on Lake Ontario at the western end of the Cape Vincent peninsula.
• Wilson Point – A point of land on Lake Ontario, at the northern edge of Wilson Bay.

See also

In Spanish: Cape Vincent (Nueva York) para niños