Cape Vincent (village), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cape Vincent
Village
Village 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
Town	Cape Vincent
Area
• Total	0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2)
• Land	0.70 sq mi (1.82 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	262 ft (80 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	699
• Density	994.31/sq mi (383.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13618
Area code(s)	315
FIPS code	36-12353
GNIS feature ID	0945801

Cape Vincent is a small village in Jefferson County, New York. It's located in the western part of the larger town of Cape Vincent. In 2010, about 726 people lived here. The village is found northwest of the city of Watertown.

History of Cape Vincent

The land where Cape Vincent now stands was once home to the Onondaga people. French explorers and missionaries traveled through this area in the mid-1600s.

How Cape Vincent Became a Village

The area that is now the town of Cape Vincent was first part of another town called Lyme. In 1849, the town of Cape Vincent became its own separate area. A few years later, in 1853, the village of Cape Vincent was officially formed. At that time, it had a population of 1,218 people.

By the end of the 1800s, Cape Vincent became a popular spot for vacations. This was because of the beautiful Thousand Islands nearby.

Historic Buildings in Cape Vincent

Many buildings in Cape Vincent are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes:

• Levi Anthony Building
• Aubertine Building
• John Borland House
• Broadway Historic District
• James Buckley House
• E. K. Burnham House
• Duvillard Mill
• First Presbyterian Society of Cape Vincent
• Fort Haldimand Site
• Jean Philippe Galband du Fort House
• Glen Building
• Vincent LeRay House
• Lewis House
• Roxy Hotel
• Cornelius Sacket House
• General Sacket House
• St. John's Episcopal Church
• St. Vincent of Paul Catholic Church
• Otis Starkey House

Geography of Cape Vincent

Cape Vincent covers a total area of about 1.9 square kilometers (0.73 square miles). Most of this is land, with a small part being water. The village sits on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River.

Ferry to Canada

A special ferry connects Cape Vincent to Wolfe Island in Ontario, Canada. This ferry runs only during certain seasons. Wolfe Island is about 1 mile (1.6 km) across the St. Lawrence River from Cape Vincent.

Roads in Cape Vincent

New York State Route 12E goes right through the middle of Cape Vincent. This road leads northeast along the St. Lawrence River to Clayton, which is about 15 miles (24 km) away. It also goes southeast for about 25 miles (40 km) to Watertown. Watertown is the main city for Jefferson County.

Population of Cape Vincent

In the year 2000, there were 760 people living in Cape Vincent. The village has a local bank, a small museum, and a post office. You can also find a few small stores there.

Transportation in Cape Vincent

The main road that goes through the village is New York State Route 12E.

Horne's Ferry: An International Connection

Engraving of the R,W&O Railroad station, hotel and ferry dock in Cape Vincent

The Horne's Ferry is a special ferry that connects Cape Vincent to Canada. It's the only international ferry in this area. It runs from May to October. The ferry goes from Cape Vincent to "Horne's Point" on Wolfe Island in Ontario, Canada. This ferry can carry about twelve cars.

The Horne family has owned and operated this ferry since 1802. They were first allowed to run ferries between Wolfe Island and Cape Vincent. They also ran ferries between Wolfe Island and Kingston, Ontario. In 2013, it cost about US$15 for a car and driver to use the ferry.

There is another ferry on the other side of Wolfe Island. This ferry runs all year round and is free. It connects Marysville to Kingston. Taking both ferries takes a little over an hour.

Railroad History

In April 1852, a train line called the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad (RW&O) started running. This line carried both people and goods between the Cape Vincent waterfront and Watertown. It also went on to Rome. The train line from Watertown to Cape Vincent was very important. It connected the southern part of New York state to the ferry terminal that went to Canada.

However, the train line became less important over time. This happened after the company bought another railroad in 1886. By 1891, the railroad became part of the New York Central Railroad. In 1895, a big storm destroyed the Cape Vincent train station building. Two people inside were killed.

After the early 1900s, fewer and fewer people used the train. The New York Central stopped its passenger service to Cape Vincent in March 1936. After that, Clayton, a town to the east, became the main place for train-to-ferry connections. Freight trains stopped running in the early 1950s. The second train station building is still standing on the waterfront today. It is now used as offices for Anchor Marina.

Education in Cape Vincent

Students in Cape Vincent attend schools in the Thousand Islands Central School District.

Notable Person from Cape Vincent

• Delos B. Sackett: He was an officer in the U.S. Army. He became a general during the Civil War.

See also

In Spanish: Cape Vincent (villa) para niños