Lewis County

With only a handful of incorporated villages and seven stoplights, Lewis County is unmistakably rural. Cows continue to outnumber people, and nearly two-thirds of the land remains wooded. Despite its geographical isolation, Lewis County has a colorful history dating back to the 1790s, when the first settlers from New England and France arrived. Drawing on archival images to document life in this section of New York’s vast and sparsely populated North Country, Lewis County illustrates the area’s rich history with photographs of the people, landmarks, and scenery that have given the various townships their distinctive character. Special attention is paid to the Black River Canal and to the economic mainstays of the region: dairy farming and the forest industry.