Since the days of the pioneers, St. Lawrence County's diverse waterways, fertile soils, and dense forests have drawn a rich cultural mix of peoples. These early settlers built the colorful barns, mills, and lighthouses of a working community. Over time, the area was transformed by one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the St. Lawrence Seaway; by the great educational institutions of the valley; and by modern industries like Corning, the high-tech creator of windows for the space shuttle.

St. Lawrence County is bracketed by two great vacation meccas, the Thousand Islands and the...