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North Country Alliance
Doing Business Guide.
The Area
The North Country of upstate New York is the state's largest economic region in area, but the smallest in population. Its six counties have much in common, but also represent very unique and distinctive local economies. The region does share much of the natural beauty of the mountains of upstate New York and a close tie with its Canadian neighbors to the north.
This beautiful area is bordered by Lake Champlain on the east, the Adirondack Mountains to the south, the Canadian border to the north and Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway to the west. Comprising 9,766 square miles, and a population of slightly over 400,000, the region has a per capita income of about $17,000 and median home sale price of about $83,000. It is an economical place to live, and has a productive workforce that is eager to learn and adapt to new jobs.
The Adirondack Mountains are well known for their winter recreational activities, but the region boasts many opportunities for year-round fun. The region's many lakes have some of the best boating and fishing available anywhere in the U.S. Mean daily temperatures in the region range from 14.5° F (-10° C) in January to 69° F (20.5° C) in July.
Lake Placid, famous for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, continues to attract athletes for training and international winter events. The region is home to a number of museums, including the Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg and the Adirondack Museum of History in Blue Mountain Lake. Crime rates in its small communities are low. The many school systems serving the region meet or exceed the high New York State standards.
The region's proximity to major markets in Canada and the U.S. make it ideal for transshipping and manufacturing. Canadian firms look to the region's communities for branch office and manufacturing locations. The market exceeds 86 million people within a day's drive (500 miles/800 km) of the North Country.
Traditionally, the North Country's economy has been reliant on natural forest, agriculture and mineral resources. These led in the region's long history to growths in paper, dairy and aluminum products. More recently, the economy has expanded into apparel, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and the transportation industry.
Tourism has always played a vital role in the North Country economy, through the Adirondack Park, Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence Seaway and Champlain Valley.