Saint Lawrence County is the largest county landwise in New York State, 2,822 square miles, with 111,974 people (90 census). Canton is it's county seat. It borders the Saint Lawrence Seaway and River on the north-west coastline. You are just a river crossing from Ontario, Canada. The south eastern part is in the Adirondack Park. The towns totally in the park are Piercefield, Clifton, Clare & Fine, Parishville, Hopkinton, Pitcairn & Colton have Park and non Park parts.

Potsdam bills itself as the Cultural and Educational center of north country. With the colleges of SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University, or Clarkson Tech, that's no idle boast. It is a cool little college village with a nice downtown. natch, there are a lot of artistic types there too. Here, you are well onto the Northern Plateau, with the characteristic rolling fields and plains.