Fort
Drum, New
York, located in the state's picturesque North
Country, is home to the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain
Division (Light Infantry). The base is just a few
miles west of Interstate 81 and only 30 miles from Canada.
It is surrounded by natural scenic beauty, with the Adirondack
Mountains to the east, the Great
Lakes to the west, and the St.
Lawrence River and Thousand
Islands in between. I-81 connects with the New
York State Thruway in Syracuse and with NYS Route 17
to New
York City at Binghamton.
The
Base is expanding steadily with construction and
growth planned for the next ten years. This opens up
opportunities for outside businesses and contractors,
via the Army
Contracting Agency. Current contracts include
everything from asphalt repair and roofing, to
recycling and repair of Army Family Housing. Skilled
civilian workers of all types are needed as the
installation continues to grow.
Steeped
in history,
Fort Drum has been used as a military site since 1908,
although the Army's presence in the North Country can
be traced back to the early 1800's. Originally known
as Pine Camp, it became Camp Drum in 1951, named after
Lt. Gen. Hugh Drum. The post was designated Fort Drum
in 1974 when a permanent garrison was assigned. Today
it covers 107,265 acres, providing support and
training for almost 80,000 troops annually.
The
tri-county areas of Lewis,
Jefferson
and St.
Lawrence surround the Base and are rich with
history, culture and tourist opportunities. Watertown,
with a population of over 26,000 is only 11 miles
away, and has much to offer. Jefferson
County Community College is located here along
with a fine public school system. Watertown
International Airport is only 5 miles west of
town. Twenty-one State Parks are located in the
Greater Watertown area offering camping, swimming,
fishing and hiking. White water rafting and kayaking
are summer favorites on the St. Lawrence River and
there are a number of outfitters
that can provide exciting adventures through the Black
River Gorge in the summer. Lake
Ontario and the Thousand Islands region offer
major sport fishing. Bass, trout, salmon, walleye and
even muskellunge are commonly caught in these areas.
Syracuse,
with a population of almost 150,000, is just 70 miles
away if one wants to explore big city life. Smaller
towns nearby include Great
Bend, Philadelphia
and West
Carthage, all less than 10 miles away.
Fort
Drum is a great place to live and work. It is home to
world-class trained and ready forces and is a
committed neighbor to the North Country.
Opportunities
for businesses and individuals abound at Fort Drum,
and the scenic location makes the area a wonderful
place to visit or relocate.
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