Saranac is a town located in Clinton County, New York, United States. It is situated on the western edge of the county, west of the city of Plattsburgh, and lies within the Adirondack Park. According to the 2020 census, the town had a population of 3,852, which is a decrease from the 2010 census population of 4,007. The town is named after the Saranac River, which flows through the area.

History

The first settlement occurred around 1802. The town of Saranac was created from the western section of the town of Plattsburgh in 1824.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers an area of 115.9 square miles (300.3 km²), with 115.3 square miles (298.6 km²) being land and 0.66 square miles (1.7 km²) being water, which is 0.57% of the total area.

The town's western edge is the border of Franklin County.

The Saranac River is the main waterway in the town. It flows through the southern and eastern parts of the town and empties into Lake Champlain.

New York State Route 3 is the main east-west highway that runs through Saranac.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the town had 4,165 people, 1,519 households, and 1,134 families. The population density was 36.0 people per square mile (13.9 per square kilometer). There were 1,642 housing units, with an average density of 14.2 units per square mile (5.5 per square kilometer). The ethnic groups in the town included 98.63% White, 0.14% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race made up 1.03% of the population.

Of the 1,519 households, 39.2% had children under 18 living with them. Sixty-one point one percent were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder without a husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. Nineteen point four percent of households had only one person, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.74 people, and the average family size was 3.14 people.

The town’s population was divided by age groups: 28.6% were under 18, 6.7% were between 18 and 24, 30.8% were between 25 and 44, 22.9% were between 45 and 64, and 11.0% were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household was $45,761, and the median income for a family was $51,542. Males had a median income of $40,315, while females had a median income of $28,750. The average income per person in the town was $18,242. Six point four percent of families and 9.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 11.1% of people under 18 and 16.7% of people aged 65 or older.

Communities and locations in Saranac

• Clayburg – A small village located on NY-3 and the north side of the Saranac River, southwest of Saranac hamlet. The Saranac River enters the town at Clayburg.
• Dannemora – Part of the village of Dannemora is in the town, along the northern town line.
• Elsinore – A place near NY-3 and the Saranac River, at the eastern edge of the town.
• High Bank – A small village in the southwestern part of the town, along Standish Road.
• Moffitsville – A small village southwest of Saranac hamlet, on NY-3 near the Saranac River.
• Picketts Corners – A small village northeast of Saranac hamlet, on NY-3.
• Redford – A small village in the southwestern part of the town, on NY-3. It is located southwest of Saranac hamlet and northeast of Clayburg.
• Russia – A small village northwest of Saranac hamlet.
• Saranac – The hamlet of Saranac is located on NY-3 on the north side of the Saranac River.
• Saranac Hollow – A historic site near the river.
• Standish – A small village in the northwestern corner of the town.