Pine Camp

Fort Drum

Company type	Military installation
Industry	Military
Founded	1908
Headquarters	Jefferson County , United States
Area served	Northern New York, United States
Key people	Diana M. Holland (first female general officer at Fort Drum)
Products	Military training and support services

Fort Drum is a military installation of the U.S. Army and a census-designated place (CDP) located in Jefferson County, near the western edge of northern New York. According to the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 12,955. It is the base for the 10th Mountain Division.

Spanning , Fort Drum is situated in an area where winter temperatures can reach as low as . Its responsibilities include overseeing active units stationed on-site, delivering administrative and logistical support to tenant organizations, facilitating training for both active and reserve forces at Fort Drum, and coordinating mobilization and training activities for nearly 80,000 military personnel each year.

History

The area that is now Fort Drum first served as a military training ground in 1908 under the name Pine Camp, with land acquisitions commencing the following year to establish the facility. The Army’s presence in the North Country dates back to the early 1800s.

In 1809, infantry units were deployed to Sackett's Harbor to enforce the Embargo Act and curb smuggling between northern New York and Canada, particularly targeting routes to Kingston, Ontario. During the War of 1812, Sacketts Harbor emerged as a crucial naval and military hub for the Upper St. Lawrence River valley and Lake Ontario. It featured a significant shipyard that produced twelve warships and supported approximately 3,000 skilled laborers, mostly from New York City.

The military buildup intensified following the Lower Canada Rebellion in the 1830s and 1840s. The United States acquired land in Sackets Harbor to establish Madison Barracks, which served as an artillery unit base.

Pine Camp

In 1908, Major General Frederick Dent Grant, son of President Ulysses S. Grant, conducted training exercises with 2,000 regular soldiers and 8,000 militia members at Pine Camp, recognizing its suitability for military drills. The following year, funds were allocated to purchase land for Pine Camp, which continued functioning as a summer training site.

Pine Camp attracted nationwide attention in 1935 when it hosted the largest peacetime military maneuvers up to that time, involving roughly 36,500 troops from across the Northeast. Soldiers arrived by train every 15 minutes from cities such as Buffalo, New York and New York City. Over a period of 36 hours, participants carried out tactical operations on of leased farmland. The success of these exercises prompted the War Department to acquire an additional of land.

LeRay Mansion

The early 19th-century LeRay Mansion, named after James LeRay de Chaumont, has served various purposes including quarters for post commanders, accommodations for visiting dignitaries, and hosting formal military events. Presently used to house senior visitors, it receives appropriate maintenance. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

World War II expansion

With the onset of World War II, Pine Camp underwent significant enlargement. An extra was purchased, resulting in the displacement of 525 families and the removal of five villages. Approximately three thousand structures including schools, churches, and a post office were vacated.

By Labor Day 1941, land acquisitions totaling 100 tracts were completed. Within ten months and at a cost of $20 million, contractors constructed a facility designed to accommodate training divisions. This development included eight hundred buildings: 240 barracks, 84 mess halls, 86 storehouses, 58 warehouses along with officers’ quarters, headquarters buildings, recreational centers, guardhouses, and a hospital. Construction efforts contended with severe winter weather during 1941-42.

The camp provided training for units such as the 4th Armored Division (with Gen. Creighton Abrams serving as battalion commander), the 45th Infantry Division (United States), and the 5th Armored Division. Additionally, it operated as a prisoner-of-war camp housing Italian and German soldiers; some POWs contributed labor on nearby farms. Those who passed away are interred at Sheepfold Cemetery near Remington Pond.

In 1951, Pine Camp was renamed Camp Drum in honor of Lieutenant General Hugh A. Drum, former chief of staff of the First United States Army. Throughout and following the Korean War, numerous units utilized this location for training due to its terrain and climate conditions.

Beginning in 1959, tests involving Agent Orange were conducted on over of Camp Drum territory. This site remains among those reporting dioxin contamination levels exceeding safety thresholds because of Agent Orange’s widespread use during Vietnam War defoliation efforts.

Renamed Fort Drum and subsequent developments

In 1974, a permanent military presence was established, leading to the renaming of Camp Drum as Fort Drum. By April 1980, B Company of the 76th Engineer Battalion (Combat Heavy) relocated from Fort Meade, Maryland, with the remainder of the battalion following by 1983, except for D Company.

On 11 September 1984, Fort Drum was officially chosen as the new station for the 10th Light Infantry Division, designated for rapid deployment worldwide and maintaining combat readiness. The initial contingent arrived on 3 December 1984, and the unit was formally activated as the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) on 13 February 1985, achieving full operational capacity by 1989.

Between 1986 and 1992, investments totaling $1.3 billion were allocated for constructing 130 facilities, building 35 miles of roads, and creating 4,272 family housing units.

A roundout brigade comprising New York Army National Guard battalions under the 27th Infantry Brigade was announced on 4 June 1985. Additionally, the 76th Engineer Battalion was deactivated on 28 June 1985.

Fort Drum was evaluated in 2013 as a potential site for an Eastern United States missile defense installation.

In 2014, a biofuel power plant with a capacity of 60 megawatts was commissioned to improve energy independence as part of broader military renewable energy efforts.

Diana M. Holland made history in 2015 by becoming Fort Drum’s first female general officer and the first woman to serve as deputy commanding general within a light infantry division (10th Mountain Division).

Current units

• 10th Mountain Division
• 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
• 2d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
• Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
• 10th Mountain Division Artillery
• Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
• American Red Cross (ARC)
• U.S. Army Materiel Command FSC (LAO)
• Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield
• 20th Air Support Operations Squadron (USAF)
• Air Force Weather, 20th ASOS
• Fort Drum Criminal Investigation Command (CID)
• Non-commissioned Officers Academy
• Naval Reserve Center - Fort Drum
• Battalions under the 174th Infantry Brigade (previously known as the 2d Brigade, 78th Division Training Support)
• 7th Legal Support Organization (7th LSO)
• Ordnance Companies (725th EOD, 760th EOD)
• 63d Ordnance Battalion (EOD)
• 91st Military Police Battalion
• Engineer units including the 7th Engineer Battalion and supporting companies
• New York Army National Guard units such as Company B (Field Maintenance), Company C (Recruiting), and transportation companies
• Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site (NY MATES), NYARNG
• 925th Contracting Battalion

Geography

The Census Designated Place (CDP) portion of Fort Drum encompasses , consisting of land and water areas accounting for roughly (0.65%) of its total area.

The military reservation extends across eastern Jefferson County, covering segments of Antwerp, Leray, Philadelphia, and Wilna towns and stretches into Diana in Lewis County. Surrounding communities include Antwerp, Black River, Carthage, Evans Mills, Natural Bridge, and Philadelphia. Watertown lies approximately southwest and functions as the primary commercial and service center for personnel stationed at Fort Drum.

Sections of the reservation are bordered by both the Indian and Black rivers.

Demographics

According to the 2020 census data, Fort Drum’s population totaled 15,896 residents.

Back in 2000, the CDP had a population of 12,123 spread across 2,253 households, resulting in a population density of . There were also 2,280 housing units with an average density of . The racial makeup included approximately 64.2% White individuals, followed by African Americans at about 19.8%, Native Americans at around 0.8%, Asians at roughly 2.4%, Pacific Islanders at about 0.7%, other races at approximately 7.6%, and those identifying with two or more races at near 4.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents comprised about 13.3% of the population.

Most households were family-based: about three-quarters (75.3%) had children under eighteen years old; married couples accounted for nearly all households at around 91.9%, with only a small fraction (2.2%) classified as non-families. The average household size was calculated at approximately 3.33 persons.

The demographic profile skewed notably young: individuals under eighteen made up roughly a quarter (24.9%), while those aged between eighteen and twenty-four years constituted about 37.5%, resulting in a median age of just twenty-two years. Gender distribution showed a significant male majority with nearly187 males per every100 females overall.

Median household income was reported at $31,699; family median income was slightly lower at $31,202. Median earnings for males and females were close in value—$19,779 and $19,401 respectively. Per capita income stood at $13,395. Approximately6.3% of families and6.2% of all residents lived below the poverty threshold; notably no senior citizens were recorded below this line.

Employment and housing

Covering an extensive area, Fort Drum provides a variety of job opportunities both on and off the installation. Civilian positions encompass roles such as educators, childcare workers, healthcare professionals, and maintenance personnel. The Teen-In-Hire initiative is designed to help local youth acquire valuable work experience.

The need for on-post housing is significant due to the influx of military families. Temporary living arrangements can be found through Fort Drum Lodging, which offers options including the Fort Drum Inn, cottages, guest residences, cabins, and the historic LeRay Mansion. Additionally, soldiers and their families may choose accommodations at nearby hotels.

Education

The Fort Drum census-designated place (CDP) is divided between the Carthage Central School District and the Indian River Central School District, with certain sections not assigned to any district. Children residing in Richard Hills Housing attend schools within the Carthage district, whereas those living in Adirondack Creek, Crescent Woods, and Monument Ridge are enrolled in Indian River schools.

Higher education near Fort Drum includes institutions such as:

• State University of New York North

External links

• Fort Drum News, Army.mil
• Fort Drum news, Watertown Daily Times
• Civilian government employee pay scales for Fort Drum