About Potsdam

Our Community

Potsdam has been described as the “Cultural and Educational Center of Northern New York”, and a quick study of everything Potsdam has to offer will show that this is true.

Potsdam is home to the SUNY Potsdam and the world-renowned Crane School of Music. It is also a home to Clarkson University, known for its engineering and business schools, as well as its N.C.A.A. Division I hockey team, the Golden Knights.
 
Potsdam is rich in history, and its Victorian and sandstone architecture is laid out along the beautiful Raquette River. Visitors can enjoy dining at over thirty local restaurants. Potsdam also offers a wide variety of retail stores including clothing, antique, gift shops and art galleries and studios.

Potsdam is home to the St. Lawrence County Arts Council and the Creative Spirit Art Center.  The Community Performance Series, a local organiza-tion housed at the Crane School of Music, brings many quality musicians and performance groups to Potsdam each year.  The Orchestra of Northern New York is also based in Potsdam.

If outdoor activities are your hobby, then Potsdam is a great place to be. Located a stone’s throw from the Adirondack Mountains and the St. Lawrence River, and offering some of the best fresh-water fishing in the state, Potsdam offers a wonderful setting for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, fishing, and much more. Higley Flow State Park, and many other local campgrounds, are located within 15 minutes of downtown.

Potsdam is within reasonable driving distance of Ottawa, Montreal, The Thousand Islands, Lake Placid, Watertown, Burlington, and Syracuse… making it easy to see much of the region while living or staying right here.

SunFeather Natural Soap Company, a world-renowned manufacturer of handcrafted, natural olive oil soaps, also calls Potsdam home. SunFeather is located seven miles outside of the village, near the hamlet of Parishville, and offers factory tours six days a week.

Potsdam is also home to Mead WestVaco, Jeffords Steel, and Potters Industries manufacturing facilities. The Canton-Potsdam Hospital is a quality health care facility, rated among the top 15% of community hospitals in the nation. Potsdam Food Cooperative has served Potsdam for over 30 years as one of the only notable food co-ops in the state.

Potsdam has a terrific variety of youth sports opportunities available. Youngsters can participate in hockey, figure skating, lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, swimming and martial arts. Our local universities are also home to some of the best youth sporting camps in the country.

We are also a friendly place to do business. Potsdam is one of only two designated New York State Empire Zone communities in St. Lawrence County, and many benefits are available for those looking to relocate or start a business here. Contact our local Economic Development Office to learn more.

Potsdam is a safe, friendly, and inviting place to be. The quality of life here is high, and living expenses are low as compared to other areas. We also have the Potsdam Public Museum, Potsdam Public Library  and great school system at Potsdam Central School. Potsdam is a great place to live and work, and a pleasantly diverse group of people call Potsdam home!

Come visit us and see what Potsdam has to offer!