The Largest Military Base in New York Is a Sprawling 107,000 Acres

New York’s military history stretches back centuries. Given the state’s location and value, it’s only natural that the Empire State is home to large military bases. However, one military facility in this state is larger than the rest. Today, we’re going to look at the largest military base in New York and show you how big it is, where it’s located, and how it compares to other similar facilities. 

What Is the Largest Military Base in New York?

Fort Drum is the largest military base in New York, sprawling over 107,265 acres. Fort Drum is home to the U.S. Army’s 10^th Mountain Division. However, the base also houses several reserve units for both the Army and the Navy.

According to the Fort Drum’s website, the overall mission of the installation is centered on training and deploying ready forces to serve the national security interests of the United States. The military base had about 16,000 soldiers living within its borders as of 2020, but many other people live on the base as well.

A Brief History of the Fort Drum

The history of Fort Drum stretches back to the 19^th century, predating the War of 1812 by a decade. The nearby settlement Sackets Harbor was a site of battle in the War of 1812. The military decided that this area was important and required fortifications. The U.S. Army established Madison Barracks after the war, training and dispatching soldiers to meet the needs of the country.

In 1908, Brigadier General Frederick Dent Grant took thousands of soldiers north of the Black River and established Pine Camp. The camp became renowned for its war games and training regimen. This includes peacetime maneuvers in 1935 that saw 36,500 soldiers descend upon the area for training.

All this time, the fort area continued to grow. The largest period of growth came at the outset of World War II. The government purchased 75,000 acres of land for the camp to grow. Unfortunately, several villages were forcefully abandoned, displacing over 500 families.

Construction crews worked throughout the brutal 1941-1942 winter to establish barracks, mess halls, storehouses, and other buildings to serve the camp’s needs.

Once finished, the area became a large training ground and even a place to hold prisoners of war. In 1951, the military renamed Pine Camp to Camp Drum after Lt. General Hugh A. Drum. The installation officially became Fort Drum in 1974.

In 1985, the 10^th Mountain Division was reactivated at the fort, and the area hosts training and mobilization support for tens of thousands of soldiers each year.

Where Is New York’s Largest Military Base on a Map?

Fort Drum is in Jefferson County, an area near the western border of northwestern New York. Fort Drum is about 30 miles from the border with Canada. Also, the installation is roughly 5 miles northeast of Watertown, a city along the Black River. The fort is fewer than 20 miles from Sackets Harbor, a historic village along Lake Ontario. Fort Drum is situated north of the Black River. Given the installation’s size, it’s hard to miss when looking at it on a map.

How Large Is Fort Drum Compared to Other Military Installations in New York?

Fort Drum is larger than other military installations in the state by quite a large margin. The chart above shows an assortment of military bases in the state. Some of them are quite small, like Fort Hamilton, an installation measuring just 176 acres in size. Others are much larger, including West Point. The United States Military Academy at West Point is 16,000 acres in area.

Fort Drum’s remote location allowed the base to sprawl over a large area, offering training grounds for hundreds of thousands of soldiers throughout its years of operation.

What Is Fort Drums Population?

Fort Drum is a highly populated military base. Roughly 15,000 service members, 18,000 family members, 3,700 civilians, and 3,000 military retirees live in this region. So, this base is not like other large military installations that are mostly barren, empty land for live-fire exercises. Many people serve, live, and work at this fort and the surrounding area.

Fort Drum is a military base with a history that stretches back nearly as far as the United States’ existence. Although the base has undergone many periods of growth and worn many names throughout its time, the base continues to serve important functions in the country today.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © James M. Chambers/Shutterstock.com