Fort Drum

Fort Drum is one of the United States Army’s premier military installations and serves as the home of the legendary 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). Located in Jefferson County approximately 10 miles northeast of Watertown, Fort Drum occupies more than 107,000 acres across Northern New York and is among the region’s largest employers and economic engines. The installation supports active-duty Soldiers, Army Reserve and National Guard training, military families, civilian employees, contractors, and veterans while playing a vital role in the defense of the United States.

The military history of Fort Drum stretches back more than a century. Although the installation officially traces its origins to Camp Hughes in 1907, military activity in the region began much earlier at nearby Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812, when the village served as the headquarters for American naval and military operations on the northern frontier. As military technology evolved, the Army recognized that the training grounds at Sackets Harbor were no longer adequate for modern warfare. Working with local leaders, a larger training area was established north of the Black River, eventually becoming Pine Camp, which officially opened in 1908.

Pine Camp quickly became one of the Army’s most important training areas. During World War II, the installation underwent a massive expansion as the United States prepared for global conflict. More than 75,000 additional acres were acquired, entire communities were relocated, and hundreds of military buildings were constructed in less than a year. Tens of thousands of Soldiers trained at Pine Camp before deploying overseas, including elements of General George S. Patton’s 4th Armored Division and other units that would serve in both the European and Pacific theaters.

Following World War II, Pine Camp was renamed Camp Drum in 1951 in honor of Lieutenant General Hugh A. Drum. The installation continued serving as one of the Army’s primary training centers for active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve forces. In 1974, the post officially became Fort Drum, marking its transition from a temporary training facility to a permanent Army installation with an assigned garrison.

Fort Drum entered a new era in 1984 when the Department of the Army selected the installation as the home of the reactivated 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). The first Soldiers arrived later that year, and the division was officially reactivated in February 1985. Since then, the 10th Mountain Division has become one of the Army’s most frequently deployed divisions, serving in operations across the globe, including humanitarian missions, peacekeeping operations, and combat deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other regions. Extensive construction during the late 1980s and early 1990s transformed Fort Drum into one of the Army’s most modern military installations.

Today, Fort Drum is far more than a military base. Its economic impact reaches throughout Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties, supporting thousands of civilian jobs, local businesses, housing developments, healthcare providers, schools, and community organizations. Military families contribute significantly to the cultural and economic life of Northern New York, while partnerships between Fort Drum and surrounding communities continue to strengthen the region.

Training remains the installation’s primary mission. Soldiers conduct year-round exercises in terrain and weather conditions that closely resemble many of the environments where American forces operate around the world. Fort Drum’s extensive maneuver areas, live-fire ranges, aviation facilities, and modern infrastructure make it one of the Army’s premier readiness centers for both active-duty and reserve forces. The installation also regularly hosts units from across the United States and allied nations for joint training exercises.

Located between the Adirondack Mountains, the Thousand Islands, Lake Ontario, and the Canadian border, Fort Drum occupies a strategic position within Northern New York. Its Soldiers and families have become an integral part of the region’s identity, supporting local charities, schools, businesses, community events, and volunteer organizations. The close relationship between Fort Drum and surrounding communities has helped shape Northern New York for generations and continues to influence the region’s future.

The Watertown Post provides continuing coverage of Fort Drum, including military operations, community partnerships, deployment ceremonies, training exercises, economic development, housing, transportation, veterans’ issues, military family programs, public safety, and regional events. Whether reporting on the 10th Mountain Division, installation improvements, local partnerships, or major military announcements, our mission is to provide comprehensive coverage of one of the nation’s most important Army installations.

Quick Facts

Official Name: Fort Drum

Location: Jefferson County, New York

Nearest City: Watertown

Established: Camp Hughes (1907)

Pine Camp Opened: 1908

Renamed Camp Drum: 1951

Designated Fort Drum: 1974

Home Unit: 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)

Installation Size: Approximately 107,265 acres

Mission:

• Home of the 10th Mountain Division
• Army readiness and training
• National Guard and Reserve training
• Joint military exercises
• Mobilization support

Primary Employer: U.S. Department of Defense

Major Facilities:

• Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield
• Extensive training ranges
• Live-fire ranges
• Family housing
• Medical facilities
• Schools and support services

Regional Importance:

• One of Northern New York’s largest employers
• Major economic driver
• Supports thousands of military families
• Significant impact on housing, education, healthcare, and local business

Related Topics

• 10th Mountain Division
• Jefferson County
• Watertown
• Sackets Harbor
• Pine Camp
• Camp Drum
• Camp Hughes
• Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield
• Madison Barracks
• War of 1812
• Black River
• Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization
• Military Families
• Veterans
• U.S. Army
• National Guard
• Army Reserve
• Northern New York

Latest Watertown Post Coverage

Browse below for the latest Watertown Post reporting on Fort Drum, including military training, the 10th Mountain Division, deployments, homecomings, military families, veterans, community partnerships, economic development, housing, transportation, public safety, and everything affecting one of Northern New York’s most important military installations.