Plattsburgh, city, seat of Clinton County, northeastern New York, on the western shore of Lake Champlain, at the mouth of the Saranac River; incorporated as a city 1902. It is a summer resort, and manufactures here include paper products, plastics, and iron castings. Plattsburgh Air Force Base, the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh (1889), and a community college are here. Of interest is the Kent-Delord House (1797) and the Clinton County Historical Museum (circa 1807). Both buildings were occupied by the British during the War of 1812. The community was founded about 1784 by a colonial statesman, Zephaniah Platt, for whom it is named. The offshore waters were the scene of a decisive U.S. naval victory over the British in September 1814. Led by Commodore Thomas Macdonough, the Americans captured four British vessels and forced the enemy land forces to retreat to Canada. Population 21,057 (1980); 21,255 (1990); 18,816 (2000).
