TOWN HISTORY

The Town of Rutland, whose northeast border is the Black River, was first settled in 1799 by Asher Miller, agent of Benjamin Wright. The first town meeting was held April 1, 1802, when the town as we now know it was taken from the Town of Watertown. The town contains about 41 square miles of rolling hills and fertile farmland and has remained for the most part fairly rural.

Settled mostly by pioneers from the State of Vermont, who suggested its name, Rutland has remains free from the problems of large cities, with the hamlets of Felts Mills, Tylerville (South Rutland), Rutland Center and the southern half of the Village of Black River being the closest it comes to a metropolis. Though at one time these places were homes of cheese plants, sawmills, woolen mills and chair factories, most industry has moved from the town, except for agriculture. Over the years the way people have farmed has also changed, going from many small family farms to a few larger ones, though generally family operated.

With the army installation of Fort Drum just across the river and the City of Watertown as its western neighbor, zoning became an issue in Rutland in the mid 1980's. The town officials have attempted to allow for growth to expand the tax base, while at the same time protecting the way of life people move to our town for. It is never possible to try to please everyone, especially when change is proposed. The challenge is to convince the populace than moneys spent are an investment in not only their future but also the future of the town as well.

In early 2000, public water and sewer became available along the NYS Route 3 corridor between Great Bend and the Village of Black Rive. The availibility of this infrastructure has spurred planned growth in that area and areas immediately adjacent.

The Town of Rutland has, over the years, passed through a process of legislative change common to many American communities. While only a few simple laws were necessary at the time of the establishment of the town, subsequent growth of the community, together with the complexity of modern life, has created the need for new and more detailed legislation for the proper function and government of the town. The recording of local law is an aspect of municipal history, and as the community develops and changes, review and revision of old laws and consideration of new laws, in the light of current trends, must keep pace. The orderly collection of these records is an important step in this ever-continuing process. Legislation must be more than mere chronological enactments reposing in the pages of old records. It must be available and logically arranged for convenient use and must be kept up to date. It is with thoughts such as these in mind that the Town Board has had compiled a complete Rutland Code Book.