Attractive Quality of Life
The County’s enviable quality of life, world class recreational assets and housing and retail choices make it an attractive location for new residents, workers and visitors. An area’s quality of life is a key determinant in business location decisions. According to Sperling’s Best Places, Fulton County has the lowest cost of living compared to surrounding counties, making it an attractive place to live and a great place to buy a home.
Nearly 60% of the Fulton County falls within the Adirondack Park ‐ with an international reputation as a recreation destination appealing to residents and visitors attracted to unrivaled hiking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, boating and other activities. Fulton County is home to 44 lakes including The Great Sacandaga Lake measuring over 29 miles long and six miles wide. A rich history and assortment of heritage and cultural offerings including historic sites, art galleries, community theatre groups, and civic bands offer concerts, lectures, workshops and artist receptions. The FJ&G Rail Trail provides almost 10 miles of off‐road multi-use recreation linking the cities.
Fulton County used to be known as the Leather/Glove Making Capital of the World. It was home to a thriving leather tanning and glove industry, centered in the City of Gloversville, for over 200 years. Like many other industrial cities, Fulton County’s leather manufacturing businesses shifted jobs overseas and employment gradually declined from 13,000 jobs in 1950 to approximately 330 today.1
Through major public investments into infrastructure, shovel ready sites, wide reaching economic development programs and professional marketing, Fulton County reinvented itself with a broad, sustainable economy. The County is now home to a diversified group of employers including:
- Benjamin Moore Paints
- EPIMED
- FAGE USA Yogurt
- Euphrates Cheese
- Crystal Geyser Water
- Walmart Food Distribution Center
- DHL Logistics
Boating
The County’s 44 lakes, Lake George, the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers and Champlain Canal
Beaches
Numerous riverside and lakeside beaches along the County’s 44 lakes including the 29-‐mile long Great Sacandaga Lake.
Racing
Saratoga’s world famous thoroughbred racing, world-class polo matches, and Casino & Raceway features harness racing, gaming and a nightclub.
Motocross at Royal Mountain
Hunting
Access to large tracts of Adirondack Park and other property.
Fishing
Nationally recognized trout streams.
Skiing
Numerous trails, Lapland Lake, Royal Mountain
NY State Parks
The Region’s 11 unique state parks include Saratoga Spa State Park, which features a performing arts center, an historic hotel, a luxurious spa, and nature trails to bubbling mineral springs. Other parks offer ice-skating, ice-fishing, snowshoeing, cross-‐country skiing and snowmobiling.
Hiking and Biking
Wooded and mountain trails across the Region including the paved FJ&G Rail Trail.
Scenic Byways
The historic Erie Canal on the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway connects to the 365-‐mile Canalway Trail. The Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway travels north and south through Fulton County.