Le Ray, New York, United States

🇺🇸Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, known as a French "father of the American Revolution".

The town is in the central part of the county and is north-east of Watertown.

History Archaeological remains show the presence of aboriginal natives in the town.

The region was part of Macomb's Purchase and was acquired by Gouverneur Morris and James Le Ray in 1800. Settlement began around 1802.

The town was formed in 1806 from the town of Brownville and included a large portion of northern Jefferson County. Parts of the town were used to create the towns of Wilna, Alexandria, Theresa, Antwerp, and Philadelphia.

Many of the historic settlements of the town were abandoned due to the formation of Fort Drum, which occupies the eastern half of the town.

The LeRaysville Archeological District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 74.0 square miles (191.7 km²), of which 190.7 square miles (494 km²) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), or 0.49%, are water. The Black River marks the south town border.

U.S. Route 11 is a northeast–southwest highway through Le Ray. New York State Route 3 passes across the south-eastern part of Le Ray. New York State Route 26 is a north–south highway. New York State Route 37 is a north–south highway in the western part of Le Ray. New York State Route 342 crosses the southern part of the town.

Communities and locations in Le Ray • Black River – A village on the southern town line along the Black River. • Calcium – A hamlet and place west of Fort Drum. • Doolins Crossing – A location by the eastern corner of the town. • Dutch Settlement – A hamlet in the northern part of the town on County Road 18. • Evans Mills – A village in the centre of the town on the western side of Fort Drum, north of US-11. • Five Corners – A location in the south-western part of Le Ray. • Fort Drum – Part of the military reservation occupies the eastern half of the town. • Gould Corners – A location south-east of Evans Mills, located on US-11. • Gracey Corners – A location in the south-west of Le Ray. • Hall Corners – A location near the north-eastern town line. • Pine Plains – A location near the eastern corner of the town. • Westwood Corners – A location on US-11 near the north-eastern town line.