Clinton, New York

The centerpiece of this small town is the town square, ringed with nice shops, homes and churches. Clinton is just 10 miles southwest of Utica. Clinton is home to Hamilton College, a private, independent liberal arts institution, with a student body of approximately 1,800. In 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked Hamilton the 17th best liberal arts college in the United States. In the 1800's, this small town was known for its many private secondary schools, and thus gained its nickname 'Schooltown'. Noteworthy former residents of Clinton include Clara Barton, founder of American Red Cross, and Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. President. The town is named after New York’s first governor, George Clinton, an uncle of Erie Canal builder, DeWitt Clinton.