According to the United States Census Bureau, Cape Vincent has a total area of, of which, or 3.31%, are water. The village is on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. A seasonal ferry connects the village to Point Alexandria on Wolfe Island in Ontario, Canada, from Cape Vincent across the southern channel of the St. Lawrence. New York State Route 12E passes through the village center, leading northeast along the St. Lawrence to Clayton and southeast to Watertown, the Jefferson county seat.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 760 people, 348 households, and 209 families residing in the village. There is one local bank, a small museum, a post office, an independent telephone exchange and a few small stores. The population density was 1,037.5 people per square mile. There were 502 housing units at an average density of 685.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the village was 98.68% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.13% Asian, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population. There were 348 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.77. In the village, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The median income for a household in the village was $31,833, and the median income for a family was $38,571. Males had a median income of $31,538 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,492. About 12.7% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
passes through the village. Privately owned , the only international ferry in the region, runs from May to October to Cape Vincent from "Horne's Point" on Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands. The capacity is about twelve cars. The family-owned ferry has been running since 1802 when they were first licensed to operate between Wolfe Island and Cape Vincent as well as Wolfe Island and Kingston, Ontario. The cost is US$15 for one car and driver. Another ferry on the opposite side of Wolfe Island runs year-round free of charge and completes the crossing between Marysville and Kingston. The total time for both ferry crossings is a little over an hour. Beginning in April 1852, the Cape Vincent branch of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad conveyed both passengers and freight between the waterfront and Watertown via Chaumont and Brownville. This route was a vital link from the southern part of the state to the ferry terminal to Canada. However, its importance was reduced with the company's acquisition of the Utica & Black River Railroad in 1886. In 1895, a storm blew down the Cape Vincent station building, killing two inside. From the early part of the 20th century onward, traffic decreased until passenger service was ended in March 1936, with freight following in the early 1950s. The second and final station building, having served its original purpose for over 40 years, still stands on the waterfront; it now functions as the offices of Anchor Marina.
