The town was first settled around 1829. The early industry was based on lumber production. After most of the trees were harvested, farming became predominant. The town was set off from the town of Wilmington in 1844. By the end of the 19th century, the town had become the locale for sanatoriums intended for tuberculosis cures. Dr. Edward Trudeau in 1884 was one of the first to establish a sanatorium within the town, near the village of Saranac Lake.
Notable residents
Robert Louis Stevenson, author, spent a year in the town for a TB cure
At the 2000 census, there were 1,321 people, 543 households and 349 families residing in the town. The population density was 23.4 per square mile. There were 689 housing units at an average density of 12.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.38% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population. There were 543 households of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couplesliving together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04. Age distribution was 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males. The median household income was $39,500, and the median family income was $51,250. Males had a median income of $36,696 versus $23,828 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,828. About 4.0% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in St. Armand
Bloomingdale - A hamlet near the north town line on NY-3. The community was founded around 1852.
Camp Woodsmoke - A youth camp formerly located at the north end of Lake Placid.
Franklin Falls Pond - A wide part of the Saranac River at the north town line.
Lake Placid - A small part of the north end of the lake is within the town.
Moose Pond - A small lake in the western part of St. Armand.
Saranac Lake - A small part of the village of Saranac Lake is in the southeast part of the town.
St. Armand - A location near the north town line on NY-3.
Trudeau - A hamlet northeast of Saranac Lake village on NY-3, named for Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau.
