Oswego County made its unique mark in the history of New York State and America due to its strategic location on Lake Ontario and the waterways that emptied into the Great Lake. The area has been a destination since the days of the Native American tribes who once used the land and water in everyday life. The first European explorers arrived in the 16th century and discovered the wealth of natural resources the area had to offer in the infancy of the new world. The area first began to develop in the early 18th century when it served as a military post on the American border. The importance of the area can be seen through the history of the three major forts built in Oswego during this time. The British built forts here seeking to maintain control of this important region. Fort Ontario still remains today as a monument of the important military history of this region.