Heuvelton, N.Y. was originally called "Fordsburgh" to honor Nathan Ford, the man who has since become known as the "Father of St. Lawrence County," who established a second home there and assisted in some of the area's early development.  The location was also frequently mentioned in historical records as "East Branch," in reference to its location on the Oswegatchie River.  The first settlers to the community were the Bristol, Jones, Osburne and Haven families.

In the 1820's, New York aristocrat Jacob Vanden Heuvel purchased the territory that contained the village and an adjoining land tract.  Vanden Heuvel invested in several extensive improvements including mill construction, marking the first notable economic growth in the struggling community.  To honor the contributions of Jacob Vanden Heuvel.  The community name was changed from Fordsburgh to Heuvelton in January 1832.

During the generations that followed, agricultural interests continued to be the principal livelihood for most of the Heuvelton area.  In the early 1900's, Heuvelton and the surrounding countryside was considered to be quite a center for producing turkeys.  The Heuvelton turkey market attracted thousands of commercial and private buyers during periodic "market days" and several tons of turkeys were marketed from Heuvelton each year.

Large dairy farms supplied milk for several local cheese factories.  While the McCadam cheese company plant closed in 2002, Heuvelton remains as home to three other large cheese producers.  Ninety-percent of the milk produced in St. Lawrence County goes into local cheese production.

The simple, rural farming and dairying atmosphere also attracted a settlement of Amish families to the Heuvelton area, one of the few remaining colonies of this religious following remaining in New York State today.