There is one unique ZIP code in Felts Mills, New York and it is 13638. Area code: 315.
1
ZIP codes
0.81
sq mi land
0.09
sq mi water
315
area code
Felts Mills, NY ZIP code map
About Felts Mills, NY
Felts Mills is a small hamlet and census-designated place located in Jefferson County, New York, carrying the single ZIP code 13638. Nestled in the northern reaches of the state, Felts Mills offers a quiet, rural character that reflects the broader landscape of the North Country region. Despite its modest size, the community holds a distinct local identity shaped by its proximity to Fort Drum, the Black River, and the surrounding Jefferson County countryside.
Location & geography
Felts Mills sits in Jefferson County in northern New York, positioned just east of the city of Watertown and adjacent to the town of Rutland. The hamlet is located near the Black River, which has historically defined the terrain and economy of the surrounding region, and the total area spans just 0.90 square miles, of which 0.81 square miles is land and 0.09 square miles is water. Neighboring communities include Watertown to the west, Evans Mills to the northeast, and Calcium to the north, placing Felts Mills within a network of small North Country towns that serve the greater Fort Drum military corridor.
Community & economy
Felts Mills has the feel of a tight-knit rural hamlet, where daily life is shaped by the rhythms of the surrounding countryside and the economic influence of nearby Fort Drum, one of the largest U.S. Army installations in the country. Many residents commute to Watertown for work, shopping, and services, while local businesses cater to the everyday needs of the community. The area reflects the working-class, close-community spirit typical of Jefferson County hamlets, with agriculture, military support services, and small local enterprises forming the backbone of the local economy.
Transportation
Felts Mills is accessible via New York State Route 26, which connects the hamlet to Watertown and communities to the south. Travelers heading north or south through the region can access Interstate 81, a major corridor running through Watertown, approximately a short drive to the west. The nearest commercial airport is Watertown International Airport (ART), located in the town of Hounsfield just west of Watertown, offering regional air service for North Country residents.
History
Felts Mills takes its name from the felt manufacturing mills that once operated along the Black River, industries that were common throughout Jefferson County during the 19th century when waterpower drove the regional economy. The Black River provided the mechanical energy needed to power mills of various kinds, and small hamlets like Felts Mills grew up around these industrial sites. Over time, as manufacturing declined, the community transitioned into a quieter residential hamlet, with its identity increasingly tied to the broader Fort Drum military presence that expanded significantly in the 20th century.
Did you know?
One little-known fact about Felts Mills is that its name is a direct historical record of the felt-milling industry that once thrived along the Black River, making the hamlet itself a living testament to 19th-century industrial heritage in upstate New York. With a total area of less than one square mile, Felts Mills is one of the smallest named communities in Jefferson County, yet it maintains its own distinct ZIP code — 13638 — underscoring its enduring identity as a recognized place in the North Country.
