Early settlers from Connecticut, led by Moses Foote started the community in 1787. Clinton, named for New York State's first governor, George Clinton, was then in the Town of Whitestown, Montgomery County. In 1791 Herkimer County was formed in the western part of Montgomery. In 1792 the town of Paris was formed from the southern part of Whitestown, and finally in 1798 Oneida County was formed from the western part of Herkimer. Thus at the beginning of the 19th century, Clinton was part of the Town of Paris, Oneida County.

The Town of Kirkland was officially created from a part of the Town of Paris on April 13, 1827 by an act of the New York State Legislature. Originally Kirkland was about twice it's current size, but in 1829 the Town of Marshall was separated from the southern part of Kirkland.

On April 13, 2002 the Town of Kirkland will celebrate its 175th anniversary. On that day and throughout the year 2002, Kirkland townspeople will commemorate the Reverend Samuel Kirkland and all of the thousands of individuals who have contributed to what Kirkland is today.

Over 10,000 people call Kirkland home where they live and work or commute to Utica and Syracuse to earn a livelihood.

Kirkland, formerly a farming community, has evolved into a middle class suburbia with many older homes plus various new developments, apartment complexes, and retirement housing. The economic base of Kirkland has as its largest employers in 2002, Hamilton College, Clinton Central School, and the Lutheran Care Ministries Network. Retail trade, stores and restaurants in Clinton, along Route 5 in Kirkland, and in Clark Mills constitute the other commercial sectors.

Kirkland, 175 years after its creation, remains vibrant and changing while respecting the past and looking optimistically to the future.