The town was first settled in 1804, north of the current Schroon Lake hamlet. During the Colonial Period, this lake was on the boundary of colonial New York and New France, and there is thought to have been a lot of bloodshed at this lake, as evidence shows it was once a large battleground. The origination of the name "Schroon" is not precisely known: some believe it to be derived from a Native American word for "large lake". Others believe it devolved from French soldiers who inhabited the region during the French & Indian wars. The soldiers were enamored with Madame Scarron (a popular paramour of French King Louis XIV and prior to that the wife of noted French poet/playwright Paul Scarron).