Clinton Square first came into being in the early 1800s where roadways from the north and south joined in what is now downtown Syracuse. By the mid 1800s, the construction of the Erie Canal, known then as "Clinton's Ditch" after New York's Governor Clinton, further transformed this busy intersection into a bustling hub of trading and commerce. Surrounded by shops, stores and exchanges, Clinton Square became the economic and social center of downtown Syracuse.

In the early 1900s, the Soldiers and Sailors' monument was constructed on the square to honor Syracuse and Onondaga County Civil War veterans. The monument was dedicated in 1910. In 1925 the Erie Canal was filled in and Clinton Square became a major transportation route. Since then, Clinton Square has had several redesigns. In the fall of 2001, the Soldiers and Sailors' Monument was renovated and rededicated.

In 2001 renovations transformed Clinton Square into a spectacular public gathering space. The latest project involved closing a section of Erie Boulevard and creating a large reflecting pool and outdoor performance area on the site of the old Erie Canal. Once again as in the early 1900s, ice skaters glide across the ice every winter in Clinton Square and summers are filled with festivals and events of every kind drawing thousands of people into downtown for live music, food, and entertainment.

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