Frankfort is located east of Utica, and the Erie Canal passes along its northern border.

[4][5] The first European settlers in this area were German Palatines who came to the colony as religious refugees in 1723.

The Balloon Farm in Frankfort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

New York State Route 171 intersects old NY 5S in the village of Frankfort.

[11] Many Italian American families in the town and village are descendants of immigrants from Oriolo, Cosenza, or Calabria, Italy and from San Giuseppe Iato, Sicily.

[citation needed] The first settler from Oriolo may have been Giuseppe Franchino, who appeared in the 1880 census as Joseph Frank, age 33, birthplace Italy.

In 1958, it moved to a permanent site on Cemetery Hill in Frankfort, after buying the Slocum Farm.

The fair currently sits on 26 acres (11 ha), and has 10 permanent buildings as well a permanent bathroom, shower facilities, a horse corral, and aluminum bleacher seating surrounding the event show ring.