Upstate New York

Characteristics of Upstate New York

The region is culturally and economically distinct from the New York City area, though in the Hudson Valley Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange Counties are considered peripheral sections of the metro area. The true upstate area consists of a handful of small and medium-sized cities, squarely in the Rust Belt, which are spread out across the broader region, astride a number of suburban communities, and are all set amid what is a largely rural landscape. Though there are some centers of wealth, much of the area is relatively economically depressed compared to the downstate areas.

Related Topics:
Dutchess - Putnam - Orange - Rust Belt - Suburb - Rural

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Perhaps stemming from the region's semi-rural character, there is a stronger tendency toward conservatism in culture and politics than found in the more urban downstate area, and Upstate is the power base of the state's Republican Party (ironically though, most of New York State's most successful Republican politicians, such as George Pataki, Rudolph Giuliani, Fiorello LaGuardia, Jacob Javits and Alfonse D'Amato, came from the "downstate" region). This has historically fueled many political struggles with largely downstate-based Democrats in the New York Legislature. There are several exceptions to this rule, including Erie County (Buffalo), Monroe County (Rochester), Onondaga County (Syracuse), Tompkins County (Ithaca), Albany County (Albany), Clinton, Franklin, and St. Lawrence counties (influence of Canada). Ulster County, while having no urban centers, has consistently voted Democratic in presidential elections and is the epicenter of liberal U.S. congressman Maurice Hinchey's district.

Related Topics:
Conservatism - Republican Party - George Pataki - Rudolph Giuliani - Fiorello LaGuardia - Jacob Javits - Alfonse D'Amato - Democrats - New York Legislature - Erie County - Monroe County - Onondaga County - Tompkins County - Albany County - Clinton - Franklin - St. Lawrence - Ulster County - Maurice Hinchey

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As a whole, Upstate New York is roughly equally divided in Federal elections between Democratic and republicans, with Bush winning with a slim margin in 2004 against John Kerry (1,577,166 to 1,557,503).

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