This question has come up a lot in Beacon. I’ve learned recently that people living here (mostly the newbies) don’t like to think of themselves as “Upstaters”. They think upstate is north of the Hudson Valley. Even my husband agrees, but what does he know? He’s from the other side of the Atlantic.
There is no right or wrong answer. It’s all about perception. Urban Dictionary lists Long Island as Upstate, stating “Face it! People from the city think anything other than NYC is Upstate!” That’s not true. Now, I’ve never been one to call Westchester Upstate, but personally, I’m convinced that anything north of that suburb is indeed Upstate.
What do you think?
posted @ 6:56 am Comments (9)
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I was born & raised in NYC, and anything north of the 5 boroughs was considered upstate. Long Island was just Long Island and Riverdale was practically upstate. Maybe the borders were set by public transportation since many NYers didn’t have cars, and even now I consider trips on Metro North to be visits to “the country”.
Comment by eve — November 7, 2008 @ 7:54 am
I’ve always thought of anything beyond Westchester as upstate. But I’ve been known to refer to Peekskill as upstate and that’s in Westchester (I think).
Comment by The Changeling — November 7, 2008 @ 9:43 am
I always considered it upstate as soon as we “crossed the border” at the end of Route 17 in NJ. As kids, we’d see that first tiny mountain right as NJ ends and would start getting all giddy…”we’re upstate! we’re upstate!” Giddiness would end after two more hours in the car with vinyl seats and no A/C.
Long Island? Not upstate to me. East can’t be “up.”
Comment by laura @ the shorehouse — November 7, 2008 @ 11:19 am
I grew up in Westchester. I’d say that anything at Poughkeepsie and above is “upstate” New York. My mom and grandparents had a summer house “in the mountains” in Beacon while she was growing up. But I don’t think they’ve ever called it “upstate New York.” So, while everything north of the city is upstate, it’s not necessarily “upstate New York.” I guess that doesn’t help much.
Comment by Be — November 8, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Anything north of Central Park is pretty much upstate if you ask me.
Comment by Bill — November 8, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
my 2 cents… if you live close to the water (namely the hudson river) that acts as an artery to NYC.most river towns have a hipper edge to them because of this. if you are inland a bit or land locked you are an upstater.
Comment by Gary — November 8, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
I went to college just south of Buffalo for a couple of years, then a semester at Plattsburgh. I can tell you all about what upstate is. And it most certainly is not Beacon (thank goodness).
Comment by Christine — November 8, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I think upstate is anything out of the city.
Comment by Phyllis' Mom — November 10, 2008 @ 7:57 am
If you grew up in Harlem, like I did, anywhere above Washington heights was upstate. New York state should be two or three states because it is so big and the various regions are as separate as your toes and fingers.
Comment by Ben — November 10, 2008 @ 12:43 pm