Comments on: What is Upstate New York?

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:43:04 +0000

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.

By: Phyllis' Mom

Phyllis' Mom — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:57:56 +0000

I think upstate is anything out of the city.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:21:12 +0000

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).

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:19:45 +0000

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.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:11:19 +0000

Anything north of Central Park is pretty much upstate if you ask me.

By: Be

Be — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:46:56 +0000

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.

By: laura @ the shorehouse

laura @ the shorehouse — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:19:50 +0000

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.” 🙂

By: The Changeling

The Changeling — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:43:04 +0000

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).

By: eve

eve — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:54:39 +0000

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”.