The Upstate Project | Geographic Perspectives

What is The Upstate Project?

The Upstate Project is an ongoing study of the region popularly known as “Upstate New York.” Current research is used to generate a better understanding of the geography, climate, history, culture, economy, governance, infrastructure, and people of this often-ambiguously-defined region.

The purpose of the Upstate Project is to strengthen the collective self-awareness of the people who inhabit “Upstate New York”, so that they may see themselves as the interconnected unit that recent research, history, and geography show them to be.

Topography and Climate

The topography of New York State includes lower-lying coastal areas of Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley. The Hudson River Valley is bound by the Catskill Mountains to the west and Adirondack Mountains to the north. Stretching 149 miles between the Adirondacks, Catskills, and the Appalachian (Allegany) Plateau; the Mohwak River provides a relatively-narrow natural connection between regions facing the Atlantic Ocean and the central lowland regions facing the Great Lakes. These natural geographic and topographic features create a landscape that has structured and shaped human settlement patterns over time,

New York Relief Map

This physical map shows the major topographic features of New York State. The relief style and color choice emphasizes the locations of the Adirondack Mountains, Catskill Mountains, and Appalachian Plateau.

Source: Longitude Maps

Physiographic Provinces of New York State

This map of physiographic provinces shows the general geographic regions of the state, typically based on elevation.

Source: Mulvihill and Baldigo (2012)

Physical Map of New York

This physical map shows topographic features, as well as the current extent of urban population centers across New York State. Nearly all urban areas in New York State are found in low-lying areas.

Source: Free World Maps

Climate Types in New York

This climate map shows the distinctive climate types in New York State. The state is divided by oceanic climates (southeast corner of NYS) and continental climates (rest of state).

Source: Oregon State University

The Iroquois Confederacy, European Colonization, and American Settlement

The Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) are the historical inhabitants of the regions of the New York State beyond the Hudson River Valley and coastal areas. The Iroquois are often noted for the Iroquois Confederacy, a politically-collaborative form of government across multiple autonomous and distinct nations. Iroquois territory also stretched around Lake Ontario and up the St. Lawrence River.

The Iroquois were geographically separated and culturally distinct from the Algonquin-speaking populations that inhabited the coastal regions. The Adirondack and Catskill Mountains were natural geographic barriers between these two distinct peoples. As British and Dutch colonial settlements expanded up and down the Atlantic Coast, European colonial settlements in New York State were largely limited to the coastal areas and the Hudson Valley.

The influential Iroquois were allies of the British during the American Revolutionary War, and lost their territory with the establishment of the United States of America. Although the area beyond the Mohawk Valley was initially claimed by the newly-formed state of Massachusetts, New York State eventually won its claim to the Iroquois land. Within decades, the former Iroquois land was being settled by newly-arriving Europeans and Americans, a process that was accelerated by the construction of the Erie Canal. Expanded trade and eventual industrialization spurred the growth of New York State as a whole, and New York City became the dominant port on the East Coast of the United States.

The Iroquois Confederacy

This map shows the historical extent of the Iroquois Confederacy, as well as the location of contemporary reservations.

Source: Manataka American Indian Council

Eastern Woodland Agricultural Groups

This map shows the extent of Eastern Woodland Agricultural groups of Native Americans. Iroquois territory was concentrated around Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Source: D. Kappler

Iroquois Six Nations

This map shows the extent of the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy in 1720.

Source: Wikipedia

New York Tribes Before Colonization

This map shows the distribution of New York tribes before European arrival. Iroquois (purple) and Algonquin (pink) groups were divided by the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains.

Source: Wikipedia

English Colonies in the 1700s

English settlements were found up and down the East Coast of North America. Natural geographic barriers and the existence of Native Americans prevented the rapid expansion of these settlements.

Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica

Early Colonial Settlements

This map shows the areas of European colonial settlements along the East Coast of North America. In New York, settlements were largely limited to what is now New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

Source: CUNY City Tech

Population Density in British America

This map shows population density of European settlement across the British colonies in North America. At the dawn of the American Revolution, population was heavily concentrated in coastal communities.

Source: US Military Academy

Land Claims of the Colonies

This map shows the land claims of the newly-formed states following the American Revolution. The Iroquois lost their territory and their lands were contested via claims made by New York and Massachusetts.

Source: University of Florida

Erie Canal and NYS Geography

This map shows the location of the Erie Canal, which connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. The canal was also an effective strategy to encourage rapid settlement of the central lowlands of western and northern New York.

Source: National Geographic

Contemporary Geographic Patterns

Over the past two decades, the precision and sophistication of geospatial analysis has continued to improve. New analyses have sought to uncover underlying patterns in our economies, political systems, social interactions, and infrastructure development. These studies consistently show that the area of “Upstate New York” is a relatively self-contained economy. Multiple in-depth, high-quality studies show that money circulation, commuting and travel patterns, communication patterns, and even infrastructural connections continue to demonstrate that topography and geography continue to divide New York State in distinct and observable ways.

Economic Mega Regions of the USA

This map shows how cash circulates in local economies, and how that circulation creates monetary mega regions across the United States. New York State is divided between two regions that continue to have the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains as the barrier.

Source: D. Brockmann, Northwestern University

The Connected States of America: Calls

This map shows major regions of the United States based on phone calls made between people from different places. New York State is divided into two major regions: people in Upstate NY are more likely to call each other, while those in NYC and the Hudson Valley are more likely to connect.

Source: MIT Senseable City Lab

The Connected States of America: Texts

This map shows major regions of the United States based on text messages sent between people from different places. New York State is divided into two major regions: people in Upstate NY are more likely to text each other, while those in NYC and the Hudson Valley are more likely to connect with each other.

Source: MIT Senseable City Lab

Commuting Mega Regions in the USA

This map shows an analysis of over 4 million commutes made in the United States. New York State is divided by three major regions centered on Buffalo, Albany, and New York City.

Source: Nelson and Rae (2016)

Named Mega Regions: USA Commutes

This map shows the borders of contiguous regions connected by commuting patterns, which reflects economic and social realities of daily life. New York State is divided by three regions: Upstate NY, Hudson Valley, and NYC.

Source: Dash and Rae (2016)

Mega Regions of North America

This may shows the most significant agglomerations of urbanized areas in North America. The research was completed by analyzing infrastructure and connections as seen from the night sky. New York State is part of two major mega regions: Bos-Wash and Tor-Buff-Chester.

Source: Martin Prosperity Institute, University of Toronto

Popular Perspectives

In 2016-2018, a series of polls were conducted by a Washington Post journalist, who was directly asking the question: “Where is Upstate New York?” The results of this analysis showed that 76% of respondents perceive the region to be north and west of New York City. The Catskill Mountains and Hudson River Valley tend to form natural boundaries for “Downstate New York,” according to the 2016 poll.

A follow-up poll in 2018 asked respondents to identify on a map where “Upstate New York” begins. The analysis shows two distinct starting points for this region, as distinct from “Downstate New York.” The first point is located in Westchester County, immediately north of the Bronx in New York City. The second point is located in Albany County. A review of both of these locations suggests that any areas north of Albany and west of the Hudson River Valley are considered by the public to be “Upstate New York.”

How New Yorkers Define "Upstate"

This set of maps shows the results of a 2016 survey that asked respondents to identify where “Upstate NY” is. More than 75% of participants identified it as west and north of the Catskill Mountains.

Source: Philip Bump (2016), Washington Post

Locating Upstate New York

This map shows the results of a 2018 survey that asked respondents to locate the “start” of Upstate NY on a map. Two clusters of starting points stand out - just north of New York City and at Albany.

Source: Philip Bump (2018), Washington Post

Analysis: Upstate New York

This map shows the results of an analysis of survey responses collected in 2018. The survey asked respondents to identify where Upstate NY ‘begins.’ Based on this analysis, there are two major points to consider - Westchester County (immediately north of NYC) and Albany.

Source: Philip Bump (2018), Washington Post

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