The areas north of NYC in New York State, with maybe the exception of Westchester County (depending on the context) due to the fact that it has a lot more in common with the areas to its south than to its north. Rockland County more often than not is considered to be Upstate NY (sorry.)
In rural New York State people will either use the NYC area or the Albany area as the marker for upstate. Some people from Orange County for example, say they live upstate and some vehemently oppose that designation, as Orange County is well south of Albany.
The word "upstate" has a particularly negative connotation and should be avoided. Few people like to be considered to be from "upstate", as it implies the antithesis of all that New York is about. "Upstate" is the N-word of geography and should be avoided at all costs.
Note: There is also a rare usage of "upstate" referring to everything outside of New York City, including Long Island and Westchester, just meaning New York State.
In rural New York State people will either use the NYC area or the Albany area as the marker for upstate. Some people from Orange County for example, say they live upstate and some vehemently oppose that designation, as Orange County is well south of Albany.
The word "upstate" has a particularly negative connotation and should be avoided. Few people like to be considered to be from "upstate", as it implies the antithesis of all that New York is about. "Upstate" is the N-word of geography and should be avoided at all costs.
Note: There is also a rare usage of "upstate" referring to everything outside of New York City, including Long Island and Westchester, just meaning New York State.
In Brooklyn, anything north of the Bronx is upstate.
In the Bronx, anything north of Yonkers is upstate.
In Yonkers, anything north of White Plain is upstate.
In White Plains, anything north of Peekskill is upstate.
In Peekskill, anything north of Poughkeepsie is upstate.
In Poughkeepsie, anything north of Albany is upstate.
In the Bronx, anything north of Yonkers is upstate.
In Yonkers, anything north of White Plain is upstate.
In White Plains, anything north of Peekskill is upstate.
In Peekskill, anything north of Poughkeepsie is upstate.
In Poughkeepsie, anything north of Albany is upstate.
by Watashi July 02, 2004
Upstate is a term used by people who live in New York City or the surrounding metro area. Long Islanders and some city people consider the Northern suburbs (Westchester, Rockland) to be upstate because they are north of where they are and think thaty for some reasons the cultural and economic ties spread east. Northern suburbs consider anywhere above them to be upstate (mostyl Poughkeepsie and up). Whats funny is that people from "upstate" cities such as Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse, Rochester or Buffalo have no concept of what "upstate is. Albany is the Capital District. Binghamton is the Southern Tier. Syraucse is Central New York. Rochester is near the Finger Lakes and Buffalo is in Western New York. In the end Upstate doesn't really exist and is generally a term used to imply that you live south of the area being discussed.
Everything north of Westchester is upstate (Rockland is west of Westchester bordering New Jersey and the the northern tip of Westchester is above Rockland. So Rockland is not upstate.)
by Jim October 27, 2004
by Anonymous July 28, 2003
Any of New York State not including New York City, Long Island, or Westchester or Rockland Counties.
The Adirondacks, the Albany region, same with Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, and whatever of New York state more than 45 minutes away from New York City or Long Island is referred to as Upstate New York.
by Nick Weiner October 04, 2008
by Craszy02 December 22, 2012
I'm from Upstate... yeah you know New York where where crackers live and everyone doesn't speak prohanese.
by OaklyNY December 23, 2002
People who think they're from New York until they go to college and realize that all the downstaters think the world ends after Yonkers.
I was driving west on the Tappan Zee Bridge heading upstate and when it was already too late realized the bridge was emptying into the pit of oblivion.
by DMX November 26, 2003