1) A region north of New York City's suburbs. Essentially an extension of the Midwestern rustbelt, not that there's anything wrong with that other than the fact they're not exactly New York State's greatest economic asset. Its people have what is undoubtedly the world's worst inferiority complex; they hate being overshadowed by the City almost to the point of irrational hatred, when they might not have necessarily been there. Lovely places to observe nature like the Adirondacks and the Finger Lakes, but there aren't that many prominent resorts to enjoy it from. Most of the largish cities like Buffalo and Rochester are big manufacturing centers, but they're in relatively bad shape and need to be cleaned up (garbagewise and crimewise), revitalized, and repopulated.
2) The city and suburbs of Chicago, Illinois (aka Chicagoland). In this case, upstate is the heavily-urbanized part of the state, while downstate is more rural and dotted with smaller cities and towns.
3) Otherwise, the northern part of any socially or demographically divided state (Northern California, Seattle-area Washington, northern Texas, Florida panhandle, etc.)
2) The city and suburbs of Chicago, Illinois (aka Chicagoland). In this case, upstate is the heavily-urbanized part of the state, while downstate is more rural and dotted with smaller cities and towns.
3) Otherwise, the northern part of any socially or demographically divided state (Northern California, Seattle-area Washington, northern Texas, Florida panhandle, etc.)
by Blargh May 12, 2004
Get the upstate mug.1) An area north of the suburbs of the largest city in a state in which the city is at the southern end of the state; used especially in New York State. In NY many people take it to offense to have their hometown labelled "upstate."
2) The northern end of a state, used mainly in states where the more urbanized area is to the north, like Illinois or Delaware.
2) The northern end of a state, used mainly in states where the more urbanized area is to the north, like Illinois or Delaware.
by Anonymous July 29, 2003
Get the Upstate mug.Anything outside of the city, Long Island is technically "upstate" too, at least according to people in the city like Brooklynguy. People in the city are such snobs.
by Ron March 28, 2005
Get the Upstate mug.by Gabby Jay September 26, 2004
Get the upstate mug.If there are less than 3 cities or villages within a 20-mile radius of your address with a population of less than 30,000, you are upstate.
by Anonymous July 27, 2003
Get the Upstate mug.