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 4, 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
This is how I see it from my experience--
1) If you tell someone your from the city and they ask which one? Your Upstate.
2) If your not from Amsterdam the European city. Your Upstate
3) If your movie theater is in the mall. Your upstate
4) If you do all your clothes shopping at Woodbury Commons. Your Upstate
5) If there is a strip road with 15 fast food joints in row. Your Upstate.
6) If you dont get Hot 97 or 92.3 or K2u on your radio stations. Your Upstate.
7) If you know more about my car than a mechanic. Your Upstate.
8) If you live near a prison. Your Upstate.
Pretty much anywhere past White Plains.
1) If you tell someone your from the city and they ask which one? Your Upstate.
2) If your not from Amsterdam the European city. Your Upstate
3) If your movie theater is in the mall. Your upstate
4) If you do all your clothes shopping at Woodbury Commons. Your Upstate
5) If there is a strip road with 15 fast food joints in row. Your Upstate.
6) If you dont get Hot 97 or 92.3 or K2u on your radio stations. Your Upstate.
7) If you know more about my car than a mechanic. Your Upstate.
8) If you live near a prison. Your Upstate.
Pretty much anywhere past White Plains.
by Soldier17 January 11, 2008