This REALLY ticked me off when I lived in NY

[Jstpssng]

The flip side of that problem is just as prevalent- everywhere I've ever traveled, when people find out that I'm from NY, they just assume I'm from the Big Crapple [or just can't fathom that I'm from a small town further away from NYC than from another country or state...]

When I used to work up around the Tupper Lake or Potsdam areas I would spend 4 1/2 hours travelling in Maine, 1/2 hour in NH, an hour in Vermont to get on the ferry to Plattsburgh... then another 4 hours to my destination, and still I was only halfway across the state.
I used to love it out there and would have moved to the area in a heartbeat. I only wish that I had found time to do more than work, I always wanted to canoe the Grass River.

 

[marchanna]

Just a comment on the original post:

The terms up and down to refer specifically to North and South, is a relatively new concept. Traditionally, up and down or upper and lower would refer to elevation or distance from a large body of water, usually on the path of a river. Consider Upper and Lower Canada, Upper and Lower Egypt, upriver, downriver, uptown, and downtown.

Therefore, because New York City is a low lying coastal city at the mouth of a river, most everything else would be upstate. In older texts it would most likely always appear this way. Upstate in the past, would be synonymous to further up river and deeper into the wilderness.

Coincidentally, the Mississippi also runs North to South making terms like Up North and Down South commonplace due primarily to the direction of the great river.

 

[Sigarms]

Just a comment on the original post:

The terms up and down to refer specifically to North and South, is a relatively new concept. Traditionally, up and down or upper and lower would refer to elevation or distance from a large body of water, usually on the path of a river. Consider Upper and Lower Canada, Upper and Lower Egypt, upriver, downriver, uptown, and downtown.

Therefore, because New York City is a low lying coastal city at the mouth of a river, most everything else would be upstate. In older texts it would most likely always appear this way. Upstate in the past, would be synonymous to further up river and deeper into the wilderness.

Coincidentally, the Mississippi also runs North to South making terms like Up North and Down South commonplace due primarily to the direction of the great river.

I can't argue with your line of reasoning and it makes sense.

I REALLY hate to admit this, but even when I lived in NY state, I have to admit, I never realized how far south NYC sits per the entire state. I've said it before, I'm a dummy.



I could drive to Canada or Vermont from NY no worries, but never ever looked at a map on how to get to NYC:laughing:

 

[joecoin]

I can't argue with your line of reasoning and it makes sense.

I REALLY hate to admit this, but even when I lived in NY state, I have to admit, I never realized how far south NYC sits per the entire state. I've said it before, I'm a dummy.

View attachment 549450

I could drive to Canada or Vermont from NY no worries, but never ever looked at a map on how to get to NYC:laughing:

I've always been a fan of cartography. I always thought NYC was the tail wagging the dog.

 

[Sigarms]

I've always been a fan of cartography. I always thought NYC was the tail wagging the dog.

I would give NYC another body part of the dog

Don't get me wrong, I know as cities go, it must be great to visit, and if you're into that kind of thing, a great environment to live in, just not for me. I just never ever saw another city define a state as NYC does with NY.

 

[newbury]

I grew up near Binghamton... there they call it the "southern tier" which is a little better.

For what it's worth, my family being from NYC would refer to Tarrytown as "upstate" as well. What does that make Buffalo? :laughing:

Canada

I was born in Poughkeepsie (and my Father moved us at the age of 6 to rural northern Vermont on 30 acres) and always viewed NYC as one of those places "but for the grace of God I'm not there".

 

[check]

Canada I was born in Poughkeepsie (and my Father moved us at the age of 6 to rural northern Vermont on 30 acres) and always viewed NYC as one of those places "but for the grace of God I'm not there".

Hey, don't give it to us! On a clear Day you can see it from the CN Tower in Toronto across Lake Ontario, but that's close enough!

And hey, isn't "upstate" a socioeconomic term? LOL

 

[CobyRupert]

I can't argue with your line of reasoning and it makes sense.

I REALLY hate to admit this, but even when I lived in NY state, I have to admit, I never realized how far south NYC sits per the entire state. I've said it before, I'm a dummy.

View attachment 549450

I could drive to Canada or Vermont from NY no worries, but never ever looked at a map on how to get to NYC:laughing:

Fine and well, but no way in (rhyme) is Binghamton "upstate". It's in the "Southern Tier", next to state's southern border with Pennsylvania. It is not upstream of New York City either. It's not part of the Hudson River's basin, its waters drain into the Chesapeake Bay.

I can see that if you're in New York City, talking to someone who is also in New York City, and want to use the term upstate for the rest of the state, ok, that's relative. But when people, TV, or writers speaking to a national audience use the term "upstate" and they're talking about Binghamton, Poughkeepsie or West Point , that's just geographic illiteracy.

I agree with the OP.

 

[Gunny]

I served with a guy that whenever anyone asked where he was from, he would tell them New York state, but only 1/2 mile from the Massachusetts state line. He told me several times that when he retired, he planned to buy a place 3/4 miles from his homestead, just so he could be near his parents, but out of NY state.

 

[Oldoak]

Apparently, it doesn't take much to "tick" people off these days. Getting upset over such trivial matters. No wonder there is so much anger and hatred in the world today.