Why "Nobody" Lives In Upstate New York

New York is home to about 19.5 million people, making it the fourth largest state in the United States

But despite its size, about 62% of the state's entire population exists on just 4% of its land in the far southeast corner, also known as New York City

This has left the rest of New York feeling pretty empty, so why don't more people live in upstate New York

Welcome to Geography by Jeff. New York is one of the most interesting states in the country

No other state is as dominated by a single state in the same way that New York is

though perhaps Illinois comes close with Chicago. Still, this has led to the otherwise really large state of New York

feeling rather empty when you travel even a little farther north than the city

And as usual, there's a geographic reason for this. But first, be sure to check out this week's podcast episode all about map projections

and how they distort our planet so that it doesn't even really look like our planet anymore

You can now watch full video versions of our podcast right here or on whatever app you use to listen to podcasts

All links are in the description below. New York is one of the original 13 states of the United States

but despite this fact, the actual state itself has largely been forgotten

in favor of the city it shares a name with, and this relationship between New York City and upstate New York

has been locked in a tug-of-war ever since the days of the early colony

The land that is now New York was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes

most notably the Iroquois Confederacy. This powerful alliance, consisting of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca

and Tuscarora tribes, played a pivotal role in the region. The Iroquois were known for their sophisticated political system and social organization

as well as their skills in agriculture and craftsmanship. Their matrilineal society, where descent and inheritance were traced through the mother

was a fundamental aspect of their culture, contrasting sharply with the patriarchal norms of European settlers

when they arrived in the early 1600s. In 1614, the Dutch, under the command of Hendrik Christensen

built Fort Nassau, now Albany, the first Dutch settlement in North America

and the first European settlement in what would become New York State. The Dutch would go on to establish the city of New Amsterdam in 1624

Unfortunately for the Dutch, in 1664, the British would invade and take control of New Netherlands, renaming the colony New York

New Amsterdam would also be renamed to New York City. Fast forward 100 years to the American

Revolutionary War, New York would play an integral role in the war. Even the Iroquois found themselves

divided over the conflict with the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, and Cayuga remaining loyal to the British

and the Tuscarora and Oneida siding with the colonists. This division of the Iroquois led to

devastating consequences for the Confederation, as post-war treaties and policies disregarded their sovereignty

and led to the loss of their lands. During the 1800s, New York transformed into a bustling economic powerhouse for the United States

The construction of the Erie C in the 1820s was a landmark achievement

connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean and boosting trade and migration It was during this time that New York City became known as the first truly global city as millions of immigrants from Europe and Asia moved to the city

With that population migration came a boom in production, construction, housing, and economy

leading to New York City becoming the wealthiest city in the world. Today, New York State is a microcosm of America

It's dominated by New York City, and yet, the city itself is only a small part of the

entire state's geography. But before we explore the geography of New York State, if you're enjoying this video

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New York State, perhaps most often associated with the iconic skyline of New York City

offers a much more interesting and varied geography than that of its famous urban center

This diversity includes mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests, each contributing to the state's

unique environmental and geological makeup. The state can be broadly divided into several

distinct regions. In the northeastern part of the state lies the Adirondack Mountains

a vast, dome-shaped area that is part of the vast Canadian Shield. The Adirondacks are

characterized by rugged terrain, with Mount Marcy standing as the highest point in New York

at 5,343 feet. This area is also known for its dense forests, abundant wildlife

in numerous lakes and streams, making them a popular destination for outdoor recreation

and a vital habitat for a wide variety of species. To the southeast of the Adirondacks is the Hudson

Valley, a region that extends from the tip of Manhattan north to Albany. The Hudson River

which flows through this valley, is more than just a geographic feature. It's a vital waterway

that has historically been crucial for trade and transportation. The valley is also known for its

rich agricultural land, producing a variety of crops and serving as the backbone of many

rural communities. Central New York is dominated by the Finger Lakes region, a series of long

narrow lakes formed by ancient glaciation. This region is renowned for its wine production

thanks to the favorable microclimates created by these lakes. In fact, New York ranks third

in great production by volume after California and Washington. The Finger Lakes also contribute

to the state's water resources, feeding into rivers and cs, including the historic Erie

C. Further west lies the Great Lakes region, with New York bordering both Lake Ontario and

Lake Erie. This area is crucial for its commercial and recreational opportunities. Niagara Falls

located at the border with Canada, is not only a breathtaking natural wonder

but also a significant source of hydroelectric power. Finally, despite not being thought of as

a coastal state, New York does have a surprisingly long coastline due to Long Island, a large

densely populated island extending eastward from New York City. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

New York has approximately 2,625 miles of coast, more than New Jersey, Georgia, and even Oregon

But despite all this geography, New York's population has overwhelmingly amassed in New York City

leaving the rest of the state feeling pretty empty. New York State is home to 19 million people making it the fourth largest state in the country behind only California Texas and Florida But within the state itself about 62 of the population lives within the New York City

metropolitan area, leaving just 38% of the state's population to live on 96% of all land

That's an incredible population distribution that's shared by few other places in the world

And, as usual, there are multiple geographic reasons for this. First, the climate differences between upstate New York and New York City are significant

Upstate New York experiences a more severe continental climate with colder winters and

relatively mild summers compared to the coastal climate of New York City

This isn't to say that New York City doesn't get cold, but it's definitely more mild compared

to say Buffalo, which experiences dreadful lake effect snow which can subject the city

to hazardous blizzards. This climatic variation has historically influenced settlement patterns as the harsher climate

in the north made it less attractive for early settlers and continues to be a deciding factor

for people today. But while climate has played a role, historically the establishment of the Dutch

colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York City, set the stage for the region's

demographic development. As a port city, New Amsterdam quickly became a hub of commerce

trade, and immigration, drawing people from various parts of the world. Its strategic location

combined with its accessibility to Europe and other colonies, allowed it to grow rapidly in

both wealth and population. In contrast, upstate New York was far more isolated during this period

with no natural ocean ports and a less favorable climate for agriculture and year-round living

Additionally, the presence and prominence of the Iroquois Confederacy in upstate New York

played a crucial role in shaping these early settlement patterns. The Iroquois, a powerful

and sophisticated alliance of tribes, controlled a large portion of what is now upstate New York

Their well-established and organized society, along with their military strength, initially acted as a deterrent to European settlement inland

The Iroquois were effective in maintaining their territory and autonomy for a significant period

which slowed the pace of colonial expansion into these areas. But perhaps more than all of this combined is the sheer economic power of New York City as a global financial center

During the 1800s and into the 1900s, the city grew exponentially. In fact, between 1890 and 1900, the city grew by more than 120%, growing from 1.5 million

to 3.4 million people. In contrast, upstate New York, while rich in natural resources and agriculturally productive

lands, did not experience the same level of immigration or industrial development

The rise of the Erie C did bring some growth to certain upstate cities, but this

was relatively modest compared to the explosive growth of New York City

In more recent decades, economic factors have continued to influence demographic trends

New York City's diverse economy offers a wide range of job opportunities in finance

technology, media, and other industries, attracting a continuous influx of new residents

Upstate New York, while home to several universities, industries, and tourist attractions

has not seen the same level of economic growth and job creation, leading to a slower rate of population increase

Today New York City is by far the largest city in the state with about 8 million people in the city itself Including the entire metro area which includes parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania

would increase this population to 19.2 million people. This would be followed by Buffalo with

1.2 million, Rochester with 1.1 million, Albany with 900,000, and Syracuse with 650,000 people

From there, metro area populations drop quickly. But one thing that's perhaps most interesting

about upstate New York is that, unlike Canada, there are no major U.S. cities along the St

Lawrence River, one of the largest rivers in all of North America

The absence of a major U.S. city along the St. Lawrence River in New York State

despite its strategic location and significance as a waterway, is kind of odd, especially when

you see that Montreal, home to 4.2 million Canadians, is located only about 63 miles

downstream from the New York state line. Historically, the development of major cities

has often been closely linked to trade and transportation. When European settlers arrived

in North America, river access was crucial for these purposes. The St. Lawrence River

serving as a natural border between the United States and Canada, was a significant route for

trade and movement. However, the political boundary it represented also played a role

in hindering the development of a major American city along its banks. During the colonial era

and the early years of the United States, there was considerable tension and conflict between the US and British Canada

This tension made the St. Lawrence River a less attractive location for settlement and development

compared to other areas that were more securely within US borders. Additionally, the harsh climate of the region, with its long, cold winters

made it less hospitable compared to other areas in the US. Another factor is the geographic competition the river has with the Great Lakes and the Erie C

The Great Lakes region and the Erie C, which was completed in 1825, became major hubs for trade and transportation

The Erie C in particular provided a more direct and economically viable route for goods to travel from the interior of the continent to the Atlantic coast via the Hudson River

This diverted potential development away from the St. Lawrence River towards New York City and other areas along the c

And while the St. Lawrence River was significant for trade and transportation, due to Canada owning the mouth of the river at the Atlantic

there was little reason for the U.S. to invest in it in the same way. Throughout history, the river has been a vital route for shipping and transportation

but this function was balanced with Canadian interests, which benefited most from the river's prominence

Today, there are some towns along the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River, such as Messina and Ogdensburg

but they haven't grown to the same scale of major U.S. cities. And unless something drastic changes

there's little reason to believe they'll grow significantly in the future. New York State is big in both size and population

but despite its size, most New Yorkers have opted to live within New York City

and not upstate New York. But in recent years, New York City has been losing population

meaning that perhaps there's more of a desire to live in more affordable cities elsewhere in the state

I hope you enjoyed learning more about New York State and its population distribution. If you did, please subscribe to my channel

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