Why "Nobody" Lives In Upstate New York

New York is home to around 19.5 million people, making it the fourth largest state in the United States, but despite its size, around 62% of the state's total population exists in just 4% of its territory in the far southeast, also known as New York City. This leaves 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 so dominated by a single state. in the same way that New York is, although perhaps Illinois is approaching Chicago, this has led to the otherwise very large state of New York feeling quite empty when you travel even a little further north than the city and as usual there is a geographic reason for this but first be sure to check out this week's podcast episode which is all about map projections and how they distort our planet so that it doesn't even look like our planet anymore .

You can now watch full video versions of our podcast here or on Whichever app you use to listen to podcasts, all the 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 has been largely forgotten in favor of the city with which it shares its name. and this relationship between New York City and

upstate

New York has been caught in a tug of war since the days of the early Colony. The land that is now New York was originally inhabited by several indigenous tribes, most notably the Iroy Confederacy, this powerful Alliance.

Formed by the Mohawk tribes Onida Onandaga Kuga Sena and Tuscarora played a fundamental role in the region, the Iroy were known for their sophisticated political system and social organization, as well as their skills in agriculture and crafts, their matrilineal society where descent and The mother was a fundamental aspect of their culture, which contrasted sharply with the patriarchal norms of the European settlers when they arrived in the early 17th century. In 1614, the Dutch, under Hendrik Christensen, built Fort Nassau (now Albany), the first Dutch settlement in North America and the first European. settlement in what would become the state of New York, the Dutch would establish the city of New Amsterdam in 1624, unfortunately for the Dutch.

In 1664, the British would invade and take control of New Netherland, changing the name of the colony to New York, New Amsterdam would also be renamed New York City fast forward 100 years to the American War of Independence. New York would play an integral role in the war, even the Iriacs found themselves divided over the conflict: the Mohawk Sena Onandaga and Kuga remained loyal to the British and the Tuskarora and Onida sided with For the colonists, this division angered It led to devastating consequences for the Confederacy, as postwar treaties and policies ignored their sovereignty and led to the loss of their lands during the 19th century.

New York became a bustling economic power for the United States. The Eerie Canal in the 1820s was a historic achievement connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and spurred trade and migration. It was during this era 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 manufacturing, construction, housing and economy that led to New York City becoming the richest city in the world today. The state of New York is a microcosm of the United States, it is dominated by the city of New York and yet the city itself is only a small part of the entire geography of the state, but before exploring the geography of the state of New York, if you are enjoying this video, please hit the subscribe button.

There are more fun geography videos just a click away. New York State is perhaps most often associated with the iconic skyline of New York City, which offers a much more interesting and varied geography than its famous urban center. This diversity includes mountains, rivers, lakes and forests, each of which contributes to the state's unique environmental and geological makeup. The state can be divided into several distinct regions in the northeastern part. Located in the state are the Adarac Mountains, a vast dome-shaped area that is part of the vast Canadian Shield. The Onex ader are characterized by rugged terrain with Mount Marcy as the highest point in New York at 5,343 feet.

This area is also known for its dense forests, abundant wildlife, and numerous lakes and streams, making it a popular destination for outdoor recreation and vital habitat for a wide variety of species. Southeast of Adera is the Hudson Valley, a region stretching from the tip of Manhattan North to Albany. The Hudson River that flows through this valley is more than just a geographic feature: it is a vital waterway that has historically been crucial to commerce and transportation. The valley is also known for its rich agricultural lands that produce a variety of crops and serve 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 an ancient glaciation.

This region is famous for its wine production thanks to the favorable microclimates created by these lakes. In fact, New York ranks third in large production by volume. After California and Washington, the Finger Lakes also contribute to the state's water resources that feed rivers and canals, including the historic Erie Canal. Further west is the Great Lakes region with New York, bordering Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. This area is crucial for its commercial and recreational activity. Opportunities Niagara Falls, located on the Canadian border, is not only a stunning natural wonder, but also a major source of hydroelectric power.

Finally, despite not being considered a coastal state, New York has a surprisingly long coastline due to Long Island being a large, densely populated city. island that extends east from New York City, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New York has approximately 2,625 M more coastline than New Jersey, Georgia and even Oregon, but despite all this geography, the population of New York has accumulated overwhelmingly in New York City, leaving the rest of the state feeling quite empty. New York State is home to 19.5 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 New York City metropolitan area.

Only 38% of the state's population

lives

on 96% of all land, which is an incredible population distribution that is shared by few other places in the world and, as usual, there are multiple geographical reasons for this, First, the climatic differences between upstate New York and New York. Cities Matter Upstate New York experiences a harsher continental climate with colder winters and relatively mild summers compared to New York City's coastal climate. This isn't to say that New York City isn't cold, but it's definitely milder compared to, say, Buffalo, which experiences terrible lake-effect snow that can subject the city to dangerous blizzards.

This climatic variation has historically influenced settlement patterns, as the harsher climate in the north made it less attractive to early settlers and continues to be a deciding factor for people today, but while climate has played a role historically important. The establishment of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later became New York City, laid the foundation for the demographic development of the region as a port city. New Amsterdam quickly became a center of trade and immigration, attracting people from various parts of the world. Around 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 much more isolated during this period, with no natural ocean ports. and a less favorable climate for agriculture and the year.

Additionally, the presence and prominence of the Iroy Confederacy in upstate New York played a crucial role in shaping these early settlement patterns. and organized society, along with its military force, initially acted as a deterrent to European settlements. In the interior, the Iroy were effective in maintaining their territory and autonomy for a significant period, slowing the pace of colonial expansion in 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 1900s the city grew exponentially; In fact, between 1890 and 1900 the city grew more than 120%, going from 1.5 million to 3.4 million people, in contrast to upstate New York.

York, although rich in natural resources and agriculturally productive land, did not experience the same level of immigration or industrial development, the emergence of the Erie Canal brought some growth to certain upstate cities, but it 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 that attract a continued influx of new residents. Upstate New York, while home to several universities, industries, and tourist attractions, has continued to influence demographic trends.

We have 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 around 8.8 million people in the city itself, including the entire metropolitan area that includes parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania would increase this population to 19, 2 million people, 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 rapidly, but one thing is perhaps most interesting about the upstate. New York is that, unlike Canada, there are no major American cities along the St.

Lawrence River, one of the largest rivers in all of North America, the absence of a major American city along the St. Lawrence River in The state of New York despite its strategic location and importance as a waterway is a bit strange, especially when you see that Montreal, home to 4.2 million Canadians, is located just 63 miles downstream from the line of the New York State. Historically, the development of major cities has often been closely linked to trade and transportation when European settlers arrived. Access to North American rivers was crucial for these purposes; The St. Lawrence River, which served as the natural border between the United States and Canada, was an important route for trade and movement;

However, the political frontier it represented also played a role in hindering the development of a major American city. 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 in British Canada. This tension made the St. Lawrence River a less attractive place for settlement and development compared to other areas that were more safely within our borders; furthermore, the harsh climate of the region with its long cold winters made it less hospitable compared to other areas of the US. Another factor is the geographical competition the river has with the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal, the Great Lakes region and the The Erie Canal, which was completed in 1825 , became an important center for trade and transportation.

The Erie Canal in particular provided a more direct and economically viable route for goods to travel from the continent's interior to the Atlantic coast via the Hudson River, diverting potential development. from the St. Lawrence River to New York City and other areas along the canal and while the St. Lawrence River was important for trade and transportation because Canada owned the river's mouth into the Atlantic, there was little reason so that the United States would invest in it. In the same way, throughout history, the river has been a vital routefor shipping and transportation, but this function was balanced by Canadian interests that benefited more from the river's prominence.

Today there are some cities along the US side of the St. Lawrence River, such as MSA and Ogdenburg, but they have not grown on the same scale as major US cities and unless drastic changes occur, there are little reason to believe they will grow significantly in the future. New York State is large in both size and population, but despite its size, the majority of New Yorkers have chosen to live in New York City and not in upstate New York, but in the New York City has been losing population in recent years, meaning there may be more desire to live in more affordable cities in other parts of the state.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about New York. The state of York and its population distribution. If you did, please subscribe to my channel. If you would like to see more of my videos, click here. If you would like to watch the podcast, click here. Thanks for watching, see you next time.