Are You SURE You’re From Upstate New York?

We’re so sick of this argument. Thankfully, someone has stepped up to put it to rest!

Which part of New York State is - technically speaking - UPSTATE New York? Get ready to find out.

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Most people who live in New York State  have experienced the following conversation with someone who lives elsewhere.

Random Person: “Where are you from?”

You: “New York.”

Random Person: “Oh! New York City?”

It’s amazing to watch their brains explode with confusion as they realize there’s a whole other massive section of our state where tens of millions of people live. 

Where Is "Upstate New York"?

But can this entire area really all be in Upstate New York?

When people who live in Albany hear about New York City residents spending their weekends at their house “upstate” in Westchester county, it drives them mad. 

If someone from Rochester is told they live in “Upstate New York,” they’ll immediately deny it and say they’re from “Western New York.” 

And if someone in Buffalo hears someone from Rochester say they’re from “Western New York” - oh man. Watch out. 

Upstate New York could theoretically be anywhere from Poughkeepsie to Watertown - which to many state residents who live in this massive area, is - to say the least, frustrating. Or at least an excuse for a good argument. 

TikTok Explains Exactly Where Upstate New York Is

New York State resident Austin Casey, from Canandaigua, tried to put an end to all of the in-state bickering with one of his TikTok videos. 

Using a hand-drawn color-coded map, he hilariously explains which parts of our beloved empire state can really be considered “Upstate” New York and which parts can’t.

He also takes the time to break down which parts of New York State are Western New York, Central New York, Northern New York, and the Capital District. 

We’ve got to admit - he makes some solid points. Although we’re sure citizens of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy won’t like what he has to say.

Will this TikTok video single-handedly end the argument of where “Upstate New York” begins and ends? Absolutely not. 

But next time a confused person from out of state asks a dumb question about where we live, every single one of us can just send them this video. It’s worth a shot.