Ulster County, New York

Ulster County, New York

Map

Location in the state of New York

New York's location in the U.S.

Statistics

1683

Kingston

1,161 sq mi (3,007 kmē) 1,126 sq mi (2,916 kmē) 34 sq mi (88 kmē), 2.95%

177,749 158/sq mi (61/kmē)

Website: www.co.ulster.ny.us

Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2000 census, the population is 177,749. However, recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 (2007) are at 181,860 residents. It is the northernmost county and largest county (by land area) in the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat and only large city is Kingston. The county is named for the Irish province of Ulster, then an earldom of the Duke of York (later James II).

History

In 1683, the Province of New York established Ulster County as one of its first twelve counties. Its boundaries at that time included the present Sullivan County, and portions of the present Delaware and Greene Counties.

In 1777, the capital of New York State (the first state capital of independent New York) was established at Kingston, though it was subsequently moved when the British burned that city.

In 1797, portions of Otsego and Ulster Counties were split off to create Delaware County.

In 1800, portions of Albany and Ulster Counties were split off to create Greene County.

In 1809, Sullivan County was split off from Ulster County.

Geography

Ulster County is in the southeast part of New York State, south of Albany, immediately west of the Hudson River. Much of the county is within the Catskill Mountains and the Shawangunk Ridge. Ulster County also has Sam's Point Preserve, which includes rare dwarf pine trees and VerKeerderkill falls.

The highest point is Slide Mountain, at approximately 4,180 feet (1,274 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level along the Hudson River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,161 square miles (3,006 kmē), of which, 1,126 square miles (2,918 kmē) of it is land and 34 square miles (89 kmē) of it is water. The total area is 2.95% water.

The New York State Thruway Interstate 87 runs north-south through the county, carrying a lot of traffic to and from New York City and its surroundings.

Cities, Towns, and Villages

• Denning 
• Ellenville 
• Esopus 
• Gardiner
• Hardenburgh 
• Hurley   
• Kingston 
• Lloyd 
• Marbletown 
• Marlborough   
• New Paltz 
• Olive 
• Plattekill
• Rochester 
• Rosendale 
• Saugerties 
• Shandaken 
• Shawangunk 
• Ulster 
• Wawarsing
• Woodstock 

There are several hamlets located within each town.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 177,749 people, 67,499 households, and 43,536 families residing in the county. The population density was 158 people per square mile (61/kmē). There were 77,656 housing units at an average density of 69 per square mile (27/kmē).

There were 67,499 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.03.

Government

Ulster had long had a county-scale version of a council-manager government, with the county legislature hiring a county administrator to handle executive functions. The chair of the legislature had a great deal of power and was only accountable to the voters of his own district. The only countywide elected officials were the district attorney and sheriff.

In 2006, voters approved the first-ever county charter, changing to an elected executive branch. Ulster will hold elections in 2008 for its first-ever county executive and comptroller.

Additional County Information

Ulster County contains a large part of Catskill Park and the Catskill Forest Preserve. The former Delaware and Hudson Canal brought Pennsylvania coal to Kingston on the Hudson. Former Orleans band member John Hall served in the Ulster County legislature before moving to the 19th Congressional District to run for Congress.

The former Ulster and Delaware Railroad runs through Ulster County. There are three railroad attractions in the county on this corridor: Trolley Museum of New York, Catskill Mountain Railroad, and Empire State Railway Museum.

The Ulster County Fair has been held in New Paltz for many years and has been described as The Best Six Days of Summer.