How Exactly Do You Define Upstate New York?

I recently wrote some article in which I talked about things that occurred in a region I defined as Upstate New York. Surprising, to me at least, the conversation on social media revolved around my definition of "Upstate" New York. So, here's how I do.

In one article, I talked about the History Channel's American Pickers coming to "Upstate New York" to film episodes in both the Canandaigua and Utica areas.

Then I wrote about Sonic coming to Upstate New York with locations in Albany, Syracuse and a large location in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.

In the comments to both articles, many considered that neither Central nor Western New York should be considered Upstate, like this that received 10 upvotes on Facebook, so clearly there's some agreement there.

Buffalo is not in upstate it's in western ny

How I Define Upstate New York

It's simple to me. Take New York as a whole. Then divide it into two parts - Upstate and Downstate. The line I choose is the Pennsylvania border and extend that east across the state. Why here? It makes a natural geographic boundary and a cultural one as well.

Everything above the line is Upstate; everything below is Downstate.

So, yes by my definition, Western New York around Buffalo, the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Southern Tier, Capitol District and North County are all a subset of Upstate New York.

So that is probably where so many on social media disagreed with my definition of Upstate. All of these regions, to me, are Upstate. So to those who say, "Buffalo is not Upstate NY, it's Western NY," I say it's both.

While Downstate New York includes the Hudson Valley, Catskills, New York City, Westchester and Long Island.

Want to disagree with my definition? Let me know in the comments below.

 A Moment of Calm - Pixley Falls near Boonville