Ulster County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 41°53′N74°16′W / 41.89°N 74.26°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New York |
Founded | November 1, 1683 [A] |
Named for | Prince James, Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster |
Seat | Kingston |
Largest city | Kingston |
Government | |
• County Executive | Jen Metzger (D) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,161 sq mi (3,010 km2) |
• Land | 1,124 sq mi (2,910 km2) |
• Water | 37 sq mi (100 km2) 3.1% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 181,851 |
• Density | 160/sq mi (60/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional districts | 18th, 19th |
Website | ulstercountyny |
Ulster County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is situated along the Hudson River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 181,851. [1] The county seat is Kingston. [2] The county is named after the Irish province of Ulster. The county is part of the Hudson Valley region of the state.
When part of the New Netherland colony, Dutch traders first called the area of present-day Ulster County "Esopus", a name borrowed for convenience from a locality on the opposite side of the Hudson. "Esopus" meant "land of flowing water and high banks," or "small brook." [3] [4] There is also a town named Esopus located within Ulster County.
The local Lenape indigenous people called themselves Waranawanka, but soon came to be known to the Dutch as the "Esopus Indians" because they were encountered around the settlement known as Esopus. In 1652, Thomas Chambers, a freeholder from the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, purchased land at Esopus. [5] He and several others actually settled and began farming by June 1653. The settlements grew into the village of Wiltwijck, which the English later named Kingston. In 1683, the Duke of York created 12 counties in his province, one of which was Ulster County, named after Prince James, Duke of York (later King James II of England) whose subsidiary titles included Earl of Ulster. Its boundaries at that time included the present Sullivan County and parts of the present Delaware, Orange, and Greene counties. [A]
In 1777, the first state capital of the independent New York State was established at Kingston. The official records of Ulster County were removed to safety to a stone house in Kerhonkson when it became evident that the British would burn Kingston.
In 1797, parts of Otsego and Ulster Counties were split off to create Delaware County. [A]
In 1798, Ulster County's southernmost towns were moved into Orange County to compensate Orange for breaking away its southernmost part to form Rockland County.
In 1800, portions of Albany and Ulster Counties were split off to create Greene County. [A]
In 1809, Sullivan County was split off from Ulster County. [A]
During the American Civil War, volunteers were recruited from the county and formed the majority of the following regiments:
Other regiments with at least one company from the county included:
The Lake Mohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk Ridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. [6]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,161 square miles (3,010 km2), of which 1,124 square miles (2,910 km2) is land and 37 square miles (96 km2) (3.1%) is water. [7]
Ulster County is in southeastern New York State, south of Albany, immediately west of the Hudson River. Much of it is within the Catskill Mountains and the Shawangunk Ridge. Ulster County has Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, Sundown State Park, VerNooykill State Forest, Witches Hole State Forest, and Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. The Sam's Point section of Minnewaska includes rare dwarf pine trees and Verkeerder Kill falls.
The county's highest point is Slide Mountain, at approximately 4,180 feet (1,270 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level along the Hudson River.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 29,370 | — | |
1800 | 24,855 | −15.4% | |
1810 | 26,576 | 6.9% | |
1820 | 30,934 | 16.4% | |
1830 | 36,550 | 18.2% | |
1840 | 45,822 | 25.4% | |
1850 | 59,384 | 29.6% | |
1860 | 76,381 | 28.6% | |
1870 | 84,075 | 10.1% | |
1880 | 85,838 | 2.1% | |
1890 | 87,062 | 1.4% | |
1900 | 88,422 | 1.6% | |
1910 | 91,769 | 3.8% | |
1920 | 74,979 | −18.3% | |
1930 | 80,155 | 6.9% | |
1940 | 87,017 | 8.6% | |
1950 | 92,621 | 6.4% | |
1960 | 118,804 | 28.3% | |
1970 | 141,241 | 18.9% | |
1980 | 158,158 | 12.0% | |
1990 | 165,304 | 4.5% | |
2000 | 177,749 | 7.5% | |
2010 | 182,493 | 2.7% | |
2020 | 181,851 | −0.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10] 1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [1] |
As of the census [12] of 2010, the county had 181,440 people, 67,499 households, and 43,536 families. The population density was 158 inhabitants per square mile (61/km2). There were 77,656 housing units at an average density of 69 units per square mile (27/km2). The county's racial makeup, as of 2008, was 83.2% white, 6.50% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. 7.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.2% were of Italian, 16.8% Irish, 15.5% German, 6.8% English, and 4.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.3% spoke English, 4.5% Spanish, 1.2% Italian, and 1.0% German as their first language.
There were 67,499 households, of which 30.70% had children under age 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. Of all households, 27.90% 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.
23.50% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.70% was from age 18 to 24, 29.70% was from age 25 to 44, 24.70% was from age 45 to 64, and 13.30% was age 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.
The county's median household income was $42,551, and the median family income was $51,708. Males had a median income of $36,808 versus $27,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,846. About 7.20% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2020 census the population of Ulster County is 181,851. The population density was 158 inhabitants per square mile (61/km2). The county's racial makeup, as of 2020, was 75.16% non-Hispanic white, 5.8% black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.4% from other races or from two or more races. 11.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 136,695 | 75.16% |
Black or African American (NH) | 10,152 | 5.8% |
Native American (NH) | 306 | 0.2% |
Asian (NH) | 3,778 | 2.1% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 45 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 9,756 | 5.4% |
Hispanic or Latino | 21,119 | 11.61% |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 39,743 | 39.73% | 57,974 | 57.96% | 2,307 | 2.31% |
2020 | 37,590 | 38.59% | 57,970 | 59.51% | 1,860 | 1.91% |
2016 | 35,239 | 41.32% | 44,597 | 52.29% | 5,454 | 6.39% |
2012 | 29,759 | 37.37% | 47,752 | 59.97% | 2,115 | 2.66% |
2008 | 33,300 | 37.35% | 54,320 | 60.93% | 1,529 | 1.72% |
2004 | 37,821 | 43.12% | 47,602 | 54.27% | 2,289 | 2.61% |
2000 | 33,447 | 42.75% | 38,162 | 48.78% | 6,628 | 8.47% |
1996 | 26,212 | 35.49% | 35,852 | 48.55% | 11,787 | 15.96% |
1992 | 29,223 | 36.16% | 32,886 | 40.69% | 18,712 | 23.15% |
1988 | 41,173 | 56.75% | 30,744 | 42.37% | 640 | 0.88% |
1984 | 47,372 | 63.93% | 26,445 | 35.69% | 285 | 0.38% |
1980 | 36,709 | 55.01% | 22,179 | 33.24% | 7,838 | 11.75% |
1976 | 35,353 | 53.44% | 30,190 | 45.64% | 610 | 0.92% |
1972 | 46,883 | 68.51% | 21,371 | 31.23% | 179 | 0.26% |
1968 | 34,798 | 57.62% | 20,886 | 34.59% | 4,703 | 7.79% |
1964 | 23,749 | 40.03% | 35,486 | 59.82% | 91 | 0.15% |
1960 | 36,418 | 61.20% | 23,017 | 38.68% | 67 | 0.11% |
1956 | 43,034 | 76.36% | 13,321 | 23.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 36,141 | 69.44% | 15,733 | 30.23% | 171 | 0.33% |
1948 | 28,941 | 64.30% | 14,441 | 32.08% | 1,630 | 3.62% |
1944 | 26,703 | 61.02% | 16,943 | 38.72% | 117 | 0.27% |
1940 | 27,186 | 57.00% | 20,403 | 42.78% | 107 | 0.22% |
1936 | 24,678 | 55.32% | 19,118 | 42.85% | 815 | 1.83% |
1932 | 21,002 | 52.87% | 18,092 | 45.55% | 627 | 1.58% |
1928 | 25,418 | 62.46% | 14,200 | 34.89% | 1,077 | 2.65% |
1924 | 20,048 | 63.32% | 9,361 | 29.57% | 2,251 | 7.11% |
1920 | 19,001 | 66.41% | 8,759 | 30.61% | 852 | 2.98% |
1916 | 10,734 | 56.58% | 7,807 | 41.15% | 430 | 2.27% |
1912 | 7,485 | 38.33% | 8,510 | 43.58% | 3,531 | 18.08% |
1908 | 10,475 | 53.06% | 8,560 | 43.36% | 705 | 3.57% |
1904 | 11,356 | 53.13% | 9,516 | 44.52% | 501 | 2.34% |
1900 | 11,348 | 53.68% | 9,349 | 44.22% | 444 | 2.10% |
1896 | 11,100 | 56.31% | 8,140 | 41.30% | 471 | 2.39% |
1892 | 9,450 | 46.29% | 9,808 | 48.04% | 1,157 | 5.67% |
1888 | 10,825 | 49.57% | 10,487 | 48.02% | 526 | 2.41% |
1884 | 9,929 | 48.71% | 9,870 | 48.42% | 586 | 2.87% |
For most of the 20th century, Ulster County voted for the Republican nominees for president. Republicans regularly got over 60% of the vote, the high point coming when Dwight D. Eisenhower won 76% in 1956. The Democratic nominee won only in 1912, when Theodore Roosevelt and his Progressive Party split the Republican vote and gave a plurality to Woodrow Wilson, and in 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson won every county in New York and carried Ulster County by 19.8 percentage points.
More recently, Ulster County has voted Democratic. In 1992, 1996, and 2000, the party won a plurality, due to strong showings from third parties. In 2004, John Kerry defeated George W. Bush, 54%–43%; in 2008, Barack Obama defeated John McCain, 61%–37%; in 2012, Obama defeated Mitt Romney, 60%–37%; in 2016, Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump, 52%–41%; in 2020, Joe Biden defeated Trump, 60%–39%; and in 2024, Kamala Harris defeated Trump, 58%–40%.
As of 2023, most of the county is in New York's 18th congressional district, represented by Democrat Pat Ryan. Some of the west and north of the county is in New York's 19th congressional district, represented by Republican Marc Molinaro. It had no U.S. representative after Antonio Delgado resigned on May 25, 2022, to become lieutenant governor of New York. Ryan won a special election on August 23 against Molinaro, and was sworn in on September 13. Ryan ran in the 18th congressional district in the 2022 general election after redistricting put most of Ulster County in that district. Ryan was narrowly reelected against New York Assembly member Colin Schmitt. Molinaro ran in the 19th district and narrowly defeated Democrat Josh Riley.
For a long time, Ulster County 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 accountable only to the voters of their district. The only countywide elected officials were the county clerk, district attorney, and sheriff.
In 2006, voters approved the first-ever county charter, changing to an elected executive branch. Two years later, Michael P. Hein, the last appointed county administrator, became Ulster's first elected county executive. [15] In early 2019, Hein resigned to accept Governor Andrew Cuomo's appointment as commissioner of the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. [16] Deputy County Executive Adele Reiter succeeded him as acting county executive until a special election was held in April 2019.
On April 30, 2019, Democrat Patrick K. Ryan was elected in a special election by a margin of 74%-26%. [17] He was sworn in as Ulster County's second County Executive on June 7, 2019. [18] On September 9, 2022, Ryan stepped down as county executive after winning election to the United States House of Representatives, and Johanna Contreras was sworn in as an acting county executive. [19]
Democrat Jen Metzger, a former New York State Senator, defeated Republican Jim Quigley in the 2022 election to replace Ryan. [20] For the election, 14-year-old Hudson Rowan designed the Ulster County "I Voted" sticker, which went viral for its weird design. Metzger took office in 2023.
Name | Party | Term |
---|---|---|
Michael P. Hein | Democratic | January 1, 2009 – February 11, 2019 |
Adele Reiter | Democratic | February 11, 2019 – June 7, 2019 (Acting) |
Pat Ryan | Democratic | June 7, 2019 – September 9, 2022 |
Johanna Contreras | Democratic | September 9, 2022 – December 31, 2022 (Acting) |
Jen Metzger | Democratic | January 1, 2023 – Present |
Office | Name | Party | Term |
---|---|---|---|
County Comptroller | March Gallagher | Democratic | January 1, 2020 – Present |
County Sheriff | Juan Figueroa | Democratic | January 1, 2019 – Present |
District Attorney | Emmanuel "Manny" Nneji | Democratic | January 1, 2024 – Present |
County Clerk | Taylor Bruck | Democratic | August 22, 2024 – Present (Acting) |
Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 23 members elected from individual districts, as directed by a county charter reapportionment mandate starting in late 2010. [21] Of the members of the County Legislature, 15 are part of the Democratic Caucus (all 15 are affiliated with the Democratic Party), and 8 are part of the Republican Caucus (all 8 are affiliated with the Republican Party).
District | Legislator | Party | Caucus | Residence |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aaron Levine, Deputy Majority Leader | Democratic | Democratic | Saugerties | |
Joe Maloney | Democratic | Democratic | Saugerties | |
Jason Kovacs | Republican | Republican | Ulster | |
Eric Kitchen | Republican | Republican | Ulster | |
Abe Uchitelle, Majority Leader | Democratic | Democratic | Kingston | |
Greg McCoullough | Democratic | Democratic | Kingston | |
Peter Criswell, Chair | Democratic | Democratic | Kingston | |
Joe Donaldson | Democratic | Democratic | Port Ewen | |
Herbert Litts III | Republican | Republican | Highland | |
Gina Hansut | Republican | Republican | Highland | |
Thomas Corcoran Jr. | Republican | Republican | Marlborough | |
Kevin Roberts, Minority Leader | Republican | Republican | Plattekill | |
Richard Walls | Republican | Republican | Wallkill | |
Craig Lopez, Deputy Minority Leader | Republican | Republican | Pine Bush | |
John Gavaris | Democratic | Democratic | Ellenville | |
Debra Clinton | Democratic | Democratic | Gardiner | |
Megan Sperry, Vice Chair | Democratic | Democratic | Rifton | |
Eric Stewart | Democratic | Democratic | Accord | |
Manna Jo Greene | Democratic | Democratic | Cottekill | |
Limina Grace Harmon | Democratic | Democratic | New Paltz | |
Chris Hewitt | Democratic | Democratic | Kerhonkson | |
Kathy Nolan | Democratic | Democratic | Mount Tremper | |
Jeff Collins | Democratic | Democratic | Woodstock |
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.
Ulster County has continued to be a popular vacation destination for many decades. The county is home to many outdoor landscapes, including the Catskill Mountains, the Hudson River, Minnewaska State Park, Catskill Park, Shawangunk Mountains and the Shawangunk Ridge. Each offers various recreation opportunities, including hiking, bicycling, skiing, horseback riding, kayaking, rock climbing, hunting and fishing.
The county also includes more than 40 miles (64 km) of rail trails along the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, and O&W Rail Trail. The Walkway Over the Hudson, the world's longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge which spans the Hudson River, is connected within Ulster County trails. [22]
Ulster County has also played a role in some significant moments in U.S. history. The Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, New York, is where, in early 1777, American colonists met to ratify the New York Constitution.
The Ulster County Fair has been held in New Paltz for many years and is promoted as "The Best Six Days of Summer". County run recreation areas include the Ulster County Pool in New Paltz and the Ulster Landing Park in Saugerties.
Since 2016, Kingston Stockade FC, a semi-professional soccer team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), has been based in Kingston and plays its home matches at Dietz Stadium. [23]
Also since 2015, the Saugerties Stallions, a collegiate summer baseball league team that plays in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), have been based in Saugerties and play their home games at Cantine Field. The Stallions won the 2021 PGCBL Championship. [24]
Public transportation in Ulster County is provided by Trailways of New York to and from New York City and Albany, and along Routes 28 and 32, by Ulster County Area Transit on major state and U.S. road corridors in the county.
The New York State Thruway (I-87) runs north–south through the county, carrying traffic between New York City and Albany and its surroundings. NY 55, NY 52, and NY 28 are all major east–west highways that run through the county, and US 209, US 9W, and NY 32 are major north–south highways.
School districts include: [25]
Ellenville is a village within the town of Wawarsing, Ulster County, New York, United States. Its population was 4,167 at the 2020 census.
Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,548 at the 2020 census. The town was named after the local indigenous tribe and previously thought to mean "small river" in English. However, in the Lenape` language, the word translates to "Wellspring of Creation". The Esopus people were one of the Lenape (Delaware) bands, belonging to a people who ranged from western Connecticut through lower New York, western Long Island, and parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania along the Delaware River. The town is on the west bank of the Hudson River south of the city of Kingston. Its center is in Port Ewen. US Route 9W passes along the eastern side of the town.
Phoenicia is a hamlet of Shandaken in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 268 at the 2020 census, making it the second highest populated community in the town. The village center is located just off Route 28 at its junction with Route 214 and is nestled at the base of three peaks, Mount Tremper, Romer Mountain, and Sheridan Mountain. The community sits at the confluence of the Esopus Creek and Stony Clove Creek. A popular getaway for New Yorkers, the hamlet has frequented many tourism guides as among the best vacation towns in the greater New York City area.
Saugerties South is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 2,442 at the 2020 census.
Ulster is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,660 at the 2020 census.
Wallkill is a hamlet, generally identified as coterminous with ZIP Code 12589, telephone exchange 895 in the 845 area code and most of the Wallkill Central School District located mostly in the eastern half of the town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York, United States, but partly spilling over into adjacent regions of the Orange County towns of Newburgh and Montgomery. The population was 2,166 at the 2020 census.
Esopus Creek is a 65.4-mile-long (105.3 km) tributary of the Hudson River that drains the east-central Catskill Mountains in the U.S. state of New York. From its source at Winnisook Lake on the slopes of Slide Mountain, the Catskills' highest peak, it flows across Ulster County to the Hudson at Saugerties. Many tributaries extend its watershed into neighboring Greene County and a small portion of Delaware County. Midway along its length, it is impounded at Olive Bridge to create Ashokan Reservoir, the first of several built in the Catskills as part of New York City's water supply system. Its own flow is supplemented 13 miles (21 km) above the reservoir by the Shandaken Tunnel, which carries water from the city's Schoharie Reservoir into the creek.
New York State Route 212 (NY 212) is an east–west state highway located entirely within Ulster County, New York, in the United States. It runs for 21.92 miles (35.28 km) from an intersection with NY 28 in the interior of the Catskill Park to a junction with U.S. Route 9W (US 9W) and NY 32 on the west bank of the Hudson River, providing a key interchange with the New York State Thruway along the way. The mostly rural two-lane route serves the communities of Woodstock and Saugerties while passing Cooper Lake, Kingston's reservoir. NY 212 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York.
The Wallkill Valley Railroad is a defunct railroad which once operated in Ulster and Orange counties in upstate New York. Its corridor was from Kingston in the north to Montgomery in the south, with a leased extension to Campbell Hall. It crossed both the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek.
Snyder's Regiment of Militia was known officially as The First Regiment of Ulster County Militia. It was the first regiment of four created in Ulster County, New York as ordered by the Provincial Congress of New York. It was also referred to as the Northern Regiment since its members were from the Northern section of Ulster County towns including Kingston, New York and Saugerties, New York
The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail is a 23.7-mile (38.1 km) rail trail and linear park that runs along the former Wallkill Valley Railroad rail corridor in Ulster County, New York, United States. It stretches from Gardiner through New Paltz, Rosendale and Ulster to the Kingston city line, just south of a demolished, concrete Conrail railroad bridge that was located on a team-track siding several blocks south of the also-demolished Kingston New York Central Railroad passenger station. The trail is separated from the Walden–Wallkill Rail Trail by two state prisons in Shawangunk, though there have been plans to bypass these facilities and to connect the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail with other regional rail-trails. The northern section of the trail forms part of the Empire State Trail.
Gardiner is a town in the south-central part of Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,610 at the 2020 census.
Hurley is a hamlet in the Town of Hurley, Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2020 census.
Hurley is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 6,178 at the 2020 census. The town is in the northeastern part of the county, west of the city of Kingston. Much of the town is inside the Catskill Park. Located within the town is a hamlet and census-designated place, also named Hurley. The Town of Hurley comprises the hamlets of Hurley, West Hurley and Glenford.
Kingston is the only city in, and the county seat of, Ulster County, New York, United States. It is 91 miles (146 km) north of New York City and 59 miles (95 km) south of Albany. The city's metropolitan area is grouped with the New York metropolitan area around Manhattan by the United States Census Bureau. The population was 24,069 at the 2020 United States Census.
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County located in the U.S. state of New York. It is approximately 80 miles (130 km) north of New York City and 70 miles (110 km) south of Albany. The population was 7,324 at the 2020 census.
New Paltz is an incorporated U.S. town in Ulster County, New York. The population was 14,407 at the 2020 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston. New Paltz contains a village, also with the name New Paltz. The town is named for Palz, the dialect name of the Palatinate, called Pfalz in standard German.
Saugerties is a village in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 3,899 at the 2020 census, showing a slight decline from the 3,971 counted at the 2010 census.
Saugerties is a town in the northeastern corner of Ulster County, New York. The population was 19,038 at the time of the 2020 census, a decline from 19,482 in 2010. The village of the same name is located entirely within the town.
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the northern part of the county, northwest of Kingston. It lies within the borders of the Catskill Park. The population was 6,287 at the 2020 census, up from 5,884 in 2010.
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