Exploring the Population and Size Differences Between Upstate New York and NYC

When comparing the population and size of NYC (New York City) and Upstate New York, it is crucial to understand the definitions and geographical boundaries involved. NYC is often mistakenly considered synonymous with the entire state of New York, which leads to confusion about the true distribution of population and land area.

Defining Upstate New York

Upstate New York is a term used to describe the portion of the state of New York located north of the New York City area and Long Island. While this term is widely used, it is subject to some debate regarding its exact borders. For the purpose of this comparison, Upstate New York will be defined as everything in New York except NYC and Long Island.

The Total State of New York

The state of New York encompasses a vast area, covering a total of 54,555 square miles (141,298 square kilometers) and a population of approximately 20,215,751 people. This massive land area and significant population are essential to understand the regional differences that exist within the state.

NYC and Long Island

New York City itself, which includes the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, has a population of 8,804,190 people and a land area of 472.4 square miles (1,224 square kilometers). Long Island, which primarily consists of the counties of Suffolk and Nassau, has a population of 8,063,232 people and a total area of 1,376.1 square miles (3,562 square kilometers).

Removing Overlap Between NYC and Long Island

It's important to note that there is an overlap between the territory of Long Island and New York City, particularly in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Brooklyn has a population of 2,736,074 people and an area of 97 square miles, while Queens has a population of 2,405,464 and an area of 178 square miles. To accurately compare the populations and sizes, we need to subtract the populations and areas of these overlapping regions from Long Island’s statistics.

Subtracting the populations and areas of Brooklyn and Queens from Long Island’s statistics results in:

Population: 8,063,232 - 2,736,074 - 2,405,464 2,911,694 Area: 1,376.1 - 97 - 178 1,101.1 square miles

Calculating the Population and Size of Upstate New York

Once we have clarified the overlapping regions, we can calculate the population and size of Upstate New York. By subtracting the populations and areas of NYC and the overlapping regions of Long Island from the state’s total population and area, we obtain the following statistics for Upstate New York:

Population: 20,215,751 - 8,804,190 - 2,911,694 8,499,867 Area: 54,555 - 472.4 - 1,101.1 52,981.5 square miles

Conclusion

Therefore, Upstate New York has a population that is 96.5% of the population of NYC and an area that is 112 times larger. This dramatic difference in size and population highlights the substantial regional disparities that exist within the state of New York.

Understanding these comparisons can provide valuable insights into the dynamics and resources available in various regions of New York. It also underscores the need for tailored governance and infrastructure development to meet the needs of both densely populated urban areas and the vast, sparsely populated regions of Upstate New York.