Ulster County, New York
Encyclopedia
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 2010 census, the population
was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau
for the 12-month period ending July 1 (2007) are at 181,860 residents. The 2010 Census lists the population at 182,493. The county seat
is the city of Kingston
. It is part of the New York metropolitan area
.
The county is named for the Irish province
of Ulster
, then an earldom of the Duke of York
(later James II
).
In 1683, the Duke of York created twelve counties in his province. Ulster County was one of them. Its boundaries at that time included the present Sullivan County
, and portions of the present Delaware
, Orange
, 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 to Wawarsing when the British burned that city.
In 1797, portions of Otsego
and Ulster Counties were split off to create Delaware County.
In 1798, the southernmost towns in Ulster County were moved into Orange County, to compensate Orange for breaking away the southernmost portion of that county in order to form Rockland 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.
During the American Civil War
volunteers were recruited from the more affluent families of the County to form the 139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
.
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 has Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve
, Sundown State Park, VerNooykill State Forest, Witches Hole State Forest, and Shawangunk Ridge State Forest and Sam's Point Preserve
, which includes rare dwarf pine trees and VerKeerderkill falls
.
The highest point is Slide Mountain, at approximately 4180 feet (1,274.1 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 1161 square miles (3,007 km²), of which, 1126 square miles (2,916.3 km²) of it is land and 34 square miles (88.1 km²) 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 traffic to and from New York City
and its surroundings.
There are several hamlets located within each town.
of 2009, there were 181,440 people, 67,499 households, and 43,536 families residing in the county. The population density
was 158 people per square mile (61/km²). There were 77,656 housing units at an average density of 69 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county, 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 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.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age 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 median income for a household in the county was $42,551, and the median income for a family 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.
defeated George W. Bush
54-43%. In 2008 Barack Obama
defeated John McCain
by an even wider margin of 61-38%. This gives the county a Cook PVI
of D+7.
Ulster County is currently represented by Democrat
Maurice Hinchey
in Congress, and is located in the 22nd district
.
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
, Holley Carnright, 2008 to present and sheriff
, Paul Vanblarcum, 2007 to present.
In 2006, voters approved the first-ever county charter
, changing to an elected executive branch. Two years later, Mike Hein
, the last appointed county administrator, became Ulster's first elected county executive
.
Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 33 members representing 22 different communities, separated into 12 districts. The county charter mandated that the legislature be restructured by creating 23 single-member districts, a process that began in late 2010. The current composition of the Legislature is as follows (16 Republicans, 15 Democrats and 2 Conservatives who caucus with the Republicans):
District 1, Marbletown
, Rochester
, and Wawarsing:
Thomas J. Briggs (D)
Mary Sheeley (D)
Terry L. Bernardo (R)
Joseph Stoeckeler (D)
District 2, Denning
, Hardenburgh
, Saugerties
, Shandaken, and Woodstock
:
Donald Gregorius (D)
Brian Shapiro (D)
District 3, Hurley
, Marbletown
, and Olive
:
Roy E. Hochberg (D)
Robert Parete (D)
Richard A. Parete (D)
District 4, Town of Kingston
, Saugerties
, and Ulster
:
Robert Aiello (R)
Dean Fabiano (R)
Walter G. Frey (R)
Michael J. Sweeney (C)
District 5, City of Kingston, and Ulster
:
Jim Maloney (R)
Frederick Wadnola (R), Chairman
District 6, City of Kingston:
Michael L. Madsen (D)
Jeanette Provenzano (D), Minority Leader
District 7, Esopus
, and Rosendale
:
Carl Belfiglio (R)
Alan Lomita (D)
Laura Petit (R)
District 8, Gardiner
, New Paltz, and Shawangunk
:
Jack Hayes (C)
Catherine Terrizzi (R)
Ken Ronk (R)
District 9, Marlborough
, Plattekill, and Shawangunk
:
Frank Felicello (R), Vice Chairman
Wayne Harris (R)
Richard Gerentine (R)
Kevin Roberts (R)
District 10, New Paltz:
Hector S. Rodriguez (D)
Susan Zimet (D)
District 11, Lloyd
, and New Paltz:
Paul Hansut (R), Majority Leader
Mary Beth Maio (R)
District 12, City of Kingston:
David B. Donaldson (D)
Peter Loughran (D)
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.
The county manages several public recreation areas, including the Ulster County Pool in New Paltz
and the Ulster Landing Park in Saugerties.
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 23, Ulster County Area Transit
on major state and US road corridors in the county, and by Kingston Citibus in Kingston.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
. As of the 2010 census, the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
for the 12-month period ending July 1 (2007) are at 181,860 residents. The 2010 Census lists the population at 182,493. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is the city of Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
. It is part of the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.
The county is named for the Irish province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, then an earldom of the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
(later James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
).
History
The area of present day Ulster County was called Esopus by the first European settlers. In 1652 Thomas Chambers a freeholder from Rensselearwyck purchased land at Esopus and began trading there.In 1683, the Duke of York created twelve counties in his province. Ulster County was one of them. Its boundaries at that time included the present Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
, and portions of the present Delaware
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
, Orange
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, and Greene Counties
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
.
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 to Wawarsing when the British burned that city.
In 1797, portions of Otsego
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
and Ulster Counties were split off to create Delaware County.
In 1798, the southernmost towns in Ulster County were moved into Orange County, to compensate Orange for breaking away the southernmost portion of that county in order to form Rockland County
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
.
In 1800, portions of Albany
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
and Ulster Counties were split off to create Greene County.
In 1809, Sullivan County was split off from Ulster County.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
volunteers were recruited from the more affluent families of the County to form the 139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of Union Army in the early years of the American Civil War. The regiment was organized in 1861 in Ulster County, New York. Volunteers were recruited from the more affluent families of the County.On their way to Washington, DC...
.
Geography
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, immediately west of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. Much of the county is within the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
and the Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
. Ulster County has Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve
Mohonk Preserve
The Mohonk Preserve is located in the Shawangunk Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Mountains, north of New York City in Ulster County, New York, USA. The Preserve is west of the Village of New Paltz...
, Sundown State Park, VerNooykill State Forest, Witches Hole State Forest, and Shawangunk Ridge State Forest and Sam's Point Preserve
Sam's Point Preserve
Sam's Point Preserve, or Sam's Point Dwarf Pine Ridge Preserve, is a 4,600-acre preserve in Ulster County on the highest point of the Shawangunk Ridge in New York. It is owned by the Open Space Institute and managed by The Nature Conservancy. Its unique environment features dwarf pine trees...
, which includes rare dwarf pine trees and VerKeerderkill falls
VerKeerderkill Falls
VerKeerderkill Falls is the highest waterfall in Sam's Point Preserve in the Shawangunk Mountains in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York. It is 180 feet tall and has a 3-mile long trail going to it branching off from the main trail, which is in Sam's Point Preserve. The waterfall is...
.
The highest point is Slide Mountain, at approximately 4180 feet (1,274.1 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level along the Hudson River.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 1161 square miles (3,007 km²), of which, 1126 square miles (2,916.3 km²) of it is land and 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. The total area is 2.95% water.
The New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
runs north-south through the county, carrying traffic to and from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and its surroundings.
Cities, towns and villages
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Kingston (town), New York Kingston is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The Town of Kingston is in the northeast part of Ulster County, north of the City of Kingston. Kingston is inside the Catskill Park... (town) Lloyd, New York Lloyd is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,941 at the 2000 census.The Town of Lloyd is located in the eastern part of Ulster County. U.S. Route 9W runs north and south in the eastern part of the town. The concurrent U.S. Route 44 and NY 55 pass through the... (town) Marbletown, New York Marbletown is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,854 at the 2000 census.The Town of Marbletown is near the center of Ulster County, southwest of the City of Kingston. US 209 and NY 213 pass through the town... (town) Marlborough, New York Marlborough is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 8,263 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Duke of Marlborough.... (town) Milton, Ulster County, New York Milton is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census.The community of Milton is located in the northeast part of the Town of Marlborough.- Geography :... (hamlet) New Paltz (village), New York New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz... (village) |
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Olive, New York Olive is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 4,579 at the 2000 census.The Town of Olive is an interior town of Ulster County. The town is west of Kingston, New York and is inside the Catskill Park.- History :... (town) Rochester, Ulster County, New York Rochester is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 7,018 at the 2000 census.The Town of Rochester is an interior town located near the center of Ulster County... (town) Rosendale, New York Rosendale is a town in the center of Ulster County, New York, United States. It once contained a village of the same name, which was dissolved through a vote. The population was 6,075 at the 2010 census.- History :... (town) Saugerties (town), New York Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County.... (town) Saugerties (village), New York Saugerties is a village in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 4,955 at the 2000 census.The Village of Saugerties is a Town in the eastern part of the Town of Saugerties. U.S. Route 9W passes through the village... (village) Shandaken, New York Shandaken is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,235. The name is from a native phrase for "land of rapid waters."... (town) |
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Shawangunk, New York Shawangunk is a town in southwestern Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,022 at the 2000 census. Like the neighboring mountain range, for which it is named, it is pronounced either as the Munsee Lenape, Shawangunk , or as the colonial Shongum by local residents... (town) Ulster, New York Ulster is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,544 at the 2000 census.The Town of Ulster is in the northeast part of the county. The town is directly north of the City of Kingston. Ulster borders the Catskill Park.... (town) Wawarsing, New York Wawarsing is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 13,157 at the 2010 census. The name means "a place where the stream bends" in the Warwarsink language and refers to the geography of the land; particularly the joining of the Ver Nooy Kill and the Rondout Creek. The... (town) Woodstock, New York Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county... (town) |
There are several hamlets located within each town.
Adjacent counties
- Greene CountyGreene County, New YorkGreene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
- north - Columbia CountyColumbia County, New YorkColumbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
- northeast - Dutchess CountyDutchess County, New YorkDutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
- southeast - Orange CountyOrange County, New YorkOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
- south - Sullivan CountySullivan County, New YorkSullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
- southwest - Delaware CountyDelaware County, New YorkDelaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
- northwest
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2009, there were 181,440 people, 67,499 households, and 43,536 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 158 people per square mile (61/km²). There were 77,656 housing units at an average density of 69 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county, as of 2008, was 83.2% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.50% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
,0.3% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.7% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.15% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.70% from two or more races. 7.6% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 19.2% were of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, 16.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 15.5% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 6.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 4.7% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.3% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 4.5% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, 1.2% Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and 1.0% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age 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 median income for a household in the county was $42,551, and the median income for a family was $51,708. Males had a median income of $36,808 versus $27,086 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Government and politics
Ulster County has long been a Democratic leaning county. In 2004 John KerryJohn Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
defeated George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
54-43%. In 2008 Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
defeated John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
by an even wider margin of 61-38%. This gives the county a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D+7.
Ulster County is currently represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Maurice Hinchey
Maurice Hinchey
Maurice Dunlea Hinchey , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
in Congress, and is located in the 22nd district
New York's 22nd congressional district
The 22nd Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that includes all or parts of Broome, Delaware, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, and Ulster counties. It includes the cities of Binghamton, Ithaca, Kingston,...
.
Ulster had long had a county-scale version of a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
, 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
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, Holley Carnright, 2008 to present and sheriff
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
, Paul Vanblarcum, 2007 to present.
In 2006, voters approved the first-ever county charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
, changing to an elected executive branch. Two years later, Mike Hein
Michael P. Hein
Michael P. Hein is the 1st and current County Executive of Ulster County, having been elected on November 4, 2008. Prior to the creation of this position, the 2008 ratification by referendum of the Ulster County Charter, he was the Ulster County Administrator.-Early life, education and...
, the last appointed county administrator, became Ulster's first elected county executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
.
| Name | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Michael P. Hein Michael P. Hein Michael P. Hein is the 1st and current County Executive of Ulster County, having been elected on November 4, 2008. Prior to the creation of this position, the 2008 ratification by referendum of the Ulster County Charter, he was the Ulster County Administrator.-Early life, education and... |
Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 1, 2009 – present |
Legislative authority is vested in the County Legislature, which consists of 33 members representing 22 different communities, separated into 12 districts. The county charter mandated that the legislature be restructured by creating 23 single-member districts, a process that began in late 2010. The current composition of the Legislature is as follows (16 Republicans, 15 Democrats and 2 Conservatives who caucus with the Republicans):
District 1, Marbletown
Marbletown, New York
Marbletown is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,854 at the 2000 census.The Town of Marbletown is near the center of Ulster County, southwest of the City of Kingston. US 209 and NY 213 pass through the town...
, Rochester
Rochester, Ulster County, New York
Rochester is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 7,018 at the 2000 census.The Town of Rochester is an interior town located near the center of Ulster County...
, and Wawarsing:
Thomas J. Briggs (D)
Mary Sheeley (D)
Terry L. Bernardo (R)
Joseph Stoeckeler (D)
District 2, Denning
Denning, New York
Denning is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 516 at the 2000 census. The name come from an early landowner, William Denning.The Town of Denning is located in the western part of the county...
, Hardenburgh
Hardenburgh, New York
Hardenburgh is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 208 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hardenburgh is located in the western part of Ulster County. The town is inside the Catskill Park.- History :...
, Saugerties
Saugerties (town), New York
Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County....
, Shandaken, and Woodstock
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
:
Donald Gregorius (D)
Brian Shapiro (D)
District 3, Hurley
Hurley, New York
Hurley, New York may refer to:In Ulster County, New York, United States of America:* Hurley , New York, a hamlet and census designated place* Hurley , New York, a town....
, Marbletown
Marbletown, New York
Marbletown is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,854 at the 2000 census.The Town of Marbletown is near the center of Ulster County, southwest of the City of Kingston. US 209 and NY 213 pass through the town...
, and Olive
Olive, New York
Olive is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 4,579 at the 2000 census.The Town of Olive is an interior town of Ulster County. The town is west of Kingston, New York and is inside the Catskill Park.- History :...
:
Roy E. Hochberg (D)
Robert Parete (D)
Richard A. Parete (D)
District 4, Town of Kingston
Kingston (town), New York
Kingston is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The Town of Kingston is in the northeast part of Ulster County, north of the City of Kingston. Kingston is inside the Catskill Park...
, Saugerties
Saugerties (town), New York
Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County....
, and Ulster
Ulster, New York
Ulster is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,544 at the 2000 census.The Town of Ulster is in the northeast part of the county. The town is directly north of the City of Kingston. Ulster borders the Catskill Park....
:
Robert Aiello (R)
Dean Fabiano (R)
Walter G. Frey (R)
Michael J. Sweeney (C)
District 5, City of Kingston, and Ulster
Ulster, New York
Ulster is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,544 at the 2000 census.The Town of Ulster is in the northeast part of the county. The town is directly north of the City of Kingston. Ulster borders the Catskill Park....
:
Jim Maloney (R)
Frederick Wadnola (R), Chairman
District 6, City of Kingston:
Michael L. Madsen (D)
Jeanette Provenzano (D), Minority Leader
District 7, Esopus
Esopus, New York
Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,331 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the local Indian tribe and means "high banks."...
, and Rosendale
Rosendale, New York
Rosendale is a town in the center of Ulster County, New York, United States. It once contained a village of the same name, which was dissolved through a vote. The population was 6,075 at the 2010 census.- History :...
:
Carl Belfiglio (R)
Alan Lomita (D)
Laura Petit (R)
District 8, Gardiner
Gardiner, New York
Gardiner is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 5,238 at the 2000 census.The Town of Gardiner is in the south-central part of the county.- History :...
, New Paltz, and Shawangunk
Shawangunk, New York
Shawangunk is a town in southwestern Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,022 at the 2000 census. Like the neighboring mountain range, for which it is named, it is pronounced either as the Munsee Lenape, Shawangunk , or as the colonial Shongum by local residents...
:
Jack Hayes (C)
Catherine Terrizzi (R)
Ken Ronk (R)
District 9, Marlborough
Marlborough, New York
Marlborough is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 8,263 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Duke of Marlborough....
, Plattekill, and Shawangunk
Shawangunk, New York
Shawangunk is a town in southwestern Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,022 at the 2000 census. Like the neighboring mountain range, for which it is named, it is pronounced either as the Munsee Lenape, Shawangunk , or as the colonial Shongum by local residents...
:
Frank Felicello (R), Vice Chairman
Wayne Harris (R)
Richard Gerentine (R)
Kevin Roberts (R)
District 10, New Paltz:
Hector S. Rodriguez (D)
Susan Zimet (D)
District 11, Lloyd
Lloyd, New York
Lloyd is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,941 at the 2000 census.The Town of Lloyd is located in the eastern part of Ulster County. U.S. Route 9W runs north and south in the eastern part of the town. The concurrent U.S. Route 44 and NY 55 pass through the...
, and New Paltz:
Paul Hansut (R), Majority Leader
Mary Beth Maio (R)
District 12, City of Kingston:
David B. Donaldson (D)
Peter Loughran (D)
Additional county information
Delaware and Hudson Canal
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway...
brought Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
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
Ulster and Delaware Railroad
The Ulster and Delaware Railroad Company was a Class I railroad located in New York State, headquartered in Rondout and founded in 1866. It was often advertised as "The Only All-Rail Route To the Catskill Mountains." At its greatest extent, the U&D ran from Kingston Point, on the Hudson River,...
runs through Ulster County. There are three railroad attractions in the county on this corridor: Trolley Museum of New York, Catskill Mountain Railroad
Catskill Mountain Railroad
The Catskill Mountain Railroad , is a heritage railroad based in Shokan, New York, United States that began operations in 1983. It leases from Ulster County the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad tracks from Mile Post 2.8 in Kingston to MP 41.4 in Highmount, where it connects with the Delaware...
, and Empire State Railway Museum
Empire State Railway Museum
The Empire State Railway Museum is a non-profit railroad museum located in the historic Ulster & Delaware Phoenicia Railroad Station, Phoenicia, New York....
.
The Ulster County Fair has been held in New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
for many years and has been described as The Best Six Days of Summer.
The county manages several public recreation areas, including the Ulster County Pool in New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
and the Ulster Landing Park in Saugerties.
Public transportation in Ulster County is provided by Trailways of New York
Trailways of New York
Trailways of New York is a bus company in New York operating under the Adirondack Trailways, Pine Hill Trailways, and New York Trailways brands, primarily along the Albany to Buffalo corridor...
to and from New York City and Albany, and along Routes 28 and 23, Ulster County Area Transit
Ulster County Area Transit
Ulster County Area Transit is the county-owned operator of bus transportation in Ulster County, New York, providing fixed-route, deviated-fixed route, and commuter transit, except within the city of Kingston, where the local Kingston Citibus provides public transit.-Service area:UCAT provides...
on major state and US road corridors in the county, and by Kingston Citibus in Kingston.
See also
- List of counties in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County, New York