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Ulster County, New York

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.

Ulster County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°53′N 74°16′W / 41.89°N 74.26°W / 41.89; -74.26
Country United States
State New York
FoundedNovember 1, 1683; 340 years ago (1683-11-01)[A]
Named forPrince James, Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster
SeatKingston
Largest cityKingston
Government
 • County ExecutiveJen Metzger (D)
Area
 • Total1,161 sq mi (3,010 km2)
 • Land1,124 sq mi (2,910 km2)
 • Water37 sq mi (100 km2)  3.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total181,851
 • Density160/sq mi (60/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts18th, 19th
Websiteulstercountyny.gov

History edit

 
Ulster County in 1875

Founding and formation edit

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]

Civil War edit

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:

Twentieth century edit

The Lake Mohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk Ridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.[6]

Geography edit

 
Lake Minnewaska

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.

Adjacent counties edit

National protected area edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
179029,370
180024,855−15.4%
181026,5766.9%
182030,93416.4%
183036,55018.2%
184045,82225.4%
185059,38429.6%
186076,38128.6%
187084,07510.1%
188085,8382.1%
189087,0621.4%
190088,4221.6%
191091,7693.8%
192074,979−18.3%
193080,1556.9%
194087,0178.6%
195092,6216.4%
1960118,80428.3%
1970141,24118.9%
1980158,15812.0%
1990165,3044.5%
2000177,7497.5%
2010182,4932.7%
2020181,851−0.4%
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.

2020 Census edit

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

Ulster County Racial Composition[13]
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%

Government and politics edit

United States presidential election results for Ulster County, New York[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%; and in 2020, Joe Biden defeated Trump, 60%–39%.

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.

County government edit

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 (Nina Postupack has served since 2005), district attorney (Emmanuel "Manny" Nneji took office in 2024) and sheriff (Juan Figueroa took office in 2019).

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] Metzger took office in 2023.

Ulster County Executives
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
Other Current Countywide Elected Officials in Ulster County
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 Nina Postupack Republican September 15, 2005 – December 31, 2005 (Acting)

January 1, 2006 – Present

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).

Ulster County Legislature (2024-2025)
District Legislator Party Caucus Residence
[1] Aaron Levine, Deputy Majority Leader Democratic Democratic Saugerties
[2] Joe Maloney Democratic Democratic Saugerties
[3] Jason Kovacs Republican Republican Ulster
[4] Eric Kitchen Republican Republican Ulster
[5] Abe Uchitelle, Majority Leader Democratic Democratic Kingston
[6] Greg McCoullough Democratic Democratic Kingston
[7] Peter Criswell, Chair Democratic Democratic Kingston
[8] Joe Donaldson Democratic Democratic Port Ewen
[9] Herbert Litts III Republican Republican Highland
[10] Gina Hansut Republican Republican Highland
[11] Thomas Corcoran, Jr. Republican Republican Marlborough
[12] Kevin Roberts, Minority Leader Republican Republican Plattekill
[13] Richard Walls Republican Republican Wallkill
[14] Craig Lopez, Deputy Minority Leader Republican Republican Pine Bush
[15] John Gavaris Democratic Democratic Ellenville
[16] Debra Clinton Democratic Democratic Gardiner
[17] Megan Sperry, Vice Chair Democratic Democratic Rifton
[18] Eric Stewart Democratic Democratic Accord
[19] Manna Jo Greene Democratic Democratic Cottekill
[20] Limina Grace Harmon Democratic Democratic New Paltz
[21] Chris Hewitt Democratic Democratic Kerhonkson
[22] Kathy Nolan Democratic Democratic Mount Tremper
[23] Jeff Collins Democratic Democratic Woodstock

Recreation edit

 
Ashokan Reservoir from Wittenberg
 
A cow at the Ulster County Fair

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]

Transportation edit

 
A shield assembly of NY 55, US 44, and US 9W after the Mid-Hudson Bridge

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.

Major roadways edit

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.

Communities edit

City edit

Towns edit

Villages edit

Census-designated places edit

Hamlets edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "The county is one of the original divisions of the State, erected November 1, 1683. Of its great territory it has given in the formation of Delaware in 1797, part of Greene in 1800, Sullivan in 1809, and a piece to Orange in the same year."[25]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Ulster County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Esopus". Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Timeline | Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum". Klyne Esopus Museum. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ulster County, NY - History & Nostalgia Gallery". Hudson Valley Sojourner. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  6. ^ . National Park Service. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  7. ^ . United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ulster County, New York".
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  15. ^ Brooks, Paul (November 5, 2008). "Hein wins big as first Ulster County executive". Times-Herald Record. Ottaway Community Newspapers. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  16. ^ Doxsey, Patricia (January 4, 2019). "Ulster County Executive Michael Hein leaving to take state post". Daily Freeman. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Doxsey, Patricia (April 30, 2019). "Democrat Ryan coasts to victory in Ulster County executive special election". Daily Freeman. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  18. ^ Doxsey, Patricia (June 7, 2019). "Ryan sworn in as Ulster County executive, promises to lead with 'bold vision'". Daily Freeman. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Congressman-elect Pat Ryan resigns as Ulster County executive; Contreras sworn in". Daily Freeman. September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Ulster County Executive: Democrat Jen Metzger beats Republican Jim Quigley by significant margin". Daily Freeman. November 9, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Ulster reapportionment panel to revamp Legislature. DailyFreeman.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2013.
  22. ^ "Ulster County Rails and Trails | Ulster County". ulstercountyny.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Kingston Stockade FC". Kingston Stockade FC. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "Saugerties Stallions Win 2021 PGCBL Championship Series". Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. August 3, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Sullivan 1927, p. 437.
Bibliography
  • Clearwater, Alphonso Trumpbour, ed. (1907). The History of Ulster County, New York. Kingston, NY: W. J. Van Deusen. LCCN 08017379.
  • Fried, Marc B. (1975). The Early History of Kingston & Ulster County, NY. Marbletown, NY: Ulster County Historical Society.
  • Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927). "Chapter IV. Ulster County.". History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF). Vol. 2. New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. pp. 437–43. hdl:2027/mdp.39015019994048. Wikidata Q114149636.
  • Sylvester, Nathaniel Bartlett (1880). History of Ulster County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers: Part Second: History of the Towns of Ulster County. Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck. OCLC 2385957.
  • Ulster County Historians (1984). The History of Ulster County, With Emphasis upon the Last 100 Years, 1883–1983. Kingston, NY: Ulster County Historians. OCLC 11345209.
  • Van Buren, Augustus H. (1923). A History of Ulster County Under the Dominion of the Dutch. Kingston, NY. OCLC 1131828.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Zimm, Louise Hasbrouck (1946). Southeastern New York: A History of the Counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co.

External links edit

  • Ulster County web site
  • Ulster County at Curlie
  • Ulster County Alive
  • Guide to the Ulster County Collection, 1666-1893

41°53′N 74°16′W / 41.89°N 74.26°W / 41.89; -74.26

ulster, county, york, ulster, county, county, state, york, situated, along, hudson, river, 2020, census, population, county, seat, kingston, county, named, after, irish, province, ulster, ulster, countycountymohonk, mountain, house, shawangunk, ridgeflagseallo. 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 Ulster CountyCountyMohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk RidgeFlagSealLocation within the U S state of New YorkNew York s location within the U S Coordinates 41 53 N 74 16 W 41 89 N 74 26 W 41 89 74 26Country United StatesState New YorkFoundedNovember 1 1683 340 years ago 1683 11 01 A Named forPrince James Duke of York and Albany and Earl of UlsterSeatKingstonLargest cityKingstonGovernment County ExecutiveJen Metzger D Area Total1 161 sq mi 3 010 km2 Land1 124 sq mi 2 910 km2 Water37 sq mi 100 km2 3 1 Population 2020 Total181 851 Density160 sq mi 60 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern Summer DST UTC 4 EDT Congressional districts18th 19thWebsiteulstercountyny wbr gov Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding and formation 1 2 Civil War 1 3 Twentieth century 2 Geography 2 1 Adjacent counties 2 2 National protected area 3 Demographics 3 1 2020 Census 4 Government and politics 4 1 County government 5 Recreation 6 Transportation 6 1 Major roadways 7 Communities 7 1 City 7 2 Towns 7 3 Villages 7 4 Census designated places 7 5 Hamlets 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksHistory edit nbsp Ulster County in 1875Founding and formation edit 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 Civil War edit During the American Civil War volunteers were recruited from the county and formed the majority of the following regiments 80th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 120th New York Volunteer Infantry 156th New York Volunteer InfantryOther regiments with at least one company from the county included 1st Battalion New York Volunteer Sharpshooters 1st New York Volunteer Engineer Regiment 7th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry 7th New York Veteran Infantry Regiment 15th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry 20th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 25th Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry 25th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 56th New York Volunteer Infantry 65th New York Volunteer Infantry 71st New York Infantry 102nd New York Volunteer Infantry 132nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 168th New York Volunteer Infantry 176th New York Volunteer Infantry 178th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 192nd New York Volunteer InfantryTwentieth century edit The Lake Mohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk Ridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 6 Geography edit nbsp Lake MinnewaskaAccording 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 Adjacent counties edit Greene County north Columbia County northeast Dutchess County southeast Orange County south Sullivan County southwest Delaware County northwestNational protected area edit Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife RefugeDemographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 179029 370 180024 855 15 4 181026 5766 9 182030 93416 4 183036 55018 2 184045 82225 4 185059 38429 6 186076 38128 6 187084 07510 1 188085 8382 1 189087 0621 4 190088 4221 6 191091 7693 8 192074 979 18 3 193080 1556 9 194087 0178 6 195092 6216 4 1960118 80428 3 1970141 24118 9 1980158 15812 0 1990165 3044 5 2000177 7497 5 2010182 4932 7 2020181 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 2020 Census edit 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 Ulster County Racial Composition 13 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 Government and politics editUnited States presidential election results for Ulster County New York 14 Year Republican Democratic Third partyNo No No 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 and in 2020 Joe Biden defeated Trump 60 39 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 County government edit 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 Nina Postupack has served since 2005 district attorney Emmanuel Manny Nneji took office in 2024 and sheriff Juan Figueroa took office in 2019 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 Metzger took office in 2023 Ulster County Executives Name Party TermMichael P Hein Democratic January 1 2009 February 11 2019Adele Reiter Democratic February 11 2019 June 7 2019 Acting Pat Ryan Democratic June 7 2019 September 9 2022Johanna Contreras Democratic September 9 2022 December 31 2022 Acting Jen Metzger Democratic January 1 2023 PresentOther Current Countywide Elected Officials in Ulster County Office Name Party TermCounty Comptroller March Gallagher Democratic January 1 2020 PresentCounty Sheriff Juan Figueroa Democratic January 1 2019 PresentDistrict Attorney Emmanuel Manny Nneji Democratic January 1 2024 PresentCounty Clerk Nina Postupack Republican September 15 2005 December 31 2005 Acting January 1 2006 PresentLegislative 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 Ulster County Legislature 2024 2025 District Legislator Party Caucus Residence 1 Aaron Levine Deputy Majority Leader Democratic Democratic Saugerties 2 Joe Maloney Democratic Democratic Saugerties 3 Jason Kovacs Republican Republican Ulster 4 Eric Kitchen Republican Republican Ulster 5 Abe Uchitelle Majority Leader Democratic Democratic Kingston 6 Greg McCoullough Democratic Democratic Kingston 7 Peter Criswell Chair Democratic Democratic Kingston 8 Joe Donaldson Democratic Democratic Port Ewen 9 Herbert Litts III Republican Republican Highland 10 Gina Hansut Republican Republican Highland 11 Thomas Corcoran Jr Republican Republican Marlborough 12 Kevin Roberts Minority Leader Republican Republican Plattekill 13 Richard Walls Republican Republican Wallkill 14 Craig Lopez Deputy Minority Leader Republican Republican Pine Bush 15 John Gavaris Democratic Democratic Ellenville 16 Debra Clinton Democratic Democratic Gardiner 17 Megan Sperry Vice Chair Democratic Democratic Rifton 18 Eric Stewart Democratic Democratic Accord 19 Manna Jo Greene Democratic Democratic Cottekill 20 Limina Grace Harmon Democratic Democratic New Paltz 21 Chris Hewitt Democratic Democratic Kerhonkson 22 Kathy Nolan Democratic Democratic Mount Tremper 23 Jeff Collins Democratic Democratic WoodstockRecreation edit nbsp Ashokan Reservoir from Wittenberg nbsp A cow at the Ulster County FairUlster 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 amp 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 Transportation edit nbsp A shield assembly of NY 55 US 44 and US 9W after the Mid Hudson BridgePublic 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 Major roadways edit 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 nbsp nbsp I 87 New York Thruway nbsp I 587 nbsp US 9W nbsp US 44 nbsp US 209 nbsp NY 28 nbsp NY 28A nbsp NY 32 nbsp NY 32A nbsp NY 42 nbsp NY 52 nbsp NY 55 nbsp NY 55A nbsp NY 199 nbsp NY 208 nbsp NY 212 nbsp NY 213 nbsp NY 214 nbsp NY 299 nbsp NY 300 nbsp NY 375Communities editSee also Timeline of town creation in the Hudson Valley Ulster County New York nbsp Woodstock Saugerties Shandaken Hardenburgh Denning Olive Rochester Wawarsing Shawangunk Plattekill 5 New Paltz Gardiner Marbletown Esopus Hurley 1 3 2 4 Lloyd 1 Kingston city 2 Kingston town 3 Ulster4 Rosendale5 Marlborough Sullivan County Delaware County Greene County Orange County Dutchess County Col County City edit Kingston county seat Towns edit Denning Esopus Gardiner Hardenburgh Hurley Kingston Lloyd Marbletown Marlborough New Paltz Olive Plattekill Rochester Rosendale Saugerties Shandaken Shawangunk Ulster Wawarsing Woodstock Villages edit Ellenville New Paltz SaugertiesCensus designated places edit Accord Clintondale Cragsmoor East Kingston Gardiner Glasco High Falls Highland Hillside Hurley Kerhonkson Lake Katrine Lincoln Park Malden on Hudson Marlboro Milton Napanoch Phoenicia Pine Hill Plattekill Port Ewen Rifton Rosendale Ruby Saugerties South Shokan Stone Ridge Tillson Walker Valley Wallkill Watchtower West Hurley Woodstock Zena Hamlets edit Bearsville Big Indian Boiceville Brown s Station Centerville Chichester Cottekill Kaatsbaan Krumville Lew Beach Modena Mt Pleasant Mt Tremper Olivebridge Oliverea Palentown Samsonville Seager Shady Spring Glen Sundown Tabasco West Park West Saugerties West Shokan WillowSee also edit nbsp Hudson Valley portal nbsp New York state portalList of counties in New York National Register of Historic Places listings in Ulster County New YorkNotes edit a b c d e The county is one of the original divisions of the State erected November 1 1683 Of its great territory it has given in the formation of Delaware in 1797 part of Greene in 1800 Sullivan in 1809 and a piece to Orange in the same year 25 References edit a b U S Census Bureau QuickFacts Ulster County New York United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 2 2022 Find a County National Association of Counties Retrieved June 7 2011 Esopus Catskill Fly Fishing Museum Retrieved November 25 2023 Timeline Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum Klyne Esopus Museum Retrieved November 25 2023 Ulster County NY History amp Nostalgia Gallery Hudson Valley Sojourner Retrieved November 25 2023 National Historic Landmarks Program Lake Mohonk Mountain House National Park Service Archived from the original on November 10 2013 Retrieved December 7 2013 2010 Census Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau August 22 2012 Archived from the original on May 19 2014 Retrieved January 8 2015 U S Decennial Census United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 8 2015 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Retrieved January 8 2015 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 8 2015 Census 2000 PHC T 4 Ranking Tables for Counties 1990 and 2000 PDF United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 8 2015 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE 2020 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 Ulster County New York Leip David Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections uselectionatlas org Brooks Paul November 5 2008 Hein wins big as first Ulster County executive Times Herald Record Ottaway Community Newspapers Retrieved November 21 2008 Doxsey Patricia January 4 2019 Ulster County Executive Michael Hein leaving to take state post Daily Freeman Retrieved February 28 2020 Doxsey Patricia April 30 2019 Democrat Ryan coasts to victory in Ulster County executive special election Daily Freeman Retrieved February 28 2020 Doxsey Patricia June 7 2019 Ryan sworn in as Ulster County executive promises to lead with bold vision Daily Freeman Retrieved February 28 2020 Congressman elect Pat Ryan resigns as Ulster County executive Contreras sworn in Daily Freeman September 9 2022 Retrieved September 10 2022 Ulster County Executive Democrat Jen Metzger beats Republican Jim Quigley by significant margin Daily Freeman November 9 2022 Retrieved January 2 2023 Ulster reapportionment panel to revamp Legislature DailyFreeman com Retrieved on August 9 2013 Ulster County Rails and Trails Ulster County ulstercountyny gov Retrieved February 8 2022 Kingston Stockade FC Kingston Stockade FC Retrieved February 8 2022 Saugerties Stallions Win 2021 PGCBL Championship Series Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League August 3 2021 Retrieved January 23 2022 Sullivan 1927 p 437 BibliographyClearwater Alphonso Trumpbour ed 1907 The History of Ulster County New York Kingston NY W J Van Deusen LCCN 08017379 Fried Marc B 1975 The Early History of Kingston amp Ulster County NY Marbletown NY Ulster County Historical Society Sullivan James Williams Melvin E Conklin Edwin P Fitzpatrick Benedict eds 1927 Chapter IV Ulster County History of New York State 1523 1927 PDF Vol 2 New York City Chicago Lewis Historical Publishing Co pp 437 43 hdl 2027 mdp 39015019994048 Wikidata Q114149636 Sylvester Nathaniel Bartlett 1880 History of Ulster County New York with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers Part Second History of the Towns of Ulster County Philadelphia PA Everts amp Peck OCLC 2385957 Ulster County Historians 1984 The History of Ulster County With Emphasis upon the Last 100 Years 1883 1983 Kingston NY Ulster County Historians OCLC 11345209 Van Buren Augustus H 1923 A History of Ulster County Under the Dominion of the Dutch Kingston NY OCLC 1131828 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Zimm Louise Hasbrouck 1946 Southeastern New York A History of the Counties of Ulster Dutchess Orange Rockland and Putnam New York Lewis Historical Publishing Co External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ulster County New York Ulster County web site Ulster County at Curlie Ulster County Alive Guide to the Ulster County Collection 1666 1893 41 53 N 74 16 W 41 89 N 74 26 W 41 89 74 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ulster County New York amp oldid 1205656250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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