Ulster County, New York

Coordinates: 41°53′N 74°16′W / 41.89°N 74.26°W / 41.89; -74.26
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ulster County
County
Mohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk Ridge
Mohonk Mountain House on Shawangunk Ridge
UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts18th, 19th
Websiteulstercountyny.gov

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.

History

Ulster County in 1875

Founding and formation

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

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

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 Infantry

Other 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 Infantry

Twentieth century

The

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

Geography

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

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

National protected area

Demographics

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 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

poverty line
, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

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%

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%
Latino
 21,119 11.61%

Government and politics

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

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

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

For a long time, Ulster County had a county-scale version of a

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

Ashokan Reservoir from Wittenberg
A cow at the Ulster County Fair

Ulster County contains a large part of

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

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

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

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,

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

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

The

NY 32
are major north–south highways.

Communities

See also: Timeline of town creation in the Hudson Valley

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Hamlets

See also

Notes

  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

  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 Historic Landmarks Program – Lake Mohonk Mountain House". National Park Service. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". 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. Ottaway Community Newspapers. Archived from the original
    on June 17, 2011. 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

External links

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