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 2000 census, the population was 177,749. However, 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 county seat is the city of Kingston. Ulster county is part of the New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

The county is named for the Irish province of Ulster, then an earldom of the Duke of York (later James II).

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, 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.

Geography

thumb|left|Lake Minnewaska
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 4,180 feet (1,274 m) above sea level.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,161 square miles (3,006 km²), of which, 1,126 square miles (2,918 km²) of it is land and 34 square miles (89 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 a lot of traffic to and from New York City and its surroundings.

Cities, towns and villages

There are several hamlets located within each town.

Adjacent counties

• Greene County - north

• Columbia County - northeast

• Dutchess County - southeast

• Orange County - south

• Sullivan County - southwest

• Delaware County - northwest

National protected area

• Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 177,749 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 was 88.91% White, 5.43% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 6.16% 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.

Government and politics

Ulster County has long been a Democratic leaning county. In 2004 John Kerry defeated George W. Bush 54-43%. In 2008 Barack Obama defeated John McCain by an even wider margin of 61-38.

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 and sheriff.

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. The race for comptroller was very tight, though it was eventually decided in favor of Elliott Auerbach.

Additional county information

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.

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.
The Blue Stone Press is a small local newspaper for the hamlets of Stone Ridge, High Falls, Rosendale, Accord, Kerhonkson, and Wawarsing, New York. It is a sister publication to the Ulster County Press. The Blue Stone Press is published every first and third week of every month of the year.