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I agree with the public vs. private argument. New York has such an amazing natural wonder (Niagara Falls), yet, due to tourists (oer whatever other reason, IDK) the town surrounding it is an absolute dump. No apologies for saying that either. The area wasn't crime-ridden or dangerous, but of all of the vacations I have been on, Niagara is the most lackluster, depressed, and just saddest excuse for a trip (minus the actual fall). So yes, public doesn't always mean better. It would have been nice to see that beautiful waterfall be surrounded in something much nicer than Dumpville, NY.
With the city of Niagara Falls, the further out within the city, the better. It is pretty much the park, parts of Downtown(the casino, Hard Rock, etc.) and the DeVeaux, LaSalle, Little Italy and Hyde Park neighborhoods that are the best bets for NF.
Yeah, I agree with this. IMO, Upstate NY is a transition zone between New England and the midwest. Syracuse/Utica is the rough deviding line, with Rochester and Buffalo being classic industrial Great Lakes cities and Albany being the older rowhouse, coloniel-era, Northeaster city with the Appalacian foothills and the proximity to NYC and Bos. Argugably, NYS southern tier region (Elmira,Binghamton) is an extension of PA with its rolling hills and blue collar towns.
I tend to think of southern NE (Ma, Ct, and RI) being much more urbanized/densely population/NE megalopolis than Upstate NY which has 4 mid-sized MSAs. Pretty much everywhere in lower NE is a pretty easy drive to either NY or Boston, with lots of mid-sized MSAs in between. By, contrast, Syr/Roch/Buffalo are several hours from NYC/Bos/Philly.
On the other hand, many Upstate NY areas are closer to the Canadian areas of Toronto and Montreal, with some still within 4-5 hours of NYC, Philadelphia and Boston. Syracuse is about the same distance from all of these areas.
I agree with the public vs. private argument. New York has such an amazing natural wonder (Niagara Falls), yet, due to tourists (oer whatever other reason, IDK) the town surrounding it is an absolute dump. No apologies for saying that either. The area wasn't crime-ridden or dangerous, but of all of the vacations I have been on, Niagara is the most lackluster, depressed, and just saddest excuse for a trip (minus the actual fall). So yes, public doesn't always mean better. It would have been nice to see that beautiful waterfall be surrounded in something much nicer than Dumpville, NY.
Yea, Niagara Falls is one of the US's great natural wonders and it is incredible. However, the development on both sides of the border is pretty horrendous. The worst part are the ugly modern highrises on the Canadian side. It's a shame that neither country sought to set more of the area aside as a natural park.
On the other hand, many Upstate NY areas are closer to the Canadian areas of Toronto and Montreal, with some still within 4-5 hours of NYC, Philadelphia and Boston. Syracuse is about the same distance from all of these areas.
Upstate does have some great old villages. Thanks for showing. Yeah, much of Upstate NY is close to Montreal/Toronto than NE.
But, the region still seems more spaced out than lower New England. I think the density statistics bare this out. It is 150 miles from Syracuse to Buffalo via Rochester. In Massachusettes, you have Springfield to Boston via Worcester in 90 miles. Plus, you have Hartford and Providence located just south of the MA cities. Even Albany is closer to Springfield (85 miles)/Boston (169 miles) than it is to Syracuse (150 miles)/Buffalo(289 miles).
Western NY (Rochester/Buffalo) has 2.6 million people in 15,000 sq miles
Central NY (including Syr/Utica) has 1.2 milliion people in 8,639 sq miles
That leads to pop densities of 175 ppsm and 136 ppsm.
Compare that to the population densities of:
Massachusettes: 840 PPSM
Conn: 739 PPSM
RI: 1,006 PPSM
Lower NE just seems more of your typical densly populated eastern seabord mega-region, where as upstate NY reminds more of an Ohio/Western PA/Great Lakes style population density. The UAs don't run into each other the way thay do along the 95 corridor.
Upstate does have some great old villages. Thanks for showing. Yeah, much of Upstate NY is close to Montreal/Toronto than NE.
But, the region still seems more spaced out than lower New England. I think the density statistics bare this out. It is 150 miles from Syracuse to Buffalo via Rochester. In Massachusettes, you have Springfield to Boston via Worcester in 90 miles. Plus, you have Hartford and Providence located just south of the MA cities. Even Albany is closer to Springfield (85 miles)/Boston (169 miles) than it is to Syracuse (150 miles)/Buffalo(289 miles).
Western NY (Rochester/Buffalo) has 2.6 million people in 15,000 sq miles
Central NY (including Syr/Utica) has 1.2 milliion people in 8,639 sq miles
That leads to pop densities of 175 ppsm and 136 ppsm.
Compare that to the population densities of:
Massachusettes: 840 PPSM
Conn: 739 PPSM
RI: 1,006 PPSM
Lower NE just seems more of your typical densly populated eastern seabord mega-region, where as upstate NY reminds more of an Ohio/Western PA/Great Lakes style population density. The UAs don't run into each other the way thay do along the 95 corridor.
I wouldn't compare lower/southern New England to Upstate NY, as one is the most dense part of a region, with very small states in terms of land and the other is a more spread out portion of a state, in which it makes up the bulk of its land size. Northern New England is even more sparsely populated than Upstate NY. So, its density is even lower and what does that say about the upper half of New England? This is why I say that Upstate NY is in the Interior Northeast, just like most of PA and even western MA, as those areas are away from the coast.
I would also take a couple of those counties in WNY off of that map.
With the city of Niagara Falls, the further out within the city, the better. It is pretty much the park, parts of Downtown(the casino, Hard Rock, etc.) and the DeVeaux, LaSalle, Little Italy and Hyde Park neighborhoods that are the best bets for NF.
Yea, Niagara Falls is one of the US's great natural wonders and it is incredible. However, the development on both sides of the border is pretty horrendous. The worst part are the ugly modern highrises on the Canadian side. It's a shame that neither country sought to set more of the area aside as a natural park.
Also, the Canadian side has or has had its share of blight and empty storefronts in its Downtown, relatively speaking. Clifton Hill and Fallsview is actually where the touristy stuff is located.
I agree with the public vs. private argument. New York has such an amazing natural wonder (Niagara Falls), yet, due to tourists (oer whatever other reason, IDK) the town surrounding it is an absolute dump. No apologies for saying that either. The area wasn't crime-ridden or dangerous, but of all of the vacations I have been on, Niagara is the most lackluster, depressed, and just saddest excuse for a trip (minus the actual fall). So yes, public doesn't always mean better. It would have been nice to see that beautiful waterfall be surrounded in something much nicer than Dumpville, NY.
This may be a good example of something natural in the form of a state park in NY: Letchworth State Park
The coast in Southern New England is the most prominent feature.. Upstate NY doesn't have many mountains if you take out the Adirondacks.
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