Monmonier Weighs in on Upstate NY in Westchester Magazine

November 30, 2021

Mark Monmonier

While many believe Westchester to be part of Upstate New York, the truth is a bit more complex. Mark Monmonier, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography and the Environment, weighs in on the upstate-downstate breakdown—mentioning late-night host Stephen Colbert, who invented the concept of "truthiness," suggesting different levels of being factual. "Stephen might say something like 'upstatedness,'" says Monmonier. "Westchester County has a relatively low degree of upstatedness. Dutchess has more upstatedness. Albany has a considerably high level of upstatedness." Monmonier was quoted in the Westchester Magazine article, "So Where Does “Upstate” New York Really Begin?"