Capital District

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Albany-Schenectady-Troy
Map of the Capital District

Common name: Capital District
Largest city
Other cities		 Albany
 - Schenectady
 - Troy
Population  Ranked 56th in the U.S.
 - Total 1,147,850[1]
 - Density 101.55/sq. mi. 
169.25/km²
Area 2252 sq. mi.
5832 km²
State(s)  New York
Elevation   
 - Highest point N/A feet (N/A m)
 - Lowest point N/A feet (N/A m)

The Capital District (also "Capital Region") is an imprecise regional definition (much like Upstate New York) that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of New York: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County (historically, Saratoga County was not considered part of the region, however, it has had significant suburban growth from the adjoining counties since 1980).

Contents

[edit] Origin of the name

The term Capital District was originated in the 1920s in an effort between the Albany Chamber of Commerce (now known as the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce) and the Albany Times Union. Other nicknames have included Tri-Cities and Tech Valley, while Capital Region is the most popular of all.[2]

[edit] Ambiguity and overlap

The Capital District is a large component of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) which, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, includes Albany County, Rensselaer County, Saratoga County, Schenectady County, and Schoharie County.[3] The Albany-Schenectady-Troy MSA was ranked the 56th most populous in the United States of America in the 2000 census, with a total population of 848,879.[4]

Capital Region and Northeastern New York (NENY) are terms sometimes used to refer to the Capital District in combination with counties surrounding the area (usually those to the north, and to a lesser degree west of the four core counties of the District). The Capital District has also been given the marketing moniker "Tech Valley," in recognition of the technology companies who have moved to the region, or are being wooed by governmental or educational institutions. Economic definitions of the Capital District, Capital Region, NENY and Tech Valley may sometimes be expanded to include the extreme northern portions of the Mid-Hudson Valley, usually Columbia County and Greene County.

The term "Tech Valley" originated in January 1998 by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. The 19-county region, which extends from just south of Montreal is just north of New York City, is marketed by organizations such as the Tech Valley Chamber Coalition and the Albany-based Center for Economic Growth. However, there is some question whether or not the name has lived up to expectations. By landing a chip fabrication plant by AMD (which has yet to be built), the main competitor to Intel, and boasting the nation's top nanotechnology college, College of Nanotechnology Science and Engineering at University at Albany, the region has made great strides.

The Albany-Schenectady-Troy media market, which is the 56th largest in the U.S., includes all the counties of the Capital District, as well as Berkshire County, Massachusetts, southwestern Vermont, the Glens Falls area and those areas of the Mohawk Valley adjoining the metro area.[5]

[edit] Colleges and universities

The Nott Memorial at Union College
The Nott Memorial at Union College

[edit] Selected attractions

The New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol
The Empire State Plaza
The Empire State Plaza

[edit] Cities and communities in the Capital District

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
A view of Albany, New York
A view of Albany, New York

[edit] Primary cities

  • Albany (the state capital) population in 2003 roughly 96,000
  • Schenectady population in 2000 roughly 61,000
  • Troy population in 2000 roughly 50,000

[edit] Communities with over 40,000 inhabitants

[edit] Communities with between 30,000 and 40,000 inhabitants

[edit] Communities with between 20,000 and 30,000 inhabitants

[edit] Communities with between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants

[edit] Communities with between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants

[edit] Communities with less than 5,000 inhabitants

[edit] References

  1. ^ July 2004 est. by Census Bureau
  2. ^ Wechsler, Alan. "Region rich in business history", Albany Times Union, 2006-04-21. Retrieved on 2006-04-22. 
  3. ^ OMB Bulletin No. 06-01- Corrected
  4. ^ Census 2000 PHC-T-29: Ranking Tables for Population of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, Combined Statistical Areas, New England City and Town Areas, and Combined New England City and Town Areas: 1990 and 2000 (Areas defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of June 6, 2003.)
  5. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_America_by_media_market

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Capital District, New York
Central Communities Map of the Capital District
Largest communities
(over 20,000 in 2000)
Medium-sized communities
(10,000 to 20,000 in 2000)
Small communities
(5,000 to 10,000 in 2000)
Counties
Flag of New York
v • d • e

 
State of New York
Albany (capital)
Topics
Regions
Metro areas
Counties

Albany · Allegany · Bronx · Broome · Cattaraugus · Cayuga · Chautauqua · Chemung · Chenango · Clinton · Columbia · Cortland · Delaware · Dutchess · Erie · Essex · Franklin · Fulton · Genesee · Greene · Hamilton · Herkimer · Jefferson · Kings · Lewis · Livingston · Madison · Monroe · Montgomery · Nassau · New York · Niagara · Oneida · Onondaga · Ontario · Orange · Orleans · Oswego · Otsego · Putnam · Queens · Rensselaer · Richmond · Rockland · Saint Lawrence · Saratoga · Schenectady · Schoharie · Schuyler · Seneca · Steuben · Suffolk · Sullivan · Tioga · Tompkins · Ulster · Warren · Washington · Wayne · Westchester · Wyoming · Yates
v • d • e
United States state capital cities