up-state/down-state

[victor steinbok]

I second that, although it's not just "the" major city. Both Burlington
(major city) and Montpelier (capital and a major insurance center, perhaps
third after Hartford and SF) are up north (or, at least, more north than
south). So are Barre and Middlebury. In fact, there are no major population
centers /at all/ below Rutland, which is almost exactly in the middle. But
this may make Rutland "downstate"--nothing "below" it.

I am not convinced that NY is as simple as it sounds--or, as simple as
Illinois (and, like I said earlier, I don't recall anyone ever referring to
"upstate" Illinois, although I only lived in Chicago for two years and in
Wisconsin another three). As for NY, I was told by NY (not NYC, but perhaps
suburban) residents that Westchester Co. is /definitely/ not downstate--it's
just Westchester. Nor is NYC or Long Island. On the other hand, Syracuse,
Utica and Plattsburg are definitely upstate. Not sure about Albany,
Schenectady and Poughkeepsie--I thought Binghamton and Poughkeepsie were
downstate, but I could be wrong, but, I pretty sure, Rochester was included
in "upstate". I'm just reporting what I was told--no real opinion on the
matter.

VS-)

On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 12:34 PM, Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu>wrote:

>
> Isn't the major city in Vermont very much in the north?
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>

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