The Capital District is the most pathetic place to visit.an imprecise regional definition (much like Upstate New York) that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of New York: Schenectady County, Albany County, Saratoga County and Rensselaer County.
Capital District | |
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Population | 825,875[1] |
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, Quad Cites, Capitaland, Tech Valley and Metroland, while Capital Region is most popular of all.[2]
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, also includes Montgomery County and Schoharie County. 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 825,875.[3]
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" first appeared in January of that year during a meeting of the ACRCOC. However, there is some question whether or not the name has lived up to expectations. When Microsoft chairman Bill Gates visited Cornell University in 2004, he was asked his opinion of Tech Valley. He replied by saying that "he had no idea where it was."[2]
Colleges and universities
- Albany College of Pharmacy
- Albany Law School
- Albany Medical College
- The College of Saint Rose
- Excelsior College
- Hudson Valley Community College
- Maria College of Albany
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
- Russell Sage College
- Sage College of Albany
- Schenectady County Community College
- Siena College
- Skidmore College
- Union College
- University at Albany (part of the SUNY system)
Selected attractions
- Chapel + Cultural Center at Rensselaer
- Empire State Plaza
- Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
- Lark Street
- New York State Capitol
- New York State Museum
- Pepsi Arena
- Saratoga National Historical Park (Stillwater)
- Saratoga Performing Arts Center
- Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs)
- Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Cities and communities in the Capital District
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
Primary cities
- Albany (the state capital)
- Saratoga Springs
- Schenectady
- Troy
Communities with greater than 20,000 inhabitants
- Town of Bethlehem
- Town of Clifton Park
- Town of Colonie
- Town of Glenville
- Town of Guilderland
- Town of Niskayuna
- Town of Rotterdam
Communities with between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants
- City of Amsterdam
- Town of Brunswick
- City of Cohoes
- Town of East Greenbush
- Town of North Greenbush
- Town of Schodack
- City of Watervliet
Communities with between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants
- Town of Amsterdam
- Village of Ballston Spa
- Village of Colonie
- Hamlet of Delmar
- Town of Duanesburg
- Town of Kinderhook
- Hamlet of Loudonville
- City of Mechanicville
- Town of New Scotland
- City of Rensselaer
- Town of Sand Lake
- Village of Scotia
- Hamlet of Slingerlands
- Town of Stillwater
- Town of Waterford
Communities with less than 5,000 inhabitants
- Village of Altamont
- Town of Berlin
- Town of Berne
- Village of Castleton-on-Hudson
- Town of Chatham
- Town of Florida
- Town of Galway
- Village of Galway
- Town of Knox
- Town of Middleburgh
- Village of Middleburgh
- Town of Nassau
- Town of New Baltimore
- Town of New Lebanon
- Town of Petersburgh
- Village of Ravena
- Town of Rensselaerville
- Town of Schoharie
- Village of Schoharie
- Village of Schuylerville
- Town of Stephentown
- Village of Stillwater
- Town of Stuyvesant
- Village of Voorheesville
- Village of Waterford
- Town of Westerlo
References
- ^ July 2004 est. by Census Bureau
- ^ a b Wechsler, Alan (2006-04-21). "Region rich in business history". Albany Times-Union. p. S25. Retrieved 2006-04-22.
- ^ 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.)
External links
- Capital-Saratoga Region Tourist Information
- The Egg Theater (Albany)
- New York State Capitol (Albany)
- New York State Museum (Albany)
- Palace Theater (Albany)
- Proctor's Theater (Schenectady)
- USS Slater (Albany)