What would you call a New York State without New York?
Hudson?
Today's (more than) somewhat ridiculous question: If New York City and the rest of the state divorced, what would you call the rest of the state?
This question came up during a conversation recently (obviously a very serious discussion). It was quickly decided that New York City would retain the name New York State. But what about parts upstate?
And would "upstate" even decide to stay together? We could see Upstate West and Upstate East also deciding it wasn't worth it to stay together. (It's a pop/soda thing.)
Yes, all very important questions.
Long Island: We're just assuming that Long Island would stay with NYC -- but a few years back there was legislation introduced proposing a study of possible Long Island secession. (insert your own joke here)
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Comments
Upstate America (h/t to Jimmy Vielkind for coining the phrase)
... said katherine on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:22 PM | link
If New York City and the rest of the state divorced, which part would get legal custody of New Jersey?
... said Bob on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:27 PM | link
Vermont is Green Mountains, New Hampshire from Hampshire, England, Massachusetts from the Native American words for "Great Hills" or "Many hills", and New Jersey from an English channel island, which leaves us with a general idea of where our name should derive from, our ancestry or geographical features. Considering there are 3 major areas of "New York East", the Adirondacks, The Capital District, and Catskills (Appalachian) Mountains it would be very difficult to find one common thread to tie the 3 together. In that case, I think Hudson may be most fitting. Otherwise we left trying to fit together the Dutch, English, French and Native American influences. So my choice is Hudson.
... said Joe on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:30 PM | link
@katherine: Upstate American might work as a country -- but I'm not sure about the State of Upstate America.
@Bob: I think New Jersey gets shipped off to boarding school.
@Joe: Yeah, it's hard to pick some geographic feature to represent the whole state. I don't think using one of the mountain names would work for the rest of the state.
... said Greg on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:37 PM | link
I like where Joe was going - New Hudsonland for the part above NYC. And, for the western section. Maybe - Syrochaloton? (Syracuse - Rochester-Buffalo-Binghamton)
... said Danielle on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:37 PM | link
Hudsonia and North Pennsylvania.
... said bk on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:43 PM | link
@Danielle: When Richard Florida was here a few years back he talked about how Buffalo, Rochester and Toronto were becoming an interconnected region -- which he then called TorBuffChester.
... said Greg on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:46 PM | link
Canada.
... said ethan on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:51 PM | link
Upstate would be "North New York" - like North and South Dakota/Carolina
... said Barold on Jul 11, 2012 at 2:52 PM | link
West Vermont.
... said Joe Fusco on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:14 PM | link
the obvious answer is New Amsterdam.
... said Dave on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:15 PM | link
I'd go with "Niagara" and "Hudson."
... said Burton on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:21 PM | link
Enlarged Beverwyck.It's a name that has everything.
... said Carl on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:22 PM | link
Lucky?
Watertopia?
New Canada?
The Land That Pizza Forgot?
Newer York?
Fracklandia?
The Shire?
... said Code Monkey on Jul 11, 2012 at 3:34 PM | link
If needed, we could go back to the old name: New Netherland.
... said Ed L. on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:01 PM | link
Albania!
... said Paul on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:03 PM | link
@Paul - don't you mean "Smallbania"?
:D
Can't think of a good name otherwise, but I like the idea of NYC being kicked out. Can we just cut it off from the mainland and push it out to sea?
... said Jon (was) in Michigan on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:07 PM | link
Romneyville
... said Terry on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:13 PM | link
No way, uh-uh -- why do THEY get to keep the name and not the whole huge rest of New York? No way. WE get to be New York. THEY can be the state of Long Island (since that'd be the majority of its geography anyway).
... said KB @ Home-Baked Happiness on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:14 PM | link
No WAY. If New York City and Long Island were to become their own state, we get to keep the New York title by virtue of sheer numbers. They can be collectively called Starbuckia.
... said SiobhanGK on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:22 PM | link
Shmew Shmork
The State Formerly Known as New York
East York/West York
Voorheesville
Erie and Hudson
... said John on Jul 11, 2012 at 4:26 PM | link
Home.
... said Jackers on Jul 11, 2012 at 5:11 PM | link
Alabama.
... said Herbert on Jul 11, 2012 at 5:53 PM | link
Pennsylvania. Just Pennsylvania.
... said Anon on Jul 11, 2012 at 8:09 PM | link
If we named it after Wegmans do you think they would finally come?
... said Sean on Jul 11, 2012 at 9:09 PM | link
"If New York City and Long Island were to become their own state, we get to keep the New York title by virtue of sheer numbers."
Ummm...NYC + LI + Westchester/Rockland make up 63.5% of the population of New York State. So if you mean sheer numbers of residents, we lose.
... said John on Jul 12, 2012 at 7:41 AM | link
New Amsterdam is good for the European angle. But what about something to go with the area's rich Indian history, Iroquois, Mohican, Mohawk? I'm sure someone really knowledgeable in the field could come up with something good.
... said Buckeye on Jul 12, 2012 at 9:50 AM | link
Poor
... said Miss Blankenship on Jul 12, 2012 at 10:40 AM | link
New New Amsterwyk
... said daleyplanit on Jul 12, 2012 at 12:11 PM | link
CANADA
... said Derek Mahlitz on Jul 12, 2012 at 12:30 PM | link
I say that the Upstaters should get to keep New York and that New York City, Long Island, and let's be honest, Westchester should just call themselves Long Island.
I like Hudson, but it sounds kind of odd as a state name. Maybe go back to our roots as a Dutch colony and call ourselves New Amsterdam or New Netherlands?
... said Emily on Jul 12, 2012 at 10:52 PM | link
The-state-that-used-to-be-New-York-State-but-isn't-anymore-because-New-York-City-is-now-New-York-State-and-we've-lost-our-identity-and-we-haven't-come-up-with-a-name-yet.
There's also...
TBD
and
We could use a symbol like Prince did years ago.
... said Wendy McLaughlin on Jul 12, 2012 at 11:29 PM | link
New New Amsterdam
... said Barry on Jul 13, 2012 at 12:26 PM | link
Hudson for upstate and Erie for the west.
... said jb on Jul 13, 2012 at 5:15 PM | link
Catirondacks or Catirondacia (using Joe's reasoning)
... said Blondey on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:47 PM | link
Roosevelt. One name to represent 3 significant historic figures.
... said Robert on Jul 14, 2012 at 11:42 AM | link
Western NY would be a mix of finger lakes and the two great lakes. so some play on lakes would be a way to go. Probably naming it after a finger lake would be too much, or after a grape.
Eastern NY has two historic mountain ranges and two famous river valleys.
Maybe we can give Benedict Arnold his due and call it Benedictia.
How about Schuyler. I kind of like Schuyler
Any concatenation would be protested by at least one of the groups
... said mike e on Jul 15, 2012 at 8:07 PM | link