Why Did Thousands Leave Upstate New York Over The Last Decade?

That sucking sound you heard over the last decade was the thousands of people who were leaving Upstate New York.

A report last year in the Albany Business Journal listed the Upstate towns that lost the most people over the decade between census', 2010-2020. It is interesting, too. I have been to almost all of these communities and many of them are lovely, offer some great things for visitors to see and do, and have long and rich histories in the Empire State.

So why do so many of the people here leave? I really don't know for sure but I bet it is a mixture of things. Taxes are high, young people graduate from high school and leave and don't come back, high paying jobs are scarce, winters are brutal, etc. I don't know. It could be any number of things. But one thing is for sure, as this list shows, people are leaving. Lots of them. This list has some surprises.

Two of the towns that lost the most people (by percent) are known as "prison towns," where almost everyone either works at, has worked at, or has a family member that has worked at any of the several major prisons located in these two towns.

Another surprise on this list is a village that is one of Upstate's most famous and charming Adirondack destinations.

Why do they leave these places? Here are a dozen of the biggest population losers. Like I said, some of these will definitely surprise you.

The 12 New York Towns That Lost the Most People in the 2020 Census

A census can sure reveal a lot! Over the last decade (between census'), many Upstate New York communities lost a lot of their population. What are the reasons for this? Well, the economy is perennially a lagger up here, young people leave and don't come back, the winter's can be brutal, taxes are highs, the list goes on and on. Take a look at the 12 towns in Upstate New York which lost the most in population over the decade. These figures are from the Albany Business Journal of August, 2021. Click on the link to find out more towns which filled out the Top 25 list of Upstate communities that lost a lot of their people since 2010.

11 Things to Do For a Perfect Winter Weekend in Old Forge, NY

Old Forge, NY is one of the most popular Adirondack communities. It is a classic four-season town with much to see, do, and eat, during a short visit here. Walt's Diner is one of the best small town diners anywhere, the Old Forge Hardware Store attracts thousands of visitors each year, and the Strand Theater, at almost 100 years old, is a nice little slice of movie nostalgia in this historic village. Most of the items on this list are geared for a winter visit, when snow covers the lake and a tall beautifully lit Christmas tree stands in the center square across from the movie theater. Of course, in the summer, well, things change a bit. The village is packed with families mostly heading to the giant Enchanted Forest Water Safari theme park right in downtown. But, for less crowds and enduring charm, a winter visit to Old Forge is always pleasurable.

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