by Miranda MaterazzoWhen most people think of tourism in New York, they likely imagine the thousands of people who visit New York City every year. Famous sites like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Central Park all very well may come to mind. But there was a time, not so long ago, when people flocked to visit Upstate New York as well. For decades in the mid 20th century, huge numbers of tourists came to visit the Catskill Mountain area of the state, which generally includes the area between New York City and Albany, the state capital. While people still visit the mountains today, the small towns nestled within them are no longer the economic centers that they were all those years ago. A variety of different factors have contributed to the decline of Delaware, Ulster, Sullivan, and Greene counties. In order to gain a full understanding of this, you have to start at the start.In this case, our journey begins in the 17th century, even before the birth of the nation.Interact with the map fullscreen!
Photo Credit: CMMooney via Flickr