List of counties in New York

Summary

There are 62 counties in the U.S. state of New York.

Counties of New York
LocationState of New York
Number62
Populations5,082 (Hamilton) – 2,561,225 (Kings)
Areas33.77 square miles (87.5 km2) (New York) – 2,821 square miles (7,310 km2) (St. Lawrence)
Government
Subdivisions

The first 12 were created immediately after the British took over the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam; two of these counties were later abolished, their land going to Massachusetts.[1] The newest is Bronx County, created in 1914 from the portions of New York City that had been annexed from Westchester County in the late 19th century and added to New York County.[2] New York's counties are named for various Native American words; British provinces, counties, cities, and royalty; early American statesmen and military personnel; and New York State politicians.[3]

Authority

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Excepting the five boroughs of New York City, New York counties are governed by New York County Law and have governments run by either a Board of Supervisors or a County Legislature, and either an elected County Executive or appointed county manager. Counties without charters are run by a Board of Supervisors, in which Town Supervisors from towns within the county also sit on the county Board of Supervisors. For counties with a charter, the executives generally have powers to veto acts of the county legislature. The legislatures have powers of setting policies, levying taxes and distributing funds.

Five boroughs of New York City

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Five of New York's counties are each coextensive with New York City's five boroughs. They are New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Bronx County (The Bronx), Richmond County (Staten Island), and Queens County (Queens).

In contrast to other counties of New York, the powers of the five boroughs of New York City are very limited and in nearly all respects are governed by the city government.[4] Only a few officials are elected on a borough-wide basis, such as the five borough presidents, district attorneys, and all county and state supreme court judges. There are no official county seats, but the locations of borough halls and courthouses bestow certain neighborhoods an informal designation as county seats within their boroughs:

List of counties

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County
FIPS Code
[5]
County seat
[6]
Est.
[6][7]
Formed from
[2]
Named for
[3]
Density (Pop./mi2)
Pop. (2023)
[8]
Area
[6]
Map
 
Albany County 001 Albany November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony James II of England (James VII of Scotland) (1633–1701), who was Duke of York (English title) and Duke of Albany (Scottish title) before becoming King of England, Ireland, and Scotland. 594.11 316,659 533 sq mi
(1,380 km2)
 
Allegany County 003 Belmont April 7, 1806 Genesee County A variant spelling of the Allegheny River 45.12 46,651 1,034 sq mi
(2,678 km2)
 
Bronx County 005 none (sui generis) January 1, 1914[9] New York County Jonas Bronck (1600?–1643), an early settler of the Dutch colony of New Netherland 23,619.64 1,356,476 57.43 sq mi
(149 km2)
 
Broome County 007 Binghamton March 28, 1806 Tioga County John Broome (1738–1810), fourth Lieutenant Governor of New York 274.23 196,077 715 sq mi
(1,852 km2)
 
Cattaraugus County 009 Little Valley March 11, 1808 Genesee County A word from an uncertain Iroquoian language meaning "bad smelling banks", referring to the odor of natural gas which leaked from Cattaraugus Creek 57.71 75,600 1,310 sq mi
(3,393 km2)
 
Cayuga County 011 Auburn March 8, 1799 Onondaga County The Cayuga tribe of Native Americans 86.21 74,485 864 sq mi
(2,238 km2)
 
Chautauqua County 013 Mayville March 11, 1808 Genesee County Loanword from the Erie language describing Chautauqua Lake; language now lost and cannot be translated 83.26 124,891 1,500 sq mi
(3,885 km2)
 
Chemung County 015 Elmira March 20, 1836 Tioga County A Lenape word meaning "big horn", which was the name of a local Native American village 197.96 81,325 410.81 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
 
Chenango County 017 Norwich March 15, 1798 Tioga County and Herkimer County An Onondaga word meaning "large bull-thistle" 51.09 45,920 898.85 sq mi
(2,328 km2)
 
Clinton County 019 Plattsburgh March 4, 1788 Washington County George Clinton (1739–1812), fourth Vice President of the United States and first and third Governor of New York 69.87 78,115 1,118 sq mi
(2,896 km2)
 
Columbia County 021 Hudson April 1, 1786 Albany County Christopher Columbus (1451–1506), the European explorer 93.32 60,470 648 sq mi
(1,678 km2)
 
Cortland County 023 Cortland April 8, 1808 Onondaga County Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721–1814), first Lieutenant Governor of New York 91.14 45,752 502 sq mi
(1,300 km2)
 
Delaware County 025 Delhi March 10, 1797 Otsego County and Ulster County Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), an early colonial leader in Virginia. Name applied to the bay, river, and Lenape Native Americans 30.25 44,410 1,468 sq mi
(3,802 km2)
 
Dutchess County 027 Poughkeepsie November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony Mary of Modena (1658–1718), Duchess of York and wife of King James II of England 360.18 297,150 825 sq mi
(2,137 km2)
 
Erie County 029 Buffalo April 2, 1821 Niagara County The Erie tribe of Native Americans 771.11 946,147 1,227 sq mi
(3,178 km2)
 
Essex County 031 Elizabethtown March 1, 1799 Clinton County The county of Essex in England 19.19 36,775 1,916 sq mi
(4,962 km2)
 
Franklin County 033 Malone March 11, 1808 Clinton County Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), the early American printer, scientist, and statesman 27.40 46,502 1,697 sq mi
(4,395 km2)
 
Fulton County 035 Johnstown April 18, 1838 Montgomery County Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the steamship 98.00 52,234 533 sq mi
(1,380 km2)
 
Genesee County 037 Batavia March 30, 1802 Ontario County and land acquired in the Holland Purchase A Seneca phrase meaning "good valley" 116.22 57,529 495 sq mi
(1,282 km2)
 
Greene County 039 Catskill March 25, 1800 Albany County and Ulster County Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), the American Revolutionary War general 71.52 47,062 658 sq mi
(1,704 km2)
 
Hamilton County 041 Lake Pleasant April 12, 1816 Montgomery County Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), the early American political theorist and first Secretary of the Treasury 2.81 5,082 1,808 sq mi
(4,683 km2)
 
Herkimer County 043 Herkimer February 16, 1791 Montgomery County Nicholas Herkimer (1728–1777), the American Revolutionary War general 40.80 59,484 1,458 sq mi
(3,776 km2)
 
Jefferson County 045 Watertown March 28, 1805 Oneida County Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the early American statesman, author of the Declaration of Independence, and third President of the United States 61.81 114,787 1,857 sq mi
(4,810 km2)
 
Kings County 047 none (sui generis) November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony King Charles II of England (1630–1685) 26,431.63 2,561,225 96.9 sq mi
(251 km2)
 
Lewis County 049 Lowville March 28, 1805 Oneida County Morgan Lewis (1754–1844), the fourth Governor of New York 20.58 26,548 1,290 sq mi
(3,341 km2)
 
Livingston County 051 Geneseo February 23, 1821 Genesee County and Ontario County Robert Livingston (1746–1813), the early American statesman and New York delegate to the Continental Congress 95.56 61,158 640 sq mi
(1,658 km2)
 
Madison County 053 Wampsville March 21, 1806 Chenango County James Madison (1751–1836), the early American statesman, principal author of the Constitution of the United States, and fourth President of the United States 101.09 66,921 662 sq mi
(1,715 km2)
 
Monroe County 055 Rochester February 23, 1821 Genesee County and Ontario County James Monroe (1758–1831), the early American statesman and fifth President of the United States 547.94 748,482 1,366 sq mi
(3,538 km2)
 
Montgomery County 057 Fonda March 12, 1772 Albany County Originally Tryon County after colonial governor William Tryon (1729–1788), renamed after the American Revolutionary War general Richard Montgomery (1738–1775) in 1784 120.41 49,368 410 sq mi
(1,062 km2)
 
Nassau County 059 Mineola January 1, 1899 Queens County The Princes of Orange-Nassau ruled the Netherlands when Long Island was a Dutch colony 3,050.14 1,381,715 453 sq mi
(1,173 km2)
 
New York County 061 none (sui generis) November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony King James II of England (1633–1701), who was Duke of York and Albany before he ascended the throne of England, Duke of York being his English title 47,303.85 1,597,451 33.77 sq mi
(87 km2)
 
Niagara County 063 Lockport March 11, 1808 Genesee County The Iroquoian name of a tribe within the Neutral Nation, the exact translation of which remains disputed 183.73 209,457 1,140 sq mi
(2,953 km2)
 
Oneida County 065 Utica March 15, 1798 Herkimer County The Oneida tribe of Native Americans 187.60 227,555 1,213 sq mi
(3,142 km2)
 
Onondaga County 067 Syracuse March 5, 1794 Herkimer County The Onondaga tribe of Native Americans 580.49 467,873 806 sq mi
(2,088 km2)
 
Ontario County 069 Canandaigua January 27, 1789 Land acquired in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase An Iroquoian word meaning "beautiful lake" 169.93 112,494 662 sq mi
(1,715 km2)
 
Orange County 071 Goshen November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony William of Orange-Nassau (1650–1702), who became King William III of England 485.66 407,470 839 sq mi
(2,173 km2)
 
Orleans County 073 Albion November 12, 1824 Genesee County The French Royal House of Orléans 47.89 39,124 817 sq mi
(2,116 km2)
 
Oswego County 075 Oswego March 1, 1816 Oneida County and Onondaga County The Oswego River, from an Iroquoian word meaning "the outpouring", referring to the mouth of the river 90.06 118,162 1,312 sq mi
(3,398 km2)
 
Otsego County 077 Cooperstown February 16, 1791 Montgomery County A Native American word meaning "place of the rock" 59.95 60,126 1,003 sq mi
(2,598 km2)
 
Putnam County 079 Carmel Hamlet June 12, 1812 Dutchess County Israel Putnam (1718–1790), an American Revolutionary War general 398.62 98,060 246 sq mi
(637 km2)
 
Queens County 081 none (sui generis) November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony Catherine of Braganza (1638–1705), Queen of England and wife of King Charles II of England 12,632.91 2,252,196 178.28 sq mi
(462 km2)
 
Rensselaer County 083 Troy February 7, 1791 Albany County In honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer (before 1596 – after 1643), the early landholder in the Dutch New Netherland colony 239.56 159,305 665 sq mi
(1,722 km2)
 
Richmond County 085 none (sui generis) November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond (1672–1723), the illegitimate son of King Charles II of England 4,787.19 490,687 102.5 sq mi
(265 km2)
 
Rockland County 087 New City February 23, 1798 Orange County Early settlers' description of terrain as "rocky land" 1,712.60 340,807 199 sq mi
(515 km2)
 
St. Lawrence County 089 Canton March 3, 1802 Clinton County, Herkimer County, and Montgomery County The St Lawrence River, which forms the northern border of the county and New York State 37.91 106,940 2,821 sq mi
(7,306 km2)
 
Saratoga County 091 Ballston Spa February 7, 1791 Albany County A corruption of a Native American word meaning "the hill beside the river" 282.83 238,711 844 sq mi
(2,186 km2)
 
Schenectady County 093 Schenectady March 27, 1809 Albany County A Mohawk word meaning "on the other side of the pine lands" 761.44 159,902 210 sq mi
(544 km2)
 
Schoharie County 095 Schoharie April 6, 1795 Albany County and Otsego County A Mohawk word meaning "floating driftwood" 48.09 30,105 626 sq mi
(1,621 km2)
 
Schuyler County 097 Watkins Glen April 17, 1854 Chemung County, Steuben County, and Tompkins County Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), the American Revolutionary War general and Senator from New York 51.19 17,507 342 sq mi
(886 km2)
 
Seneca County 099 Waterloo March 24, 1804 Cayuga County The Seneca tribe of Native Americans 99.54 32,349 325 sq mi
(842 km2)
 
Steuben County 101 Bath March 18, 1796 Ontario County Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1730–1794), the Prussian general who assisted the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War 65.64 92,162 1,404 sq mi
(3,636 km2)
 
Suffolk County 103 Riverhead November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony The county of Suffolk in England 641.88 1,523,170 2,373 sq mi
(6,146 km2)
 
Sullivan County 105 Monticello March 27, 1809 Ulster County John Sullivan (1740–1795), an American Revolutionary War general 80.16 79,920 997 sq mi
(2,582 km2)
 
Tioga County 107 Owego February 16, 1791 Montgomery County A Native American word meaning "at the forks", describing a meeting place 91.23 47,715 523 sq mi
(1,355 km2)
 
Tompkins County 109 Ithaca April 7, 1817 Cayuga County and Seneca County Daniel D. Tompkins (1774–1825), the 6th Vice President of the United States 217.56 103,558 476 sq mi
(1,233 km2)
 
Ulster County 111 Kingston November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony The Irish province of Ulster, then an earldom of the Duke of York, later King James II of England 157.05 182,333 1,161 sq mi
(3,007 km2)
 
Warren County 113 Queensbury March 12, 1813 Washington County Joseph Warren (1741–1775), the early American patriot and American Revolutionary War general 75.15 65,380 870 sq mi
(2,253 km2)
 
Washington County 115 Fort Edward March 12, 1772 Albany County Originally Charlotte County, renamed in 1784 after George Washington (1732–1799), the American Revolutionary War general and first President of the United States 70.98 60,047 846 sq mi
(2,191 km2)
 
Wayne County 117 Lyons April 11, 1823 Ontario County and Seneca County General Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), the American Revolutionary War general 65.63 90,829 1,384 sq mi
(3,585 km2)
 
Westchester County 119 White Plains November 1, 1683 One of 12 original counties created in the New York colony The city of Chester in England 1,981.63 990,817 500 sq mi
(1,295 km2)
 
Wyoming County 121 Warsaw May 14, 1841 Genesee County A modification of a word from the Lenape language meaning "broad bottom lands" 66.33 39,532 596 sq mi
(1,544 km2)
 
Yates County 123 Penn Yan February 5, 1823 Ontario County and Steuben County Joseph C. Yates (1768–1837), eighth Governor of New York 65.09 24,472 376 sq mi
(974 km2)
 

Defunct counties

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County
Created
[2]
Abolished
[2]
Fate[2]
Charlotte County 1772 1784 Partitioned. Western part renamed as Washington County and eastern part transferred to Vermont.
Cornwall County 1665 1686 Transferred to the part of Massachusetts that later became the state of Maine and partitioned; one of the 12 original counties created in the New York colony
Cumberland County 1766 1777 Transferred to Vermont and partitioned
Dukes County November 1, 1683 1692 Transferred to Massachusetts; one of 12 original counties created in the New York colony
Gloucester County 1770 1777 Transferred to Vermont and partitioned
Mexico County 1792 1796 Never settled or incorporated, reallocated to Oneida, Oswego and Jefferson Counties.
Tryon County 1772 1784 Renamed as Montgomery County

Proposed new counties

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County
Note
Adirondack County Would hypothetically consist of portions of northern Essex County and southern Franklin County[10]
Peconic County Would hypothetically consist of the five easternmost towns in Suffolk County on Long Island.[11]

Clickable map

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The 12 Original Counties of New York State - Cliff Lamere". genealogy.clifflamere.com. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "New York Formation Maps". Genealogy, Inc. Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  3. ^ a b Beatty, Michael (2001). County Name Origins of the United States. McFarland Press. ISBN 0-7864-1025-6.
  4. ^ Benjamin, Gerald; Nathan, Richard P. (1990). Regionalism and realism: A Study of Government in the New York Metropolitan Area. Brookings Institution. p. 59.
  5. ^ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". US Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c "Find A County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on August 4, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  7. ^ Mitchell, George (1987–1988). The New York Red Book: An Illustrated Yearbook of Authentic Information Concerning New York State, Its Departments and Political Subdivisions and the Officials Who Administer Its Affairs (89th ed.). Albany, New York: Williams Press, Inc. pp. 987–988.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: New York". U.S. Census Bureau. July 2023. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Legislation splitting off Bronx County from New York County was enacted in 1912 with an effective date of January 1, 1914. Prior to 1874 the entire area had been part of Westchester County. See McCarthy, Thomas C. "A 5-Borough Centennial Preface for the Katharine Bement Davis Mini-History". New York City Department of Corrections. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  10. ^ Lynch, Mike (October 30, 2007). "North Elba Supervisor Candidate Debate". Plattsburgh Press Republican. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
  11. ^ Healy, Patrick (February 11, 2004). "Growth Pains and Clout Heading East in Suffolk". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
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  • "Counties" at NY.gov