Why is the term "upstate" only used in reference to New York?

First, because New York City is such a huge city. Secondly, because other states don't have a huge city with the same name as the state. If you had an Idaho City, someone who lives outside of Idaho City but still in Idaho would need some phrase to distinguish between the urban and rural areas of the state.

Because Upstate NY is really different from what people think of when they think of NY--they always think NYC. Upstate NY is a whole other world----open land, farms, trees lived there, done that, remember mowing the snow for months on end---beautiful though. Sure do miss it at times.

It isnt, many parts of the northern part of south carolina are called the upstate.

LOL Its like why is it that New York City seems to be the only one referred to as "THE city"?

Makes you wonder- whats so special about NY?

(I lived there for the first 22 years of my life)

-EA

Because when you tell someone that you are from New York, they automatically think you are from New York City.

NY is so big...that when someone says they're going to NY, they've got to say "Up state" or "The City".

Now...when you head north in Maine, why do they call it going "down east"?

They use it for N.E. Pennsylvania, too.

Because.

it's not