Benefits include access to and posting within our Business Forums, reading and adding to article comments, and much more.Population: 181,860
County Seat: Kingston
Total Area: 1161 sq. miles
Population: Approx. 181,000
Location: 90 miles north of New York City
Named for the
Irish province of Ulster
Northernmost & largest county in the metropolitan NY area
Kingston is the original capitol of New York State.
Highest elevation: 4,180 ft. (Slide Mt.)
Only county in New York to have three (3) exits off the NY State Thruway (I-87)
Eastern border formed by the Hudson River.
Key towns: Kingston, Woodstock, New Paltz, Saugerties, Ellenville, Shandaken, Ulster, Gardiner
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From cozy riverside villages and arts meccas to boutique-lined main streets and historic communities, the towns of Ulster County each have their own flavor. A diverse population base that has multi-generational families living alongside transplants from Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey and other locales gives the region a cultural variety along with an experienced workforce. Some of our most well-known cities and towns are featured below.
Woodstock is known for its arts. From the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony to Maverick Theater to the more recent Woodstock Film Festival, visual and performing arts thrive here. Famed for the 1969 eponymous concert that gave voice to the "Woodstock Generation," the town maintains a progressive, accepting nature while being a key assett in Ulster County's booming tourism economy. But the town also has a unheralded creative manufacturing history. In 1947, Rotron revolutionized the fan-based air cooling systems for mainframe computers and other large electronics. Simulaids, a company manufacturing emergency personnel training devices, got its start in Woodstock. As did Woodstock Percussion, now internationally known as one of the finest makers of wind chimes in the world. Today, several companies including large-truck tools maker IPA Tools have settled in Woodstock. For more information, visit the 
Budget Travel Magazine named Saugerties among its "2009 Coolest Small Towns in America." The streets of Saugerties are lined with antique shops and eateries. Home to Horse Shows in the Sun's nationally renowned equestrian shows, an annual garlic festival that is largest on the East Coast (40,000+ attendees) and a landmark historic lighthouse, this Hudson River town is abuzz with activity on weekends and in summertime. Like many Ulster County towns, hidden along its pastoral byways and back roads are manufacturing success stories. Some of the county's brightest stars align the Old Kings Highway corridor, just off the NYS Thruway exit 20, including Markertek, Precision Flow Technologies and Fehr Bros. Industries. Visit the Saugerties Chamer of Commerce for more information.
Kingston is Ulster County's only city. New York State's first capital, Kingston is situated where the Rondout Creek meets the Hudson River. IN 2009, The Today Show named Kingston one of the "
New Paltz's Hugeunot St. is the oldest inhabited street in America, lined with stone houses originating from the 17th century. New Paltz's location at the foot of the Shawangunk Cliffs make it a perfect spot for hiking, biking, and rock climbing. New Paltz was founded more than 330 years ago by French-speaking Huguenot refugees.