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Table 1: Nine Geographic Areas Analyzed in this Report
61 towns that are completely within the Adirondack Park referred to throughout this report as the Park Towns. In 2020, the Park Towns had a combined population of 96,866 people and a population density of 13.6 people per square mile.
31 towns that ring the Adirondack Park and are split by the Adirondack Park boundary, referred to throughout this report as the Split Towns. In 2020, the Split Towns had a combined population of 128,043 people.
47 New York State towns referred to as the Rural NY Towns. These towns had a median population density equal to the median population density of the 61 Park Towns. In 2020, these towns had a population of 58,520 people.
The 998 New York State towns, boroughs, cities, etc., referred to as New York State, excluding the Park Towns and Split Towns. In 2020, this area had a population of 20,188,009 people.
All 3,096 U.S. counties, boroughs, parishes, and cities, etc., in the lower 48 U.S. states referred to as United States. In 2020, this area had a population of 328.2 million people.
1,941 counties classified as “nonmetro” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and referred to as USDA Nonmetro U.S. counties. In 2020, this area had a population of 45.1 million people, 13.7% of the population, and covered 68% of the lower 48 states of the U.S. This area constitutes “Rural America” in this report.
80 rural counties in the northeast U.S. referred to as USDA Nonmetro NE. These counties are a subset of the 1,941 USDA Nonmetro counties and are located from Pennsylvania to Maine. In 2020, they had a population of 4.2 million people. This area constitutes the “Rural Northeast” in this report.
1,337 counties referred to as Low Density U.S. In 2020, this set of counties had a median population density equal to the population density of the combined 61 Park Towns. In 2020, this area had a population of 18.9 million, 5.8% of the population, and this area covered 61% of the lower 48 states of U.S. Data for the Low Density U.S. area are listed in tables.
15 rural northeast U.S. counties referred to as Low Density NE. These counties are a subset of the Low Density U.S. counties and are located from Pennsylvania to Maine. In 2020, these counties had a population of 438 thousand people. Data for the Low Density NE area are listed in tables.
The nine geographic areas selected for this report (see Table 1 above right for descriptions) were areas that either have a similar population density as the 61 Park Towns or represent large geographic areas, such as New York State, the lower 48 U.S. states, or the non-metropolitan counties of Rural America. The Methods section lays out the exact process. The goal of this study was to compare the Adirondacks with New York State, the U.S., and other rural areas. We looked at a series of basic indicators to assess the economic and population experiences of Adirondack communities from 1970 to 2020. On the economic side, we analyzed:
On the population side we analyzed:
Each of these indicators is explained, analyzed, and graphically illustrated in a discrete section of this report. We selected 1970 as our starting point because it coincides with the creation of the modern Adirondack Park through the Adirondack Park Agency Act and the beginning of a major era of Forest Preserve expansion and purchase of conservation easements. U.S. Census data starting in 1970 were available and enabled us to assess leading economic and population variables over a span of 50 years at both the town level across New York and the county level across the U.S.
With the clearer picture of Adirondack realities and challenges that this report provides, we have an opportunity to plan efficiently and to direct state investments and private initiatives in appropriate and productive directions. Good data and sound analysis should drive public policy. The Adirondack Park serves as a model for sustainability, open-space protection, and viable human communities living in harmony with the Eastern United States’ only great and last remaining wilderness. A clear understanding of our long-term economic and population experiences invites us to consider open space conservation not as an obstacle, but as a reliable basis for strengthening and sustaining viable communities across the Adirondack Park.