County Facts | New York State Association of Counties

Established 330 years ago by an act of the British king, New York's counties are at the heart of New York State. From Niagara Falls to the Finger Lakes, from the Adirondacks to Long Island Sound, New York's counties represent diverse landscapes, cities, towns, farms, mountains, and everything in between.

New York county government provides vital programs and services that keep our communities humming and support residents and businesses. We’ve led the nation in agriculture and manufacturing. We've been pioneers of industry, conservation, and technology. Counties remain home to vibrant communities, cutting-edge businesses, world-class colleges and universities, and natural beauty.

Though varied, New York’s counties have often come together to assist one another, to call for state action on common needs, to share services, and to improve upon an always-evolving local government structure.

Articles & Reports

A Genealogy of New York's Counties

A timeline of the formation of New York's counties.

Read

History of NYS County Government

A history of NY's county government forms and structures.

Read

The Historic and Contemporary Role of NYS Counties

NYSAC News article delving into the evolution of NY's counties.

The County Role

101 Ways Counties Serve New Yorkers

This document outlines 101 ways that counties serve New Yorkers and strengthen the quality of our communities, sorted into categories of service.

101 Ways Counties Serve

The Counties of New York State - NY.gov

This page links to all New York County websites, with an option to filter by region.

Go

Counties Matter: NACo

This resource from the National Association of Counties website details the many ways America’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs help our communities thrive.

Read

County Explorer: NACo

This tool from the National Association of Counties provides easy access to data that offers a snapshot on a variety of topics relevant to counties nationwide.

Go