View Larger Map

In New York State there are many places where toxic waste sites are found. These sites are located throughout New York State in all different regions. Some New York State regions like Long Island, New York City area, the lower Hudson River Valley, the Capital District, Central New York State, and Western New York State have a high concentrated area of toxic waste sites. In other parts of New York State, for example, the Southern Tier, the Adirondack Park, and parts of the Finger Lakes region have a low number of toxic waste sites. Also, many of the major cities in New York State have the most concentrated area of toxic waste sites.

Also, the income rate for each New York State varies from county to county. Looking at the map of New York State, the counties with the highest income level in New York State are found in the New York City metro area and other high populated counties. In comparison to the income levels of urban counties, rural counties, particularly counties located in the Adirondack Park and the Southern Tier have some of the lowest income levels in New York State.

Looking at map of New York State toxic waste sites and the income level of New York State counties, there are many reasons why the toxic waste sites are located where they are. There are many toxic waste sites located in Upstate New York State that are located in the same valley where the Erie Canal is located. There are a high number of toxic waste sites located in this valley because of the high number of factories that are there due to the Erie Canal being there. When the Erie Canal was completed, many factories were built along the canal. Since the factories were built along the canal, there are toxic waste sites located along the Erie Canal.

There is a high concentration of toxic waste sites in many urban areas in New York State while toxic waste sites are spread apart in rural areas because there are more industrial sites in urban areas of New York State. There is a high concentration of toxic waste sites found in the New York City metropolitan area as well as urban areas in Upstate New York. Cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton have a high amount of toxic waste areas due to having a high population. When looking at the counties in upstate New York that there are toxic waste sites concentrated in one area because these cities are part of the rust belt. The rust belt stretchered from western New York to the Great Lakes and this is where many factories were. Many New York cities in the rust belt had a numerous amount of factories. These factories had to find a waste site to dump chemicals that were being used and since these factories were in urban centers, the toxic waste sites are mostly concentrated with urban areas.

Also there is a direct correlation with the income levels and the amount of toxic waste sites in New York State. The counties with the highest income levels in New York State have the highest amount of toxic waste sites because there is more of a demand for products in high income areas. When you look at the map, counties around New York City and upstate urban areas, they have a high income so there is a higher demand in products which cause more factories to be built. Since there is a high number of a factories in cities, the number of toxic waste sites are going to increase in high income level areas.