The six regions
How New York State was divided for the Summer Games.
The Summer Games were organised as a tournament between six regional teams. Every athlete qualified through their region’s trial meets and competed under their region’s colours.
Adirondack
The North Country and the Capital District’s northern periphery. Drew from Albany, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis, Hamilton, Fulton, and Schoharie counties at various times. The trials were typically held in Glens Falls or Schenectady.
Central
The Syracuse / Mohawk Valley belt. Onondaga, Madison, Oneida, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Tompkins, Tioga, Chenango, Otsego, Herkimer, and Broome. The largest contributor of athletes for much of the Games’ run.
Hudson Valley
The mid-Hudson and lower Hudson. Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Rockland, and parts of Greene and Columbia. Trials were often held in Mount Pleasant or White Plains.
Long Island
Nassau and Suffolk. The smallest geographic region but among the deepest in athletics, swimming, and lacrosse.
New York City (Metropolitan)
The five boroughs. Listed in some Games as “Metropolitan New York”; later shortened to NYC. Strong in track and field and basketball; the metropolitan region’s depth in those sports was a consistent factor in medal counts.
Western
The Niagara Frontier and Genesee Valley. Erie, Niagara, Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Schuyler, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua. Buffalo and Rochester were the principal trial venues.
See also
- A history of the Games — the founding and the regional concept.
- Divisions — how Open, Scholastic, and Masters worked.
- Champions list — featured athletes by year and sport.