Upstate New York refers to the part of the state of New York that is north or west of the New York metropolitan area. Upstate cities include Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca and Utica. Rural areas of New York are also upstate. These include the Adirondack Mountains and the Mohawk Valley. Culturally, upstate New York is quite different than New York City. The people who live in upstate New York came from different places than the people who live in New York City. Also, upstate New York is more moderate politically, with rural counties voting more conservative and urban counties more liberal, contrasted with the predominantly liberal New York City.