Sullivan County

Sullivan County is an administrative unit in southeastern New York State, with Monticello serving as the seat of county government. The area extends across forested hills and valleys, crossed by rivers and smaller lakes, with scattered towns and farms.

The administrative unit was created in 1809 by the New York State Legislature and named after an officer from the Revolutionary War. In the 20th century the region developed into a center for summer vacation, which shaped the economy and settlement patterns.

The name honors John Sullivan, a general from the Revolutionary War, and many place names reflect early settlement by European immigrants. Today the area is often associated with summer resorts and the Jewish culture of the Catskills, visible in some restaurants and events.

Route 17 runs through the area and connects the different towns, making travel by car straightforward. The landscape is hilly and forested, so plan some time for drives between places.

The area was once a well-known destination for summer resorts and hosted numerous hotels and vacation camps, many of which are now abandoned or repurposed. These empty buildings still shape parts of the landscape and tell of a past era of tourism.

Location: New York

Inception: 1809

Capital city: Monticello

Shares border with: Wayne County, Pike County, Orange County, Ulster County, Delaware County

Website: https://sullivanny.us

GPS coordinates: 41.72000,-74.76000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:45