CATSKILLS COMMUNITY:
TOWNS
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Encompassing nearly 6,000 square miles of land area, the six counties of the Catskills are home to over 100 units of local government. The region is anchored by the City of Kingston (population 23,000) on the shores of the Hudson River in Ulster County, and the smaller City of Oneonta (population 14,000) located in southern Otsego County.

In New York, the smallest unit of local government is at the City, Town or Village level. These units of local government are located within one of the 57 counties in the state. Unlike some other states, the New York State Constitution stipulates that the primary authority for guiding community planning and development is vested with local government -- a provision known as "home rule".