Dutchess County, New York
Encyclopedia
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state
of New York
, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley
. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488. The county seat
is Poughkeepsie.
Dutchess County is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh
–Middletown
, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
as well as the larger New York
–Newark
–Bridgeport
, NY-NJ
-CT
-PA
Combined Statistical Area
.
Prior to Anglo-Dutch
settlement, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the native Wappinger
peoples. They had their council-fire at what is now present-day Fishkill Hook and also held gatherings along the Danskammer.
In 1683, the Province of New York
established its first twelve counties, with Dutchess County being one of them. Its boundaries at that time included the present Putnam County
, and a small portion of the present Columbia County
(the towns of Clermont and Germantown). The county was named for Mary of Modena
, Duchess of York, second wife of James, Duke of York (later James II, King of England).
Until 1713, Dutchess was administered by Ulster County
.
In 1812, Putnam County
was detached from Dutchess.
granted securing for their purchasers every foot of Hudson River shoreline
in the original county.
Three additional patents, to 1706, laid claim to the remaining
interior lands.
and Rhinebeck
.
From 1715-1730 most of the new settlers in Dutchess county were Germans. From 1730 until 1775 New Englanders were the main new settlers in Dutchess County.
lived in his family home in Hyde Park
, overlooking the Hudson River.
In the 1960s G. Gordon Liddy
(who went to prison for crimes committed during the Nixon administration's Watergate scandal
and now a talk show host), was a Dutchess County assistant district attorney when he repeatedly tried to have Timothy Leary
arrested on drug charges. By the 1980s, the two ex-cons went on a speaking tour together.
Prior to the 1960s, Dutchess County was primarily agricultural. Since then the southern part (from Poughkeepsie south) of the county has developed into a largely residential area, suburban in character, with many of its residents commuting to jobs in New York City. The northern region of the county is still very much rural with large farmlands but at the same time developed residences used during the summer and or on weekends by people living in the New York City urban area.
on its west and the New York
-Connecticut
border on its east, about halfway between the cities of Albany
and New York
. It contains two cities: Beacon
and Poughkeepsie.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
, the county has a total area of 825 square miles (2,136.7 km²), of which 802 square miles (2,077.2 km²) is land and 24 square miles (62.2 km²) (2.88%) is water.
The terrain of the county is mostly hilly, especially in the Hudson Highlands in the southwestern corner and the Taconic Mountains
to the northeast. Some areas nearer the river are flatter.
The highest point in the county is the summit of Brace Mountain
, in the Taconics, at 2,311 feet (704 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level, along the Hudson River.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 280,150 people, 99,536 households, and 69,177 families residing in the county. The population density
was 350 people per square mile (135/km²). There were 106,103 housing units at an average density of 132 per square mile (51/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.66% White
(80.3% non-Hispanic whites), 9.32% Black
or African American
, 0.22% Native American
, 2.52% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 2.37% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. 6.45% were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 22.0% were of Italian
, 16.9% Irish
, 11.3% German and 6.7% English
ancestry according to Census 2000. 88.3% spoke English
and 4.8% Spanish
Based on the Census Ancestry tallies, including people who listed more than one ancestry, Italians were the largest group in Dutchess County with 60,645. Irish came in a very close second at 59,991. In third place were the 44,915 Germans who barely exceeded the 44,078 people not in the 105 specifically delineated ancestry groups.
6.45% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. Puerto Ricans made up the largest portion of Latinos, with 2.9% of the total county population. 2.1% of the county population was in the category "other Hispanic or Latino". The other Hispanics and Latinos were a varied group. About 700 were born in the Dominican Republic
, while people born in Colombia or Ecuador slightly exceeded 800. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama all had more than 100 natives in Dutchess County. There were 1,685 people in the county born in Mexico but they were exceeded by the total 1,894 born in South America.
There were 99,536 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples
living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,086, and the median income for a family was $63,254. Males had a median income of $45,576 versus $30,706 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $23,940. About 5.00% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
The per capita income and average home values have increased noticeably in recent years mainly due to affluent residents relocating from nearby and expensive Westchester County, NY. In recent years, there has been a large influx of people that have relocated from New York City, mainly from the Borough of The Bronx.
The decrease in population between 1810 and 1820 was due the separation of Putnam County
from Dutchess in 1812.
, 5 Democrats
and 1 Conservative member who caucuses with the Republicans. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. Dutchess County has historically leaned Republican due to its affluence and large suburban swaths; it has voted for Democratic presidential candidates only three times - 1964, 1996 and 2008. The largely suburban southern towns of Dutchess tend to be more conservative, while the small villages and rural areas of the northern tier have become somewhat more liberal. Almost all elected officials are Republican, but in the 2008 Presidential Election
, Barack Obama carried Dutchess with 53% of the vote. The previous election
saw George W. Bush win with 51%. This gives Dutchess a Cook PVI
of D+1.
. The New York State Police Troop K headquarters is located in Pleasant Valley.
has stations in Rhinecliff
, a small hamlet in the Town of Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie
, with both stations being served by Empire Service
trains as well as other trains that run along the line. The latter station is the terminus of the Hudson Line
of the Metro-North Railroad
. The Hudson Line also has station stops in New Hamburg
(a hamlet of the town of Poughkeepsie) and Beacon
.
The Harlem Line, on the eastern side of the county, has station stops in Pawling
, Wingdale, Dover Plains
, and two stops in Wassaic (one along the Tenmile River
and the other the namesake terminus of that line
).
Public transportation in Dutchess County is handled by the Dutchess County Department of Mass Transit, branded publicly as the LOOP
system. Outside of the urbanized area of the county, most service is limited. The City of Poughkeepsie
operates its own limited system as well. Privately run lines connect Poughkeepsie to New Paltz
and Beacon to Newburgh.
For intercity bus service, Adirondack Trailways
and Short Line Bus also operate some service through Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, and the southern part of the county. The last time service ran outside that area was in the late-1990s when Peter Pan/Bonanza
ran service to New York City in the eastern part of the county.
, located in the town of Wappinger
, is a general aviation facility which once had commercial service. The closest commercial airport, Stewart International Airport
, is located across the Hudson River in Newburgh.
are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays
. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League
, and play at Dutchess Stadium
in Fishkill
.
The Hudson Valley Bears
are one of four founding members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)
. They play their home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center
in Poughkeepsie.
The Hudson Valley Hawks
is a team in the newly formed National Professional Basketball League
. The team's home court is at Beacon High School, in Beacon
.
*: There is also a northern border of about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) in length with Berkshire County, Massachusetts
, however this is in a forested area in Taconic State Park
and there is no direct road access from Dutchess County to Berkshire County.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Poughkeepsie.
Dutchess County is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
–Middletown
Middletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area
The Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in New York's Hudson Valley, with the cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Middletown, and the Arlington census-designated place as...
as well as the larger New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
–Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
–Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, NY-NJ
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-CT
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
-PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Combined Statistical Area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.
History
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
settlement, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the native Wappinger
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
peoples. They had their council-fire at what is now present-day Fishkill Hook and also held gatherings along the Danskammer.
In 1683, the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
established its first twelve counties, with Dutchess County being one of them. Its boundaries at that time included the present Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
, and a small portion of the present Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
(the towns of Clermont and Germantown). The county was named for Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
, Duchess of York, second wife of James, Duke of York (later James II, King of England).
Until 1713, Dutchess was administered by Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
.
In 1812, Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
was detached from Dutchess.
The patents
In the twelve years 1685-1697 lawful patents had beengranted securing for their purchasers every foot of Hudson River shoreline
in the original county.
Three additional patents, to 1706, laid claim to the remaining
interior lands.
- 1685 Rombout (Beacon/ Fishkill Area)
- 1686 Minisink
- 1686 Kip
- 1688 Schuyler (Poughkeepsie)
- 1688 Schuyler (Red Hook)
- 1688 Ærtsen-Roosa-Elton
- 1696 Pawling-Staats
- 1697 Rhinebeck
- 1697 (Great) Nine PartnersGreat Nine Partners PatentThe Great Nine Partners Patent, also known as the "Lower Nine Partners Patent," was a land grant in Dutchess County, New York, USA made in 1697.-The partners:* John Aarston * William Creed* James Emott * Hendrick ten Eyck...
- 1697 Philipse
- 1697 Cuyler
- 1703 Fanconnier
- 1703 Beekman (Back Lots)
- 1706 (Little) Nine PartnersLittle Nine Partners PatentThe Little Nine Partners Patent was the final patent granted in Dutchess County, New York, USA. It was located in the northern part of the county, and comprises all or parts of the modern towns of Milan, Pine Plains, and North East...
Early settlement
From 1683-1725 most of the settlers in Dutchess County were Dutch. Many of these moved in from Albany and Ulster Counties. They settled along the Fishkill River and in the areas that are now PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
and Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck (town), New York
Rhinebeck is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,548 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rhinebeck in the northwest part of Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley. Rhinebeck is also the name of a village in the town. US Route 9 passes through the town...
.
From 1715-1730 most of the new settlers in Dutchess county were Germans. From 1730 until 1775 New Englanders were the main new settlers in Dutchess County.
20th century
Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
lived in his family home in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
, overlooking the Hudson River.
In the 1960s G. Gordon Liddy
G. Gordon Liddy
George Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
(who went to prison for crimes committed during the Nixon administration's Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
and now a talk show host), was a Dutchess County assistant district attorney when he repeatedly tried to have Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
arrested on drug charges. By the 1980s, the two ex-cons went on a speaking tour together.
Prior to the 1960s, Dutchess County was primarily agricultural. Since then the southern part (from Poughkeepsie south) of the county has developed into a largely residential area, suburban in character, with many of its residents commuting to jobs in New York City. The northern region of the county is still very much rural with large farmlands but at the same time developed residences used during the summer and or on weekends by people living in the New York City urban area.
Geography
Dutchess County is located in southeastern New York State, between the Hudson RiverHudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
on its west and the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
border on its east, about halfway between the cities of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It contains two cities: Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
and Poughkeepsie.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 825 square miles (2,136.7 km²), of which 802 square miles (2,077.2 km²) is land and 24 square miles (62.2 km²) (2.88%) is water.
The terrain of the county is mostly hilly, especially in the Hudson Highlands in the southwestern corner and the Taconic Mountains
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
to the northeast. Some areas nearer the river are flatter.
The highest point in the county is the summit of Brace Mountain
Brace Mountain
Brace Mountain is the peak of a ridge in the southern Taconic Mountains, near the tripoint of the U.S. states of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts...
, in the Taconics, at 2,311 feet (704 m) above sea level. The lowest point is sea level, along the Hudson River.
Adjacent counties
- Columbia County, New YorkColumbia County, New YorkColumbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, north - Berkshire County, MassachusettsBerkshire County, MassachusettsBerkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, northeast - Litchfield County, ConnecticutLitchfield County, ConnecticutLitchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, east - Fairfield County, ConnecticutFairfield County, ConnecticutFairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, southeast - Putnam County, New YorkPutnam County, New YorkPutnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
, south - Orange County, New YorkOrange County, New YorkOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, southwest - Ulster County, New YorkUlster County, New YorkUlster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, west
National protected areas
- Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic SiteEleanor Roosevelt National Historic SiteEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site consists of approximately two miles east of Springwood, the Hyde Park Roosevelt family home.-History:...
- Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic SiteHome of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic SiteThe Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site preserves the Springwood estate in Hyde Park, New York, United States of America. Springwood was the birthplace, lifelong home, and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt...
- Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic SiteVanderbilt Mansion National Historic SiteVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, located in Hyde Park, New York, is one of America's premier examples of the country palaces built by wealthy industrialists during the Gilded Age....
State, county, and town parks
- Bowdoin County Park
- Hudson Highlands State ParkHudson Highlands State ParkHudson Highlands State Park is a non-contiguous state park in the U.S. state of New York, located on the east side of the Hudson River. The park runs from Peekskill in Westchester County, through Putnam County, to Beacon in Dutchess County, in the eastern section of the Hudson Highlands.The park's...
- Stratt Town Park
- Wilcox County Park
- Tymor Forest
- Taconic State ParkTaconic State ParkTaconic State Park is located in Columbia and Dutchess County, New York abutting Massachusetts and Connecticut within the Taconic Mountains. The state park is located off New York State Route 344 south of Interstate 90 and north of New York City...
- Beekman Rec
- East Fishkill Rec
- James Baird State ParkJames Baird State ParkJames Baird State Park is a state park in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The park is located in the northern part of the Town of LaGrange, east of City of Poughkeepsie....
- Poughkeepsie BridgePoughkeepsie BridgeThe Poughkeepsie Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York on the east bank and Highland, New York on the west bank...
Demographics
In 1990 Dutchess County had a population of 259,462.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 280,150 people, 99,536 households, and 69,177 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 350 people per square mile (135/km²). There were 106,103 housing units at an average density of 132 per square mile (51/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.66% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
(80.3% non-Hispanic whites), 9.32% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.52% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.37% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.89% from two or more races. 6.45% were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.0% were of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, 16.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 11.3% German and 6.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 88.3% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 4.8% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Based on the Census Ancestry tallies, including people who listed more than one ancestry, Italians were the largest group in Dutchess County with 60,645. Irish came in a very close second at 59,991. In third place were the 44,915 Germans who barely exceeded the 44,078 people not in the 105 specifically delineated ancestry groups.
6.45% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. Puerto Ricans made up the largest portion of Latinos, with 2.9% of the total county population. 2.1% of the county population was in the category "other Hispanic or Latino". The other Hispanics and Latinos were a varied group. About 700 were born in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, while people born in Colombia or Ecuador slightly exceeded 800. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama all had more than 100 natives in Dutchess County. There were 1,685 people in the county born in Mexico but they were exceeded by the total 1,894 born in South America.
There were 99,536 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,086, and the median income for a family was $63,254. Males had a median income of $45,576 versus $30,706 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $23,940. About 5.00% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
The per capita income and average home values have increased noticeably in recent years mainly due to affluent residents relocating from nearby and expensive Westchester County, NY. In recent years, there has been a large influx of people that have relocated from New York City, mainly from the Borough of The Bronx.
The decrease in population between 1810 and 1820 was due the separation of Putnam County
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
from Dutchess in 1812.
Government and politics
The county is governed via a county executive and a county legislature. The county legislature consists of 25 members each elected from single member districts. Currently, there are 19 RepublicansRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, 5 Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and 1 Conservative member who caucuses with the Republicans. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote. Dutchess County has historically leaned Republican due to its affluence and large suburban swaths; it has voted for Democratic presidential candidates only three times - 1964, 1996 and 2008. The largely suburban southern towns of Dutchess tend to be more conservative, while the small villages and rural areas of the northern tier have become somewhat more liberal. Almost all elected officials are Republican, but in the 2008 Presidential Election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Barack Obama carried Dutchess with 53% of the vote. The previous election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
saw George W. Bush win with 51%. This gives Dutchess a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D+1.
| Name | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|
| David C. Schoentag | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
January 1, 1968 - December 31, 1975 |
| Edward C. Scheuler | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
January 1, 1976 - April, 1978 |
| Lucille P. Pattison | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
April, 1978 - December 31, 1991 |
| William R. Steinhaus | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
January 1, 1992–present |
| District | Legislator | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | James R. Doxey | Conservative |
| 2 | Suzanne Horn | Republican |
| 3 | Dale Borchert | Republican |
| 4 | Donald Sadowski | Republican |
| 5 | Kenneth Roman | Republican |
| 6 | Angela Flesland | Republican |
| 7 | Dan Kuffner | Democrat |
| 8 | Robert Rolison chairman | Republican |
| 9 | Steve White | Democrat |
| 10 | Barbara Jeter-Jackson | Democrat |
| 11 | Joel Tyner | Democrat |
| 12 | Robert A. Weiss | Republican |
| 13 | Donna Bolner | Republican |
| 14 | Sandra Goldberg minority leader Minority leader In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position... |
Democrat |
| 15 | Joseph Incoronato | Republican |
| 16 | Alison MacAvery | Democrat |
| 17 | James Miccio | Republican |
| 18 | John Forman | Republican |
| 19 | Gary Cooper majority leader Majority leader In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the... |
Republican |
| 20 | Benjamin Traudt | Republican |
| 21 | Marge J. Horton | Republican |
| 22 | Gerald Hutchings | Republican |
| 23 | John Thomes | Republican |
| 24 | Alan Surman | Republican |
| 25 | Michael Kelsey | Republican |
Law enforcement
The Cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie; Towns of Fishkill, Hyde Park, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, and East Fishkill and Village of Wappingers and Fishkill have their own Police departments. The remainder of the county is patrolled by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and New York State PoliceNew York State Police
The New York State Police is the state police force of over 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of a construction foreman named Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not...
. The New York State Police Troop K headquarters is located in Pleasant Valley.
Highways
- Interstate 84Interstate 84 in New YorkInterstate 84 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the Eastern United States. In New York, I-84 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
traverses the county in an east-west route cutting through the southern quadrant of the county. It is the only interstate highway in the county. - US 9, the Taconic State ParkwayTaconic State ParkwayThe Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
, and NY 22New York State Route 22New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
are the main north-south roads in the county. - US 44U.S. Route 44 in New YorkU.S. Route 44 in the state of New York is a major east–west thoroughfare in the Hudson Valley region of the state. Its entire length is maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation, with the exception of the Mid-Hudson Bridge, which is maintained by the New York State Bridge...
, NY 55New York State Route 55New York State Route 55 is a state highway in southern New York, running from the Pennsylvania state line at the Delaware River in Barryville to the Connecticut state line at Wingdale...
, and NY 199New York State Route 199New York State Route 199 is a state highway located in the Hudson Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with U.S. Route 9W and US 209 north of Kingston to an intersection with US 44 and NY 22 southwest of Millerton...
are the other main east-west roads in the county
Railroads
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
has stations in Rhinecliff
Rhinecliff-Kingston (Amtrak station)
The Rhinecliff–Kingston Amtrak station, commonly and formerly known as simply Rhinecliff, is located in Rhinebeck, New York and serves northern Dutchess County and the nearby Kingston area across the Hudson River. The station has one low-level island platform that serves two tracks...
, a small hamlet in the Town of Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (Metro-North station)
The Poughkeepsie Metro-North Railroad station serves Poughkeepsie, New York and surrounding areas as the north end of the Hudson Line. It is also served by many Amtrak trains, which continue north to Albany and points beyond, and south to New York City's Pennsylvania Station. Trains leave for New...
, with both stations being served by Empire Service
Empire Service (Amtrak)
The Empire Service is a train service operated by Amtrak within the state of New York in the United States. Trains on the line provide frequent daily service along the 460-mile Empire Corridor between New York City and Niagara Falls, New York...
trains as well as other trains that run along the line. The latter station is the terminus of the Hudson Line
Hudson Line (Metro-North)
Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line is a commuter rail line running north from New York City along the east shore of the Hudson River. Metro-North service ends at Poughkeepsie, with Amtrak's Empire Corridor trains continuing north to and beyond Albany...
of the Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
. The Hudson Line also has station stops in New Hamburg
New Hamburg (Metro-North station)
The New Hamburg Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of the Wappingers Falls, New York and the Town of Poughkeepsie, New York via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for New York City every hour on weekdays, and about every 25 minutes during rush hour...
(a hamlet of the town of Poughkeepsie) and Beacon
Beacon (Metro-North station)
Beacon is a Metro-North Railroad station that serves the residents of Beacon, New York, via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for New York City every hour during off peak hours, and about every 15–25 minutes during rush hour...
.
The Harlem Line, on the eastern side of the county, has station stops in Pawling
Pawling (Metro-North station)
The Pawling Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Pawling, New York via the Harlem Line. Trains leave for New York City every two hours, and about every 30 minutes during rush hour...
, Wingdale, Dover Plains
Dover Plains (Metro-North station)
The Dover Plains Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Dover Plains, New York via the Harlem Line. Trains leave for New York City every two hours, and about every 30 minutes during rush hour...
, and two stops in Wassaic (one along the Tenmile River
Tenmile River (Metro-North station)
The Tenmile River Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Amenia, New York via the Harlem Line. About every two hours trains depart bound for Southeast which connect to trains for New York City with service to Grand Central Terminal...
and the other the namesake terminus of that line
Wassaic (Metro-North station)
The Wassaic Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Wassaic, New York as the northern terminal of the Harlem Line. Trains leave for New York City every two hours, and about every 30 minutes during rush hour...
).
Buses
Dutchess County LOOP
The Dutchess County LOOP Bus System is the bus service provided by the Dutchess County Department of Mass Transit in Dutchess County, New York. LOOP provides a variety of bus services throughout Dutchess County ranging from fixed-route services, centered primarily along the Route 9 corridor,...
system. Outside of the urbanized area of the county, most service is limited. The City of Poughkeepsie
City of Poughkeepsie Transit
City of Poughkeepsie Transit is the municipal bus system serving the City of Poughkeepsie, New York as well as parts of the Town of Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park. The system operates five different regular routes and a service which serves students at Poughkeepsie Middle School and Poughkeepsie High...
operates its own limited system as well. Privately run lines connect Poughkeepsie to New Paltz
New Paltz (village), New York
New Paltz is a village in Ulster County in the U.S. state of New York. It is about north of New York City and south of Albany. The population was 6,818 at the 2010 census.The Village of New Paltz is located within the Town of New Paltz...
and Beacon to Newburgh.
For intercity bus service, Adirondack Trailways
Trailways of New York
Trailways of New York is a bus company in New York operating under the Adirondack Trailways, Pine Hill Trailways, and New York Trailways brands, primarily along the Albany to Buffalo corridor...
and Short Line Bus also operate some service through Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, and the southern part of the county. The last time service ran outside that area was in the late-1990s when Peter Pan/Bonanza
Peter Pan Bus Lines
Peter Pan Bus Lines is a long-distance bus carrier headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts. It operates in the northeastern United States. Over four million passengers per year travel on Peter Pan's bus routes....
ran service to New York City in the eastern part of the county.
Air
The Dutchess County AirportDutchess County Airport
Dutchess County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located on State Route 376 in the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, United States, four miles south of the central business district of Poughkeepsie. It is sometimes called Poughkeepsie Airport, which gives it the code POU...
, located in the town of Wappinger
Wappinger, New York
Wappinger is a town of in Dutchess County, New York in the United States. The population was 26,274 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Wappani Indians that inhabited the area...
, is a general aviation facility which once had commercial service. The closest commercial airport, Stewart International Airport
Stewart International Airport
Stewart International Airport is located in the southern Hudson Valley, west of Newburgh, New York and over north of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The airport is located in the Town of Newburgh and the Town of New Windsor."." U.S. Census Bureau...
, is located across the Hudson River in Newburgh.
Sports
The Hudson Valley RenegadesHudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
, and play at Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium is a stadium in Fishkill, New York. It opened in 1994 and holds 4,500 people. It is located on New York State Route 9D.It is primarily used for baseball, as the home field of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team. The Renegades are the rookie-level team of the...
in Fishkill
Fishkill, New York
Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
.
The Hudson Valley Bears
Hudson Valley Bears
The Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the in Newburgh, New York.-2008-2009:...
are one of four founding members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)
Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008)
The Eastern Professional Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league. The league was developed by Curtis Russell, Tim Kolpien, Igor Mrotchek, and Jim Riggs, the former commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League in 2007....
. They play their home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Mid-Hudson Civic Center
The Mid-Hudson Civic Center is a venue in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA consisting of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena . It was built in the 1970s as part of the general attempt at rehabilitation of the central district of the City of Poughkeepsie...
in Poughkeepsie.
The Hudson Valley Hawks
Hudson Valley Hawks
The Hudson Valley Hawks are a professional basketball team in the National Professional Basketball League based in Beacon, New York. The Hawks play at Beacon High School....
is a team in the newly formed National Professional Basketball League
National Professional Basketball League (2007-)
The National Professional Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NPBL, was an American men's professional basketball minor league featuring teams from the East Coast of the United States which played for two seasons....
. The team's home court is at Beacon High School, in Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
.
Cities
Defined by the State of New York- BeaconBeacon, New YorkBeacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
- PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
Towns
Defined by the State of New York- AmeniaAmenia (town), New YorkAmenia is a town in Dutchess County, United States. New York, United States. The population was 4,048 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Latin word, amoena, which means "pleasant to the eye."...
- BeekmanBeekman, New YorkBeekman is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. The population was 11,452 at the 2000...
- ClintonClinton, Dutchess County, New YorkClinton is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,010 at the 2000 census. The town is named after George Clinton, an early governor of New York....
- DoverDover, New YorkDover is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 8,565 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Dover in England, the home town of an early settler....
- East FishkillEast Fishkill, New YorkEast Fishkill is a town on the southern border of Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 25,589 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from its formation from Fishkill, NY....
- FishkillFishkill (town), New YorkFishkill is an affluent suburban town in the southwest part of Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census, however, current estimates put the town's population at over 22,100. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon....
- Hyde ParkHyde Park, New YorkHyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
- La Grange
- MilanMilan, New YorkMilan is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The Town of Milan is in the northern part of the county.-History:The area that comprises Milan today was the western part of the Little Nine Partners Patent of 1706. Milan was largely a farming and mill town and remains a very rural...
- North EastNorth East, New YorkNorth East is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 3,002 at the 2000 census.The Town of North East is in the northeastern part of the county...
- PawlingPawling (town), New YorkPawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name...
- Pine PlainsPine Plains (town), New YorkPine Plains is a town in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,569 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the geographic character of the region.The Hamlet of Pine Plains is on the north border of the county.-History:...
- Pleasant ValleyPleasant Valley (town), New YorkPleasant Valley is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 9,066 at the 2000 census. The town is centrally located in the county, northeast of the City of Poughkeepsie. US Route 44 passes through the town.-History:...
- PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (town), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
- Red HookRed Hook, New YorkRed Hook is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was reported to be 11,319 during the 2010 census. The name is supposedly derived from the red foliage on trees on a small strip of land on the Hudson River. The town contains two villages; the village of Red Hook and the...
- RhinebeckRhinebeck (town), New YorkRhinebeck is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,548 at the 2010 census.The Town of Rhinebeck in the northwest part of Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley. Rhinebeck is also the name of a village in the town. US Route 9 passes through the town...
- StanfordStanford, New YorkStanford is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census.The Town of Stanford is in the north-central part of the county.-History:Stanford was first settled around 1750...
- Union ValeUnion Vale, New YorkUnion Vale is a residential town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,546 at the 2000 census.The Town of Union Vale is in the south-central part of the county. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger...
- WappingerWappinger, New YorkWappinger is a town of in Dutchess County, New York in the United States. The population was 26,274 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Wappani Indians that inhabited the area...
- WashingtonWashington, New YorkWashington is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,742 at the 2000 census. The town is named after George Washington, who passed through the town during the Revolution....
Villages
Defined by the State of New York- FishkillFishkill, New YorkFishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
- MillbrookMillbrook, New YorkMillbrook is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is often said to be a "low-key version of the Hamptons" and one of the wealthiest towns in New York State. Millbrook's estimated town population was 1,551 in 2008. Millbrook is located in the Hudson Valley, an hour and thirty...
- MillertonMillerton, New YorkMillerton is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 925 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
- PawlingPawling (village), New YorkPawling is a village in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,233 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area...
- Red HookRed Hook (village), New YorkRed Hook is a village in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 1,961 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area...
- RhinebeckRhinebeck (village), New YorkRhinebeck is a village located in the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,657 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
- TivoliTivoli, New YorkTivoli is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,118 at the 2010 census. The village, which was incorporated in 1872 from parts of Upper Red Hook Landing and Madalin, is the northernmost settlement in the county, located in the northwest part of the Town of Red...
- Wappingers FallsWappingers Falls, New YorkWappingers Falls is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The name is derived from the local Wappinger Indians. One half of the village is in the town of Wappinger and the other half is in the town of Poughkeepsie, with Wappinger Creek forming the dividing line between the...
Hamlets
Defined by the State of New York- Annandale-on-HudsonAnnandale-on-Hudson, New YorkAnnandale-on-Hudson is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, USA, in the Hudson Valley in the town of Red Hook, across the Hudson River from Kingston....
- ArlingtonArlington, New YorkArlington is a community in Dutchess County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 12,481.Arlington is a suburb of the City of Poughkeepsie and is in the Town of Poughkeepsie...
- Arthursburg
- Attlebury
- Bangall
- Bear Market
- BrinckerhoffBrinckerhoff, New YorkBrinckerhoff is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 2,734 at the 2000 census...
- Barnegat
- BarrytownBarrytown, New YorkBarrytown is a hamlet within the town of Red Hook in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is within the Hudson River Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, and comprises four of the Hudson River Valley estates: Edgewater, Messina, Rokeby, and Sylvania...
- Crown HeightsCrown Heights, New YorkCrown Heights is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 2,992 at the 2000 census...
- De Witt Mills
- Dover PlainsDover Plains, New YorkDover Plains is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,996 at the 2000 census...
- FairviewFairview, Dutchess County, New YorkFairview is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 5,421 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
- Fishkill Plains
- Gayhead
- Fishkill
- Gretna
- HavilandHaviland, New YorkHaviland is a community in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 3,710 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
- Hillside LakeHillside Lake, New YorkHillside Lake is a hamlet Hillside Lake is a hamlet Hillside Lake is a hamlet (and census-designated place] in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 2,022 at the 2000 census...
- Holmes
- Hopewell JunctionHopewell Junction, New YorkHopewell Junction is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 2,610 at the 2000 census...
- Hortontown
- Hughsonville
- JohnsontownJohnsontown, New YorkJohnsontown was a settlement in the Town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, USA,-History:Johnsontown was founded in the late 18th century by the Johnson brothers who came to the mountain area looking for timber to use for shipbuilding...
- Knapps Corner
- Lomala
- McIntyre
- Myers CornerMyers Corner, New YorkMyers Corner is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 5,546 at the 2000 census...
- New Hackensack
- New HamburgNew Hamburg, New YorkNew Hamburg is a small hamlet along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, best known as home of a popular marina and a busy Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line station. It is located in the southern corner of the Wappingers Falls....
- Norrie Heights
- OniontownOniontown, New YorkOniontown is an unincorporated settlement in Dutchess County, New York, located 1.5 miles south of the hamlet of Dover Plains. It was briefly the subject of world-wide media attention in 2008, when a derisive video about the area published on YouTube led to visiting outsiders being...
- Pecksville
- Pleasant PlainsPleasant Plains, Dutchess County, New YorkPleasant Plains is a hamlet in the Town of Clinton of Dutchess County, New York, United States....
- Poughquag
- Red Oaks MillRed Oaks Mill, New YorkRed Oaks Mill is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York. It lies within the limits of the Town of Poughkeepsie and Town of LaGrange. The population was 4,930 at the 2000 census....
- Rhinecliff
- Rudco
- Salt PointSalt Point, New YorkSalt Point is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It lies northeast of Poughkeepsie following New York Route 115, the Salt Point Turnpike. East of Salt Point, the Taconic State Parkway allows for easy access from many of the surrounding towns and communities with easy travel to...
- ShenandoahShenandoah, New YorkShenandoah is a community in East Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York. It is near Interstate 84, the Taconic Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail....
- ShekomekoShekomeko, New YorkShekomeko was a historic hamlet in the southwest part of the town of North East, New York, United States in present-day Dutchess County. It was a village of the Mahican people. They lived by a stream which Anglo-Americans later named Shekomeko Creek, after their village.In 1740 Moravians from...
- SpackenkillSpackenkill, New YorkSpackenkill is a hamlet and a census-designated place in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,756 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New...
- StaatsburgStaatsburg, New YorkStaatsburg is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
- Stanfordville
- Stissing
- Stormville
- WassaicWassaic, New YorkWassaic is a hamlet in the Town of Amenia, Dutchess County, New York in the United States.Wassaic is located in southeast New York State and surrounded by the East and West Mountains and along the Tenmile River....
- Washington Hollow
- Wiccopee
- Willow Brook
- Wingdale
- Van Keurens
- Cities, Towns and Villages are official political designations.
| North: Columbia County Columbia County, New York Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal... | ||
| West: Hudson River Hudson River The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York... Orange Orange County, New York Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley... and Ulster Counties Ulster County, New York Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at... | Dutchess County | East: Fairfield Fairfield County, Connecticut Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains... and Litchfield Counties Litchfield County, Connecticut Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927... in Connecticut Connecticut Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately... * |
| South: Putnam County Putnam County, New York Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel... |
*: There is also a northern border of about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) in length with Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, however this is in a forested area in Taconic State Park
Taconic State Park
Taconic State Park is located in Columbia and Dutchess County, New York abutting Massachusetts and Connecticut within the Taconic Mountains. The state park is located off New York State Route 344 south of Interstate 90 and north of New York City...
and there is no direct road access from Dutchess County to Berkshire County.
Colleges, universities, etc.
- Adelphi UniversityAdelphi UniversityAdelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
School of Social Work Poughkeepsie - Bard CollegeBard CollegeBard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
(Annandale-on-HudsonAnnandale-on-Hudson, New YorkAnnandale-on-Hudson is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, USA, in the Hudson Valley in the town of Red Hook, across the Hudson River from Kingston....
) - Culinary Institute of AmericaCulinary Institute of AmericaThe Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
(Hyde ParkHyde Park, New YorkHyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
) - Dutchess Community CollegeDutchess Community CollegeDutchess Community College is one of 30 community colleges within the State University of New York system . The College, located in Dutchess County, is situated on on a hill above Poughkeepsie, New York...
(PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (town), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
) - Marist CollegeMarist CollegeMarist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
(PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (town), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 42,777 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the native term, "Uppu-qui-ipis-in," which means "reed-covered hut by the water."...
) - Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute (PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
) - Vassar CollegeVassar CollegeVassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
(PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie (city), New YorkPoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
)
Public school districts
- Arlington Central School DistrictArlington Central School DistrictThe Arlington Central School District is one of thirteen public school districts serving residents of Dutchess County, New York. It has eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one comprehensive high school, and other institutions of various types. As of 2007, it had nearly 11,500 students...
- Beacon City School District
- Dover Union Free School District
- Hyde Park Central School District
- Millbrook Central School District
- Pawling Central School District
- Pine Plains Central School District
- Poughkeepsie City School DistrictPoughkeepsie City School DistrictPoughkeepsie City School District is located in Dutchess County, New York State. Approximately 75 miles north of New York City, the school district is situated on the banks of the Hudson River in an area known as the Mid Hudson Valley....
- Red Hook Central School District
- Rhinebeck Central School District
- Spackenkill Union Free School DistrictSpackenkill Union Free School DistrictThe Spackenkill Union Free School District, also known as Spackenkill School District, is a New York school district in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York.-History of Spackenkill:...
- Wappingers Central School District
- Webutuck Central School District
- Dutchess County BOCES
Private schools
- Oakwood Friends SchoolOakwood Friends SchoolOakwood Friends School is a College Preparatory school located in Poughkeepsie, New York. It is the first College Preparatory school in New York....
- Our Lady of Lourdes High SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes High SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes High School is located in Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. The current principal is Father John M. Lagiovane. The school received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in May 2004...
- Poughkeepsie Day SchoolPoughkeepsie Day SchoolPoughkeepsie Day School is an independent coeducational school serving students in the mid-Hudson valley, for Pre-K - 12th grade.It was founded in 1934. Its original location was at Hooker and South Grand Avenues in the city of Poughkeepsie, where it began with 35 students and three faculty members...
- Dutchess Day SchoolDutchess Day SchoolDutchess Day School is a co-educational day school located in Millbrook, New York that serves students from Pre-K through Grade 8. Founded in 1955, it first had only 3 teachers and nineteen students. Enrollment for 2007–2008 was 176 students with 32 teachers...
- Millbrook SchoolMillbrook SchoolMillbrook School is a private, coeducational preparatory school located in Duchess County, New York, USA. It is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, and is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the Board of Regents of the State University of New York...
- Trinity-Pawling SchoolTrinity-Pawling SchoolTrinity-Pawling School is an all boys private high school in Pawling, New York. Dr. Frederick Luther Gamage, once Headmaster of St. Paul's School in Long Island, founded the Pawling School in 1907. Located on high on a hill overlooking the Hudson River Valley, Trinity-Pawling has a colonial brick...
- Tabernacle Christian AcademyTabernacle Christian AcademyThe Tabernacle Christian Academy is a Christian school in Poughkeepsie, New York in the USA.-See also:...
- Upton Lake Christian School
See also
- List of counties in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dutchess County, New York
- Upstate New YorkUpstate New YorkUpstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
External links
- Dutchess County official webpage
- Early history summary of Dutchess County
- Historic Towns of Dutchess County
Further reading
- MacCracken, Henry Noble. Old Dutchess Forever!, New York: Hastings House, ©1956. LC 56-12863
- Smith, James H. History of Dutchess County, New York, Syracuse, New York: 1882. Reprinted: Interlaken, New York: Heart of the Lakes Publishing. ISBN 0-932334-35-0