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Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Yorkmarker, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2000 census lists the population as 280,150, but the United States Census Bureau gives an estimate of 292,706 residents for the 12-month period ending July 1, 2007. The county seat is Poughkeepsiemarker.

Dutchess County is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburghmarker–Middletownmarker, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New Yorkmarker–Newarkmarker–Bridgeportmarker, NY-NJmarker-CTmarker-PAmarker Combined Statistical Areamarker. It is the northmost county in the New York Metropolitan area.

History

to Anglo-Dutch settlement, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the Wappinger. They had their council-fire at 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 Countymarker, and a small portion of the present Columbia Countymarker (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 Countymarker.

In 1812, Putnam Countymarker 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 shorelinein the original county.Three additional patents, to 1706, laid claim to the remaininginterior lands.

  1. 1685 Rombout (Beacon/ Fishkill Area)
  2. 1686 Minisink
  3. 1686 Kip
  4. 1688 Schuyler (Poughkeepsie)
  5. 1688 Schuyler (Red Hook)
  6. 1688 Ærtsen-Roosa-Elton
  7. 1696 Pawling-Staats
  8. 1697 Rhinebeck
  9. 1697 Nine Partners
  10. 1697 Philipse
  11. 1697 Cuyler
  12. 1703 Fanconnier
  13. 1703 Beekman (Back Lots)
  14. 1706 Nine Partners


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 Poughkeepsiemarker 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.

20th century

Franklin D. Roosevelt lived in his family home in Hyde Parkmarker, overlooking the Hudson River.

In the 1960s G. Gordon Liddy (now a radio talk show host and who went to prison for crimes committed during the Nixon administration's Watergate scandal), was an assistant Dutchess County 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 at the same time developed many 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 River on its west and the New Yorkmarker-Connecticutmarker border on its east, about halfway between the cities of Albanymarker and New Yorkmarker. It contains two cities: Beaconmarker and Poughkeepsie.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 825 square miles (2,138 km²), of which, 802 square miles (2,076 km²) of it is land and 24 square miles (62 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.

The terrain of the county is mostly hilly, especially in the Hudson Highlands in the southwestern corner and the Taconic Mountainsmarker 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.

Adjacent counties



National protected areas



State, County, And Town Parks



Demographics

In 1990 Dutchess County had a population of 259,462.

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, 4.8% Spanish and 1.3% Italian as their first language.

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 Republicmarker, 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.

2006 Census estimates

By 2006 the population of Dutchess County was estimated at 295,146. 80.3% of the population was White (non-Hispanic whites being about 77% of the population), 8.0% Black (if Hispanic Blacks are excluded the namber falls at most to 7.8% of the population), 8.4% Hispanic or Latino and 3.4% of the population was Asian. Chinese and Asian Indians were by far the largest Asian groups, both numbering over 3000 people while the next largest group, Koreans, numbered just over 1000 people.

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. The county executive is elected in a countywide vote.


Dutchess County Executives
Name Party Term
David C. Schoentag Republican January 1, 1968 - December 31, 1975
Edward C. Scheuler Republican January 1, 1976 - April, 1978
Lucille P. Pattison Democrat April, 1978 - December 31, 1991
William R. Steinhaus Republican January 1, 1992 - present


Transportation

Highways

  • Interstate 84 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 Parkway, and NY 22 are the main north-south roads in the county.
  • US 44, NY 55, and NY 199 are the other main east-west roads in the county


Railroads

Amtrak has stations in Rhinecliffmarker, a small hamlet in the Town of Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsiemarker, 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 Hamburgmarker (a hamlet of the town of Poughkeepsie) and Beaconmarker.

The Harlem Line, on the eastern side of the county, has station stops in Pawlingmarker, Wingdalemarker, Dover Plainsmarker, and two stops in Wassaic (one along the Tenmile Rivermarker and the other the namesake terminus of that linemarker).

Buses

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.

Air

The Dutchess County Airportmarker, located in the town of Wappingermarker, is a general aviation facility which once had commercial service. The closest commercial airport, Stewart International Airportmarker, is located across the Hudson River in Newburghmarker.

Sports

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, and play at Dutchess Stadiummarker in Fishkillmarker.

The Hudson Valley Bears are one of four founding members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League . They play their home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Centermarker 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 Beaconmarker.

Communities

Cities

Defined by the State of New York

Towns

Defined by the State of New York

Villages

Defined by the State of New York

Hamlets

Defined by the State of New York

Cities, Towns and Villages are official political designations.


North: Columbia Countymarker
West: Hudson River

Orangemarker and

Ulster Countiesmarker		 Dutchess County East: Fairfieldmarker and

Litchfield Countiesmarker in Connecticutmarker*
South: Putnam Countymarker
*: There is also a northern border of about 0.5 miles (0.8km) in length with Berkshire County, Massachusettsmarker, however this is in a forested area in Taconic State Park and there is no direct road access from Dutchess County to Berkshire County.

Colleges, universities, etc.



Public school districts



Private schools



See also



References



External links



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



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