Dutchess County, New York

Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. State of New York. As of 2000, the population is 280,150. The county seat is Poughkeepsie. The name comes from the title of the Duchess of York (despite the spelling difference), wife of the duke who would become James II of England.

Table of contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Cities and Towns 5 Colleges and Universities

History In 1683, New York State established its first twelve counties. Dutchess County was 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).

Until 1713, Dutchess was administered by Ulster County.

In 1812, Putnam County was detached from Dutchess.

Geography Dutchess County is located in eastern New York State, between the Hudson River 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 2,138 km² (825 mi²). 2,076 km² (802 mi²) of it is land and 62 km² (24 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.88% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 280,150 people, 99,536 households, and 69,177 families residing in the county. The population density is 135/km² (350/mi²). There are 106,103 housing units at an average density of 51/km² (132/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 83.66% White, 9.32% 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% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 99,536 households out of which 34.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% are married couples living together, 10.30% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% are non-families. 24.60% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.16.

In the county the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $53,086, and the median income for a family is $63,254. Males have a median income of $45,576 versus $30,706 for females. The per capita income for the county is $23,940. 7.50% of the population and 5.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 8.50% are under the age of 18 and 6.50% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Amenia[?]
• Arlington
• Beacon
• Beekman
• Brinckerhoff
• Clinton
• Crown Heights
• Dover Plains
• Dover
• East Fishkill
• Fairview
• Fishkill[?]
• Haviland
• Hillside Lake
• Hopewell Junction
• Hyde Park
• La Grange
• Milan
• Millbrook
• Millerton
• Myers Corner
• North East
• Pawling[?]
• Pine Plains[?]
• Pleasant Valley[?]
• Poughkeepsie
• Red Hook[?]
• Red Oaks Mill
• Rhinebeck[?]
• Spackenkill
• Staatsburg
• Stanford
• Tivoli
• Union Vale
• Wappinger
• Wappingers Falls
• Washington

Colleges and Universities

• Marist College[?] (Poughkeepsie)
• Vassar College (Poughkeepsie)