Dutchess County, New York
Introduction
Dutchess County, New York is a county in New York State. 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.
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.
Demography
The population of Dutchess County in the 2000 U. S. census was 280,150.
Economy
Law/Government
County Executive
Legislative body
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.
Colleges and Universities in county