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.