Dutchess County Facts

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK FACT SHEET

Dutchess County, total population 297,488 (2000), is located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, midway between New York City and the state's capital, Albany.  Also see Dutchess County, NY official website www.co.dutchess.ny.us

Geography
    Area: 801.7 square miles
    Average temperatures range from a low of 18 F in January to high of 84F in July.
    Terrain: Rolling hills, streams, forests, fall foliage, orchards, gardens, 40 miles Hudson River coast line.

Major Cities, Towns And Villages: Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, Rhinebeck, Fishkill, Millbrook, Millerton, Red Hook, Pawling, and Beacon

MAJOR ATRACTIONS

    FD Roosevelt Home/Presidential Library & Museum
    Dia: Beacon, Riggio Galleries
    Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
    Locust Grove Estate, SFB Morse Historic Site
    Staatsburgh State Historic Site (Mills Mansion)
    Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Val-Kill
    Frank Gehry's Fisher Center for Performing Arts, and CCS-Hessel Museum, Bard College
    The Culinary Institute of America
    Wilderstein, home of FDR's cousin
    Mount Gulian Historic Site
    Dutchess Stadium, Hudson Valley Renegades
    Bardavon 1869 Opera House
    Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
    Vassar College & FL Loeb Art Center
    Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park

Special Promotions

    Farm Fresh rail/shuttle tours of farms, wineries and farm markets September & October, One-Day Getaway Packages with Metro-North Railroad
    Farm Fresh section of website has news, itineraries and recipes
    Annual Tourism Conference

Events

    Dutchess County Fair
    Antique & Craft Shows
    Great Estates Holiday Celebrations
    Food & Wine Festivals
    Antique Car & Motorcycle Shows
    Arts & Harvest Festivals

Transportation

Highways: U.S. Route 9 runs north and south along the Hudson River through the most densely populated areas of the county. It ties into Interstate 84 (which runs east-west) in the southern section of the county, providing access to the Taconic Parkway and to Interstates 84 and 87, the New York State Thruway.

Bridges: Three bridges cross the Hudson River in Dutchess County: the Hamilton Fish (Newburgh-Beacon) Bridge (Interstate 84), the Franklin D. Roosevelt (Mid-Hudson) Bridge at Poughkeepsie and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.

Buses: An intra-state bus system comprised of the City of Poughkeepsie transit and Dutchess County Loop Bus offers regular or express routes. Shortline/Coach USA offers express service between Poughkeepsie, New York City, Atlantic City, Danbury (CT) and Binghamton. Adirondack Trailways has service between Poughkeepsie and New York City.

Trains: Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie are serviced by Metro-North. Amtrak services Poughkeepsie and Rhinecliff. Both are located on the scenic Hudson Line on the western border of the county. In eastern Dutchess County, service to Dover Plains, Pawling, Tenmile River, and Wassaic is provided by Metro-North's.Harlem Line.

Airlines: Nearby Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Newburgh provides service by Delta Connection, jetBlue Airways, and US Airways Express, with connecting flights to major destinations worldwide. The Dutchess County Airport in Poughkeepsie is served by U.S. Airways Express and also AAG/Sikorsky executive helicopter service.