DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK
FACT SHEET
Dutchess County, population 280,150 (2000), is located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, midway between New York
City and the state’s capital, Albany.
GEOGRAPHY
Area:
801.7 square miles
Average temperatures range from a low of 18° F in
January to high of 84° F 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
LOCATION TO MAJOR CITIES (IN MILES)
Albany, NY
Boston, MA
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
72
234
165
269
Hartford, CT
Richmond, VA
Bennington, VT
Montreal, Que.
102
427
110
302
Scranton, PA
Buffalo, NY
New York, NY
Washington, DC
85
359
75
307
Harrisburg, PA
Newark, NJ
195
111
MAJOR ATRACTIONS
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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
Special Promotions
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Farm Fresh rail/shuttle tours of farms, wineries and
farm markets June-October
Farm Fresh.dutchesstourism.com website, brochure
and recipes
Annual Tourism Conference
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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
Events
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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.