Quality of Life
Dutchess County Communities
Dutchess County, with a population of nearly 294,000, is home to a variety of cities, towns, and villages. As you consider relocating to Dutchess County, we encourage you to come for a visit. There is no better way to learn about a community than to visit its cultural resources, schools, and neighborhoods. Following is a brief overview of the areas that comprise Dutchess County.
Northern Dutchess
Situated north of the City of Poughkeepsie, northern Dutchess County is bordered by the Hudson River on the west and the Harlem Valley to the east. Comprised of the towns of Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Milan, and Clinton, this area is best known for its rural character and sophisticated village shops. Northern Dutchess boasts a variety of historic sites such as Staatsburgh State Historic Site and Wilderstein Historic Site, as well as antique shops, pick-your-own farms, and beautiful vistas. The area is also home to the renowned Bard College.
Poughkeepsie Area
Comprised of the City of Poughkeepsie and the towns of Poughkeepsie, LaGrange, Pleasant Valley, and Hyde Park, this area is home to many cultural attractions. The Franklin D. Roosevelt home and Presidential Library, the Vanderbilt Mansion, Val-Kill, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Vassar College, The Culinary Institute of America, Marist College, and Dutchess Community College are all located in the Poughkeepsie area as well. The seat of county government, the City of Poughkeepsie, is the largest city in the county, with over 30,000 residents.
Central Dutchess
Bordered by each of the other sections of the county, central Dutchess encompasses the towns of Stanford, Washington, and Union Vale and the village of Millbrook. The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, as well as some of Dutchess County’s best wineries are located in Central Dutchess. Mainly a rural area, it offers scenic farms and forests.
Southern Dutchess
Due in large part to its proximity to Westchester County and New York City, southern Dutchess is currently the fastest growing area in the county. The area is comprised of the City of Beacon, the towns of Beekman, East Fishkill, Fishkill, and Wappinger, and the villages of Fishkill and Wappingers Falls. Beautiful rolling hills and the Fishkill Mountains dominate the terrain, offering majestic views of the Hudson River and inland valleys. Antique shops and art galleries have burgeoned in the City of Beacon, offering residents and visitors alike, vivid memories of our county’s historic past. Dia: Beacon showcases the Dia Art Foundation’s collection of modern art from the 1960s to the present.
Harlem Valley
The Harlem Valley, which includes the towns of Pine Plains, North East, Amenia, Dover, and Pawling, encompasses the entire eastern third of the county. Since the early 1700s when the Yankees and the Yorkers disputed the boundary between New York and Connecticut, landowners have maintained the small-town charm and rural beauty of the landscape.
Climate
Dutchess County’s “humid continental” climate is moderate in comparison to other locations in the northeastern United States. This is largely due to the fact that the regional weather is moderated by the maritime influences of the Atlantic Ocean and the Hudson River and shielded from polar air masses by the Catskill Mountains to the west. With average monthly temperatures ranging from a low of 16°F in January to a high of 86°F in July, highly variable weather and dramatic seasonal changes contribute to the county’s remarkable scenic beauty.
Recreation and Culture
Dutchess County’s natural beauty, affordable housing, and cultural diversity make it the ideal place to live and raise a family. Its beauty, celebrated by the Hudson River painters, has been preserved in 6,000 acres of state and county-operated parklands that offer golf, swimming, boating, cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, and many other recreational activities.
Dutchess County’s impressive array of arts venues includes Dia: Beacon, the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Bard College’s Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts designed by Frank Gehry, the Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, the Francis Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College, and the CCS Bard Hessel Museum.
Art galleries around Dutchess County now show new works in refurbished, historic buildings and former storefronts. The county’s five colleges have striking museums and galleries that showcase distinctive permanent collections as well as special, temporary exhibitions. Dutchess County is filled with public places for visual art as well as back-room galleries that visitors enjoy discovering for themselves. Arts enthusiasts can see artists at work in their studios, carrying on centuries-old traditions, from glass blowing to painting and sculpture.
Each Saturday in the Hudson Valley is a celebration of the arts. Art galleries in both of Dutchess County riverfront cities - Poughkeepsie and Beacon - stay open late so visitors can combine gallery openings, artist receptions, musical and theatrical events with dining out. Dutchess County’s special day is Second Saturday in Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s ArtHop is on the third Saturday of every month. For venues, visit www.artalongthehudson.com.
Shoppers can enjoy many of the nation’s leading department stores in local malls, visit artisan craft villages, explore boutiques and antique shops that dot the countryside, or stroll through historic downtown Poughkeepsie.
From June to August, the Hudson Valley Renegades, Class A affiliates of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, play minor league baseball in the newly constructed, 2,500-seat Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill. The team draws fans from throughout the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut.
Many cultural amenities, ranging from theatre, dance, and classical music to comedy and nightclubs, are also available in Dutchess County. The acclaimed Hudson Valley Philharmonic performs at the meticulously restored Bardavon 1869 Opera House, and the latest performers in name entertainment appear at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. Food connoisseurs can experience haute cuisine at The Culinary Institute of America’s five, student-staffed restaurants.
Food and wine connoisseurs will appreciate the numerous farms and farmers markets in Dutchess County as well as the award-winning restaurants and wineries found along the Dutchess Wine Trail. For family fun, families head to Splashdown Beach and the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Those who like to get closer to nature can enjoy Trevor Zoo or Stony Kill Farm Environment Educational Center
For more information about attractions and events in Dutchess County, visit www.dutchesstourism.com
