Explore Dutchess County

Dutchess County, New York is a surprisingly family-oriented, rural enclave located a scenic hour and 15-minute train ride from New York City’s Grand Central Station to Beacon Station in Southern Dutchess County.

Residents enjoy country living, diverse opportunities, rolling terrain, the Hudson River and mountain views, glorious fall and spring colors, farm markets, fabulous restaurants, historic sites, highly-regarded colleges and public school districts, horse farms, recreation areas, revitalized waterfront, thriving artist communities, superb trails for hiking and biking, marinas, golf courses, reliable commuter train service to New York City and more.

Dutchess County is one of the state’s leaders in job creation and enjoys a remarkably low unemployment rate Major employers include IBM, the health care industry, education institutions, Gap/Old Navy, Philips Semiconductor and more. Feel free to use the links and information below to learn more about the beautiful Dutchess County community.

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Towns and Cities in Dutchess County, New York

For more information on these communities, use the links below to connect to town and city Web sites, or request specific information about Dutchess County. You can also download a larger, printable version.

Towns

Transportation


Several major roadways run through Dutchess County including Interstate 84, which runs east/west through the southern part of the county, and the Taconic State Parkway, which runs north/south. The Taconic State Parkway runs from New York City to Albany, which is the state’s capital. Dutchess County sits in the middle. State Route 9 follows the Hudson River north/south on the western side of the county and State Route 22 runs north/south on the eastern side of the county through the towns of Amenia, Dover and Pawling.

Dutchess County is served by the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s two Metro-North commuter rail lines. The Hudson Line runs from Grand Central Terminal along the Hudson River on the western side of the county with three stops in Dutchess County – Beacon, New Hamburg and the City of Poughkeepsie. The Harlem Line runs from Grand Central Terminal through White Plains to the eastern side of the county making six stops in Dutchess County from Pawling to Amenia. To view a map of the MTA Metro-North Railroad lines or train schedule information, use the links below. For more information about MTA, visit http://mta.info/.

Amtrak also services the area with its stops at the Poughkeepsie station taking folks south along the Hudson River to New York City’s Pennsylvannia Station or north along the river to Albany and points further north and west.

You can also reach Dutchess County by plane. Some major airlines fly into Stewart International Airport, which is located across the Hudson River in Newburgh near I-87 & I-84. It is about an hour and a half drive to the New York City Airports or Newark, New Jersey or 45 minutes to Westchester County Airport in White Plains. The Dutchess County Airport, located in WappingersFalls, offers aircraft rental, charter information, car rentals and other services.

Dutchess County Public School Districts


Dutchess County, New York has 14 public school districts. For more information on these public schools, use the links below to connect to websites for each school district. You can also download a larger printable version of the map.

Dutchess County Colleges & Universities

More than 50,000 students attend Dutchess County’s colleges and universities. Bard College, Vassar College and Marist College have liberal arts-based programs of study, and Dutchess Community College offers technical and industrial degrees. The Culinary Institute of America is one of the premier ciluinary schools in the world. Learn more about these schools by using the links below.

Dutchess County Hospitals & Medical Centers

Dutchess County residents have access to excellent health care from the many physicians and medical personnel working in area. Local medical facilities are world-class using the newest technologies and equipment. Below are links to several Dutchess County medical centers.

Did you know?

Kill on the end of a word like Fishkill comes from the Dutch and means creek.


The Taconic State Parkway, now a commuter route, was built as a sight-seers highway.


Dutchess County was not named after the Dutch, but as a compliment to the Duchess of York.


The 1869 Bardavon Opera House is the oldest continuously operating entertainment venue in the state.


The Poughkeepsie Journal is the third oldest active newspaper in the United States.


The Mid-Hudson Bridge now offers vistas of the Hudson Valley on the only walkway across the river in a 60 mile stretch from Newburgh to Hudson.