Why you'd want to live in Dutchess County

For many New Yorkers, Dutchess County is a border of sorts, separating “downstate” (areas associated with the City) from “upstate,” (the rest of rural New York state). The northern end of two commuter train lines to the City are located here, in Poughkeepsie and Wassaic respectively, taking commuters to and from their work in New York City 60 miles away. The majority of Dutchess County’s population west of the Hudson River resides in the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie as well as the villages of Wappingers Falls, Fishkill, Hyde Park, Rhinebeck, and Red Hook. The area to the east of the Taconic State Parkway is typical of New York’s rural character, with farmland and small rural communities such as Millbrook, Amenia, Pawling and Millerton. The county is full of history and historic places, including Revolutionary War sites, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s home and presidential library, to its many historical buildings of the Industrial Revolution. It is also home to Vassar College, Marist College, and the Culinary Institute of America. Residents living in Dutchess County have an amazing variety of places to go and things to see and do. The area offers spectacular views of the Shawangunk mountain range in the Catskill Mountains. The Taconic Mountain Range provides excellent hiking and rock climbing. The Mid-Hudson Bridge, a walkway over the Hudson is a converted train track that is the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. There are many miles of paved bike trails throughout the county, with routes in parks, train stations and along the Hudson. The Hudson River Valley is one of five wine and spirits production regions within the state, and Dutchess County produces some of its best wines. The county is currently in a cultural renaissance. The cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie, once ridden with crime and poverty, are coming back, with new bars, shops and restaurants opening practically every week. Crime is inching downward, and rates are now significantly lower than New York City.