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Poughkeepsie, New York real estate is ideally located in picturesque Dutchess County about 80 miles north of New York City along the Hudson River and known as “the Queen City of the Hudson.” There are actually two places named Poughkeepsie: the City of Poughkeepsie (2003 U.S. census estimated population: 30,174), which is the county seat; and the larger Town of Poughkeepsie (2000 population: 42,777), which surrounds the City of Poughkeepsie on the north, east and south. The city and town have a combined population of 72,648 and outside the immediate Poughkeepsie area, the city and town are usually indistinguishable, known simply as “Poughkeepsie.”

A constant flow of new residents continues to move into Poughkeepsie, New York existing homes or resale homes. Searching Poughkeepsie, New York MLS resale listings is almost effortless on NewHomesRealEstate.net because we have volumes of comprehensive listings of Poughkeepsie, New York existing homes for sale, from mansions to investment properties to condominiums to townhouses.

The Buyer’s Agents of NewHomesRealEstate.net are licensed New York state real estate agents with access to extensive information on the up-to-date inventory of Poughkeepsie existing homes and Poughkeepsie resale homes on the market. With a click of your computer mouse, you can search thousands of resale homes in Poughkeepsie, New York. Customize your search by price and property type to quickly find the perfect resale home that meets your home-buying needs for you and your family.

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Poughkeepsie, New York Area Demographics

Poughkeepsie, New York real estate is located at the northern fringe of the New York City metropolitan area and is located in western Dutchess County, which is home to 294,849 residents (2005 U.S. census estimate). The City of Poughkeepsie (2003 U.S. census estimated population: 30,174) is the county seat of Dutchess County, while the Town of Poughkeepsie, which surrounds the city on the north, east and south, is actually larger, with a population of 42,777, as of the year 2000.

The name (pronounced Puh-KIP-see) derives from a Native American word (U-puku-ipi-sing) meaning “reed hut by the water” or “campsite by small water,” referring to a stream or spring feeding into the Hudson River.

The City of Poughkeepsie lies on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, with the Town of Poughkeepsie bordering it on the north, east and south. Poughkeepsie is known as “The Queen City of the Hudson.” Poughkeepsie is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about 15 miles north of the Dutchess County line with Putnam County.

Dutchess County stretches nearly 50 miles from north to south and is more than 20 miles wide, but southern Dutchess County real estate is only 50 miles from the New York City limits. Dutchess County is bordered on the south by Putnam County (population: 100,507), which sits north of Westchester County, which is adjacent to the New York City borough of the Bronx. Dutchess County is also bordered by the Hudson River on the west (with Ulster County and a small portion of Orange County right across the river), Columbia County on the north, the state of Connecticut on the east and a tiny point of southwestern Massachusetts at the extreme northeastern corner of the county within Taconic State Park. Dutchess County’s terrain is generally hilly, especially in the Hudson Highlands in the southwestern part of the county nearest the river and the Taconic Mountains in the northeast. Some areas near the river are flatter. The highest point in the county is the summit of Brace Mountain (elevation: 2,311 feet). Dutchess County has retained much of its rural character while adopting the urban and suburban lifestyles dictated by its proximity to New York City.

Poughkeepsie is one of two cities in Dutchess County; Beacon (population: 13,808) is the other city. The Town of Poughkeepsie is actually the largest municipality in Dutchess County, with a population of 42,777. Dutchess County has 20 towns, 11 hamlets, eight villages and one sizable unincorporated community. In the state of New York, counties are subdivided into cities and towns. Everyone who does not live in a city or on an Indian reservation lives in a town. Villages and hamlets exist within towns. A village is an incorporated area which is usually, but not always, within a single town. A village is a clearly defined municipality that provides the services closest to the residents, such as garbage collection, street and highway maintenance, street lighting and building codes. Some villages provide their own police and other optional services. A hamlet is a populated area within a town that is not part of a village. The term “hamlet” is not defined under New York law (unlike cities, towns and villages), but is often used in the state’s statutes to refer to well-known populated sections of towns that are not incorporated as villages.

The 20 towns of Dutchess County are:

Temperatures at Poughkeepsie vary from an average high of 84 degrees and average low of 60 in July to an average high of 34 and low of 15 in January, with extremes of 103 in 1995 and -30 in 1961. Annual precipitation averages about 44.1 inches.

Poughkeepsie, New York History and Culture

Poughkeepsie, New York real estate was founded in 1687, four years after Dutchess County became one of the 12 original counties established in New York in 1683. The Town of Poughkeepsie was first settled around 1780 and was part of the Schuyler Patent (land grant) in 1788. The city and town were formally identified as separate entities in 1799 when the town became incorporated. In 1854, part of the western section of the town became the City of Poughkeepsie.

The U.S. Constitution was ratified by the state of New York at Poughkeepsie in 1788.

When Dutchess County was established, it included all of present-day Putnam County (which was established in 1812) and a small portion of what is now Columbia County. (Clermont and Germantown). Dutchess County was the site of historic events during the Revolutionary War (1776-73) and the Civil War (1861-65) and has an active, well-documented and thoroughly interesting history.

Dutchess County, New York real estate was originally purchased by Dutch settlers from the Indians in the late 1600s and was administered by Ulster County, west across the Hudson River, until 1713. Although the Dutch were important to the county’s early settlement history, the county was actually named for Mary of Modena, Duchess of York (England), who was the second wife of the future King James II, who was highly regarded by Americans at the time. Somehow, a “T” got added to the county name, probably due to the Dutch influence and spelling variations.

The first European to explore Dutchess County, New York real estate was Henry Hudson (for whom the Hudson River is named) in 1609. Hudson was seeking the elusive Northwest Passage to India when he sailed north up the river from New York City, but he turned around by the time he got to Albany. Nevertheless, the beauty and rich resources that Hudson reported soon brought other Europeans to settle in the area.

When Hudson came up the river, the area on the east (Dutchess County side) bank was inhabited by a band of Native Americans called the Wappingers, sometimes known as the “River Indians,” and other members of the Algonquin Federation. They called one of their encampments Poughkeepsie, “the reed-covered lodge by the little water place." The Wappingers farmed in the valleys, hunted in the forests and swamps and gathered shellfish in the Hudson estuary in the land that would become dutchess County. No European settlements are known to have occurred in Dutchess County during the 17th century, but the Wappingers had regular contact with Dutch traders from whom they acquired trade goods in return for beaver pelts. They also acquired disease, alcohol and firearms, decimating their people.

Although they did not live as far north as Dutchess County, the first European settlers of southeastern New York were sponsored by the Dutch West India Company in the 1620s and 1630s. English settlers arrived from New England in the 1640s. In 1691, two Dutch traders purchased a land parcel that would become Dutchess County from the Wappingers. Six years later, they sold it to Adolph Philipse, a wealthy merchant. The real estate was designated part of Dutchess County. During the French and Indian War (1754-63), many of the Wappingers went to Stockbridge, Massachusetts (where they became known as the Stockbridge Indians). When the Wappingers returned to Dutchess County after the war, they were denied their land rights.

During the Revolutionary War, the control of the Hudson Highlands was critical to both sides. British strategy aimed to dominate the Hudson, Lake George and Lake Champlain corridor all the way to present-day Canada and so cut the American colonies in two. To do this, the British had to take either the east (Dutchess) or west bank of the river. The British briefly accomplished this goal, but failed to maintain their advantage. The Village of Fishkill served as an encampment for Gen. George Washington’s troops and, briefly, as the capitol of New York State. Poughkeepsie was the state capitol in 1788 when the U.S. Constitution was ratified with the provision that certain amendments later incorporated into the Bill of Rights were needed to insure personal liberty.

Because the Philipses had been British Loyalists during the war, most of their lands were confiscated and sold after the war. The ouster of the Philipses and other Tory families created opportunities for New Englanders and others looking for vacant land, creating an influx of immigrants to Dutchess County. By 1812, the increased population of southern Dutchess County, as well as the inconvenient distance to the county seat in Poughkeepsie, prompted the creation of Putnam County.

Dense forests and rolling hills were hospitable to trappers and farmers who immigrated to the valley, many of whom were European political and religious refugees. Trading posts became settlements; inns sprang up along the King’s Highway (now Route 9) from Manhattan to Albany and the Mohawk Valley.

Throughout the 19th century, industry boomed in Dutchess with labor provided by continued immigration from Europe. Brick yards and textile mills thrived in Beacon and Poughkeepsie, while the Livingstons and Roosevelts conducted lucrative shipping trades and farmed their huge estates along the Hudson River waterfront.

Late in the 19th century, the railroads brought Dutchess County within easy reach of wealthy New Yorkers who built their weekend and seasonal retreats here. The Astors, Rogers, and Vanderbilts were among the families whose vast and beautiful estates dotted the landscape along the river and in the eastern highlands.

As this leisure class with money and time to pursue learning and culture emerged, literary and historical societies, schools and institutions of higher learning were established. Libraries were presented to even the smallest communities by local benefactors. Landscape painters Frederick Church and Thomas Cole gained fame and patronage as the Hudson River School flourished, while landscape architecture was advanced by the work of Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux.

During Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency, the trauma of the Great Depression gave way to hope as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt made Dutchess an experimental laboratory for New Deal ideas. FDR was the only president to win a fourth term in the White House: when Thomas Dewey of Pawling, New York ran against him in 1944, it was the only time in American history when two men from the same county vied for the presidency.

The dramatic proliferation of highways and suburbs after World War II alerted residents to the need for stewardship of the County’s extraordinary historic legacy. In recent years, many buildings and landscapes have been preserved through adaptive re-use, nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, and the development of entire historic districts. Nineteen historic districts are located within the 25 municipalities of Dutchess County with a total of 180 listed historical sites. In consideration of the county’s predominantly rural character, more than 200,000 acres of farmland have been dedicated to agricultural districts.

Dutchess County’s history is visible at every turn. Colonial homesteads, gothic cottages, clapboard farmhouses, Victorian villas, Beaux Arts mansions, stone churches, country inns — all stand in silent witness to past lives and events that have shaped the distinctive character of Dutchess County. High-tech industries and modern shopping malls have replaced brickyards and trading posts, but historic resources remain an integral part of the Dutchess County landscape.

Poughkeepsie, New York Attractions, Activities and Amenities

Poughkeepsie, New York real estate combines the best aspects of small-town living with all the amenities of modern metropolitan living. Beautiful natural vistas and dozens of historic sites are the backdrop for a full slate of activities and cultural events in Poughkeepsie and the surrounding Dutchess County area. Rolling hills, lush green meadows, sparkling lakes, reservoirs and ponds offer residents and visitors year-round opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, camping and horseback riding as well as kayaking and golf.

While some people enjoy browsing for antiques and leisurely shopping along quaint village streets, others immerse themselves in Dutchess County’s rich history, pursue the arts and theater or spend time at one of the county’s lakes. Most residents of Dutchess County have made a conscious choice to withdraw from a city lifestyle, although many commute to New York City for work either by car or train, as Dutchess County is considered the northern edge of the New York combined statistical area, which consists of 30 counties and is home to more than 22 million people.

In Dutchess County, residents and visitors can walk the grounds traversed by kings and commoners for more than 300 years while enjoying breathtaking views of the Hudson River from the Gilded Age mansions dotting its shores and step back in time to the sites of our nation’s fight for independence, then fast forward to airshows highlighting the biplanes and barnstormers of the early 20th century. From the country homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt to the artifacts of early Quaker days, it is a pleasure to explore a lifetime of history in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County and the Hudson River Valley, a National Heritage Area.

Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County offer a wide range of museums, art galleries and cultural centers. Its colleges and libraries sponsor exhibitions, lectures, performances, workshops and classes for all ages. One of Poughkeepsie’s most popular attractions is the historic Bardavon 1869 Opera House, which is Dutchess County’s premier center for the performing arts and the home of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Other performing arts venues in Poughkeepsie include the Hudson Valley Country Dances, Mid-Hudson Civic Center, New Day Repertory Company and Powerhouse Theatre of Vassar College. Performing arts venues in Dutchess County include: County Players Falls Theatre, at Wappingers Falls; Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, at Tivoli; Millbrook Arts Group, at Millbrook; Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society, at Rhinebeck; and Rhinebeck Theatre Society, at Rhinebeck.

Computer giant International Business Machines (IBM) has a large facility in the Town of Poughkeepsie, although it also operates what some refer to as its “main plant” in the City of Poughkeepsie.

The Town of Poughkeepsie is home to Vassar College, one of the prestigious “Seven Sisters,” a group of seven private women’s colleges, as well as Marist College and Dutchess Community College.

There is no shortage of things to do in Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County. Biking, hiking, golf, horseback riding, camping, boating shooting clubs, fishing, recreation, fine arts, wineries, farm markets, spas, parks, historic attractions, museums and even two drive-in movie theaters are part of the landscape, many of them abundant.

Dutchess County operates five parks:

A sixth county park, Dutchess Rail Trail, is currently in a design phase with construction slated to begin in 2007. A wide variety of activities are conducted at these county parks: swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, camping, miniature golf, pavilion, playgrounds and ball fields. Additional programs and activities include the operation of a nature center and nature trails, a history center and special seasonal programs. At least 16 other public parks exist in Dutchess County, although they are not operated by the county.

Taconic State Park is a New York state park in three disconnected segments along the border with Massachusetts in northern Dutchess County and southern Columbia County. The park encompasses about 5,000 acres of forest and supports a rich variety of wildlife. Beavers, deer, cranes, foxes and hawks are commonly seen. Black bears inhabit the park, but are nocturnal, as are coyotes. The park harbors many migratory birds. There have even been rare sightings in the park of the American Bald Eagle.

Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park adjoins Margaret Lewis Norrie State Park and together, comprise more than one thousand acres about 10 miles north of Poughkeepsie on the Hudson River. Mills Memorial State Park is the home of Dinsmore Golf Course and Staatsburgh State Historic Site. The numerous trails that thread through the grounds of both Mills and Norrie State Parks are ideal for walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, cross country skiing and snow shoeing — treating visitors to fabulous views of the Hudson River which runs directly along the parks’ western boundaries.

Among the historic attractions in Dutchess County are:

Museums in Dutchess County include:

Dutchess County is home to many beautiful formals gardens. Among them are:

Whether you seek a luxury home, a starter home, a condominium, a townhouse or an investment property, NewHomesRealEstate.net can help you find the Poughkeepsie, New York real estate you desire.