Dutchess County Data
Dutchess County is located in the heart of New York State's Hudson Valley, mid-way between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
Physical Geography
- Area: 801.7 square miles
- Terrain: Rolling hills and valleys
- Climate: Four seasons, continental
Normal Average Temperatures:
- January – Max. 35° July – Max. 86°
- January – Min. 16° July – Min. 63°
Market Access
Dutchess County is within a six-hour drive of 68 million U.S. and Canadian customers, 21% of American manufacturers, and a $227 billion retail sales market.
Manhattan is only 75 miles away; southern Connecticut, northern New Jersey, and Albany are all within a 90-minute drive.
Mileage to Major Cities
| City |
Miles |
City |
Miles |
| Albany, NY |
72 |
Montreal, Que, |
302 |
| Baltimore, MD |
269 |
New York, NY |
75 |
| Bennington, VT |
110 |
Newark, NJ |
111 |
| Boston, MA |
234 |
Philadelphia, PA |
165 |
| Buffalo, NY |
359 |
Richmond, VA |
427 |
| Harrisburg, PA |
195 |
Scranton, PA |
85 |
| Hartford, CT |
102 |
Washington, DC |
307 |
Population
|
1990 |
2000 |
| Dutchess County |
259,462 |
280,150 |
| Mid-Hudson Region |
2,019,677 |
2,168,317 |
Source: 1990/2000 US Census
Households
|
1990 |
2000 |
| Dutchess County |
89,567 |
99,536 |
Source: 1990/2000 US Census
Average Home Sales Price
|
1990 |
Q1:2002 |
| Dutchess County |
$152,079 |
$248,249 |
| Mid-Hudson |
$137,680 |
$351,993 |
Source: Marist College Bureau of Economic Research
County Workforce
|
Labor Force |
Employed |
| 2001 |
120,400 |
116,500 |
| 2002 |
123,250 |
118,230 |
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Employees by Industry (by thousands)
|
May 1997 |
Jul 2000 |
| Total Nonagricultural |
107.3 |
116.7 |
| Goods Producing |
21.9 |
23.6 |
| Construction and Mining |
4.2 |
6.1 |
| Manufacturing |
17.6 |
17.5 |
| Service Producing |
85.5 |
93.1 |
| Trans. & Public Utilities |
3.6 |
4.6 |
| Wholesale & Retail Trade |
20.2 |
23.2 |
| Finance, Ins. & Real Estate |
4.6 |
5.1 |
| Depository Institutions |
1.8 |
1.6 |
| Services |
34.2 |
39.6 |
| Health |
9.4 |
11.4 |
| Educational |
6.5 |
6.2/td> |
| Government |
22.9 |
20.6 |
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Unemployment Rate
|
Dutchess |
NYS |
US |
| 1990 |
2.9% |
5.3% |
5.6% |
| 2001 |
3.2% |
4.9% |
4.8% |
| 2002 |
4.1% |
6.0% |
5.8% |
Source: NYS Department of Labor
Per Capita Income
|
Current $ |
| 1980 |
$10,596 |
| 1990 |
$22,514 |
| 1999 |
$30,822 |
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis & Empire State Development
2000 |
Median |
Family & HH Income |
| Dutchess County |
$63,254 |
$53,086 |
| New York State |
$51,691 |
$43,393 |
| United States |
$50,046 |
$41,994 |
Source: 2000 US Census
Sales Tax
- Local 3.75%
- State 4.25%
- Metropolitan Transit Authority 0.25%
- Total 8.25%
Major Area Employers
- IBM
- Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.
- Saint Frances and Vassar Hospital
- Dutchess Community College
- Philips Semiconductors
- US Postal Data Encoding Center
- Marist and Vassar College
- GAP, Inc. (Old Navy Div.)
- Laerdal Medical Corporation
- Culinary Institute of America
Transportation
Highways: There are a number of routes that connect Dutchess County to strategic markets. US Route 9 runs north and south along the Hudson River through the most densely populated area of the county. It ties into I-84 in southern Dutchess County which provides east and west access to the Taconic State Parkway, I-684 and I-87 (NYS Thruway).
Bus Service: The County has an extensive bus system comprised of the City of Poughkeepsie Transit System and the Dutchess County LOOP bus system. Shortline and Adirondack Trailways also have terminals in Dutchess County.
Rail Service: Amtrak provides rail service for the Northeast and United States while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) provides commuter rail service to NYC on the Hudson River and Harlem Valley (Eastern Dutchess) Lines.
Air Service: Stewart International Airport (Newburgh) offers over 60 departures and arrivals daily. The airport, expanded in 1990, has been a boon to the region's economy.
Dutchess County Airport (Wappingers Falls) offers several weekday commuter flights on USAir Express, and JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports are all within a 2-hour drive of Dutchess County.
Community Facilities
- 9 Major Newspapers
- 8 Radio Stations
- 2 Television Stations
- 36 Church Denominations
- 37 Fire Departments
- 18 Police Departments
- 3 Hospitals
- 31 Post Offices
- 27 Libraries
Education and Training
Public and Private Schools: Strong public and private schools in Dutchess help young people realize their individual goals, which for about 75% of the area's graduating high school seniors means pursuing a higher education. There are 14 school districts in Dutchess County with an enrollment of approximately 42,000 students in 70 schools. The 16 private schools in Dutchess County add an additional 7,000 students in grades K-12.
Colleges and Universities
Fall 2002 Enrollment
- Bard College 1,197
- Culinary Institute of America 2,120*
- Vassar College 2,361
- Marist College 4,777
- Dutchess Community College 6,363
*enrollment for the year
Adult Education
Dutchess BOCES
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-operated parklands that offer golf, swimming, boating, cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, and many other recreational activities.
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 September the Hudson Valley Renegades, Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, play minor league baseball at the 4,320 seat Dutchess Stadium (Beacon), built in 1994. The team draws fans from throughout the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut.
Many cultural amenities are available in Dutchess County. They range from theatre, dance, and classical music to comedy clubs and the Dutchess County Artscape. The acclaimed Hudson Valley Philharmonic performs at the meticulously restored Bardavon Opera House, and the latest in name entertainment appears at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. Food connoisseurs can experience haute cuisine at the Culinary Institute of America or at Harralds, the only five star restaurant east of the Hudson.
Provided by the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation
