Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 297,488.[1] The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie.[2] The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later organized in 1713.[3] It is located in the Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley, north of New York City.
Prior to Anglo-Dutch settlement, what is today Dutchess County was a leading center for the native Wappinger peoples. They had their council-fire at what is now Fishkill Hook, and also held gatherings along the Danskammer.[4][clarification needed] On November 1, 1683, the Province of New York established its first twelve counties, with Dutchess County being one of them. Its boundaries at that time included the present Putnam County, and a small portion of the present Columbia County (the towns of Clermont and Germantown). The county was named for Mary of Modena, Duchess of York - the term Dutchess is an archaic form of the word duchess.[5]