Poughkeepsie, New York
Population: 40,143
Located in Dutchess County
Attracted by the county's natural beauty and proximity to New York City, families such as the Astors, Rogers, and Vanderbilts built weekend and seasonal retreats. Many of these estates are now historic sites open to the public. Three of the most popular are the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, which includes the 32nd president's ancestral home, library, and museum; the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, the only national historic site dedicated to a first lady; and the Vanderbilt Mansion, the Italian renaissance estate built for Frederick W Vanderbilt at the turn of the last century. Others that draw a steady stream of visitors are Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, former home of inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, and Clinton House, named for the state's first governor, George Clinton. The influx of the leisure class, combined with the interests of wealthy merchant-industrialists, gave birth to a rich cultural and educational climate that is still flourishing today in Dutchess County. Their legacy is evident in some of the oldest institutions in the county, such as Vassar College, established by Poughkeepsie brewer and philanthropist Matthew Vassar, and the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, the oldest in New York state, founded by coal magnate James Collingwood. As the 20th century progressed, the character of Dutchess County began to change, with mills and factories of the previous century giving way to high-tech industry services and manufacturing. Still, some 200,000 acres of the county are protected as farmland, and residents are careful to safeguard the integrity of the community through historical preservation programs, adaptive reuse of buildings, and education and planning programs that combine sensible growth with a respect for heritage. Dutchess County still holds the promise Henry Hudson saw when he explored the valley nearly four centuries ago. By honoring the past and celebrating the present, by offering the resources and strengths that are essential for strong business growth and prosperity, the County is ensuring its future.
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