Main Industries: Prior to the 1960s, Dutchess County was primarily agricultural. Since then the southwestern part of the county has developed into a largely residential area, with many of its residents commuting to jobs in New York City. The northern and eastern regions of the county are still very much rural with large farmlands.

Education: Higher Education institutions in Dutches include Bard College, Culinary Institute of America, Dutchess Community College, Marist College, Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute and Vassar College

Land: The terrain of the county is mostly hilly, especially in the Hudson Highlands in the southwestern corner and the Taconic Mountains to the northeast. Almost a half mile long border exists with Berkshire County, Massachusetts in the extreme northern end of the county. There are 3 national protected areas in Dutchess County including: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.

County Executive - William F. X. O'Neil

Chair, County Legislature - A. Gregg Pulver

• Beacon, City of
• Poughkeepsie, City of
• Amenia, Town of
• Beekman, Town of
• Clinton, Town of
• Dover, Town of
• East Fishkill, Town of
• Fishkill, Town of
• Fishkill, Village of
• Hyde Park, Town of
• La Grange, Town of
• Milan, Town of
• North East, Town of
• Millerton, Village of
• Pawling, Town of
• Pawling, Village of
• Pine Plains, Town of
• Pleasant Valley, Town of
• Poughkeepsie, Town of
• Wappingers Falls, Village of
• Red Hook, Town of
• Red Hook, Village of
• Tivoli, Village of
• Rhinebeck, Town of
• Rhinebeck, Village of
• Stanford, Town of
• Union Vale, Town of
• Wappinger, Town of
• Washington, Town of
• Millbrook, Village of