Poughkeepsie, County seat in Hudson River Valley, New York.
Poughkeepsie is a city on the eastern bank of the Hudson River in New York State, where gentle hills rise from the waterfront to higher residential areas. The downtown sits near the river, while neighborhoods spread across several levels with streets that follow the contours of the land.
The area was purchased from the Wappinger people in 1686 by Dutch settlers who established a small riverside community. Growth came during the 19th century with river trade and industrial expansion, and the town officially became a city in 1854.
The name comes from the Wappinger language and likely refers to a small tributary meeting the great water, reflecting the geography where the Fallkill Creek joins the Hudson River. Visitors can see how the downtown grid adapts to the sloping terrain, with storefronts at different elevations depending on which street you follow.
Regional and long-distance trains stop at the station, linking the city to New York City to the south and Albany to the north. Streets run either parallel to the river or climb inland, making orientation easier when you keep the waterfront in mind.
A former railroad bridge was converted into a pedestrian walkway that crosses the river for more than a mile, making it the longest elevated footbridge in the world. From there, you can look up and down the valley without traffic noise.
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