Poughkeepsie was founded in 1867 and has a current population (as of 2003) of approximately 30,000 people. The city name is believed to be derived from a Native American word, but the meaning is unknown.
The city of Poughkeepsie is bordered by the Hudson River and, on the other three sides, by a town also called "Poughkeepsie".
It is home to Vassar College, one of the Seven Sisters schools.