Town of Poughkeepsie   Distance to NYC: 81 miles Area: 36.68 square miles   The Town of Poughkeepsie essentially surrounds the City of Poughkeepsie and is home to over 43,000 people. The town and the city are nestled on the east bank of the Hudson River. The name Poughkeepsie is derived from a spring, south of the present courthouse.   Located on the Hudson River, Poughkeepsie is an original town of Dutchess County. The county's first house was erected here by Peter Pieterson Lassen in 1688 where its footprint can still be observed in Bowdoin Park.   Locust Grove, the Samuel F.B. Morse Historic Site, is located in the Town of Poughkeepsie. There is a "Civil War Encampment" held here every May. Visitors can talk with soldiers and civilians in a Civil War-era military camp.   Poughkeepsie boasts historic sites, natural beauty and a wealth of culinary delights.   The area is very accessible with nearby AMTRAK, the Taconic State Parkway and The New York State Thruway, and is only about 90 minutes from New York City. Poughkeepsie is the home of two state-of-the-art hospitals, St. Francis and Vassar Brothers, both with heliport facilities.   Educational Facilities The Town of Poughkeepsie is divided into three school districts: Wappingers, Hyde Park and Spackenkill Central School Districts.   TownPoughkeepsie is a renowned educational center with Vassar College,Marist College and Dutchess Community College, as well as the preparatory Poughkeepsie Day School, Oakwood Friends School, Hebrew Day School, Holy Trinity School, Seventh Day Adventist and Our Lady of Lourdes Schools.   Recreational Facilities There are several parks in the area with beautiful grounds for walking,picnicking and cross-country skiing. The town is defined by water with the Hudson River to the west and Wappingers Creek to the east, making the town ideal for the boating and fishing enthusiast.   Overlook Golf and Recreation Center has a driving range, 18-hole miniature golf course, batting cages, go-cart track and bumper boats.   Casperkill Country Club offers children’s camps, swimming pools,tennis courts,racquet ball courts,health & fitness center, jogging/walking trail and much more. There are several 18-hole golf courses in the area, both private and public.   Houses of Worship Within the Town there are many houses of worship. Included among them are Baptist, Faith Assembly of God, Christian Alliance, Latter Day Saints, Episcopal, Jehovah’s Witness, Church of the Nazarene, Reformed, United Methodist and Temple Beth-El.