Poughkeepsie, city, seat of Dutchess county, eastern New York, U.S. It lies on the east bank of the Hudson River (there bridged to Highland), 75 miles (121 km) north of New York City. It was settled by the Dutch in 1683; its name, of Wappinger Indian origin, means “reed-covered lodge by the little water place.”. Poughkeepsie served as the temporary state capital, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified there in 1788.