Dover Plains, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dover Plains, New York
Census-designated place
East view along Mill Street
Location of Dover Plains, New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Dutchess
Town	Dover
Area
• Total	0.70 sq mi (1.82 km2)
• Land	0.68 sq mi (1.77 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	400 ft (100 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,322
• Density	1,932.75/sq mi (746.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12522
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-20841
GNIS feature ID	0948613

Dover Plains is a small community in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 1,322 people lived here. Dover Plains is part of a larger metropolitan area that includes cities like Poughkeepsie and Newburgh.

You can find Dover Plains in the northern part of the town of Dover, right along NY Route 22. The Metro-North Railroad has a station here, which helps people travel to New York City. This train line reached Dover Plains in 1852.

History of Dover Plains

It's not clear exactly when the first people settled in Dover Plains. The first known store was run by Lawrence and Joseph, called Belding & Co. This was around 1802, and at that time, the village had fewer than twelve buildings. Later, in 1806, Jonathan Mabbett and James Ketcham took over the business.

When the town of Dover was officially formed, James Ketcham became its very first town clerk. George Casey was the first postmaster, delivering mail by horseback. James Ketcham later took over this job and held it for 30 years! He also served in the War of 1812 and was a member of the State Legislature in 1814. Dr. Thomas Hammond was a surgeon during the war and practiced medicine in Dover Plains for many years.

In 1848, two hotels were built: the Dover Plains Hotel and Preston's Hotel. The Dover Plains Military Academy opened in 1880. This was the same year the New York and Harlem Railroad extended its line to Dover Plains, making travel easier.

During the American Civil War, John H. Ketcham, a grandson of James Ketcham, helped raise a regiment of soldiers. He became a Brigadier general and later a Major general. After the war, he served many terms in Congress. Dr. George Marvin Wellman, who had worked in hospitals during the war, came to Dover Plains in 1869.

David Maher, who came from Ireland in 1862, owned the Dover Plains Marble Works. The town also had its own newspapers, like the Dover Press, started in 1878. The Dover Plains Bank was created in 1857. The Dover Plains Library was established around 1899, giving people a place to read and learn.

The J.H. Ketcham Hose Co., a fire department, was formed in 1903. Dover Plains was also important for farming and milk production. The McDermott Milk Company processed a lot of milk every day, and Hall & Ferguson had a large cold storage plant for fruit.

Second Baptist Church of Dover Plains

Historic Buildings in Dover Plains

Second Dover Baptist Church

The Second Baptist Church of Dover was started in 1794. Its current building was dedicated in 1833. This church is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

Tabor-Wing House

The Tabor-Wing House was built in 1810 by Thomas Tabor. His family had lived in the area since 1748, when it was mostly unsettled by Europeans. The house was later owned by his daughter, Sally, and her husband, Mahlon Wing. In the late 1970s, the Dover Historical Society bought the house and used it as a library. Today, the town uses it for offices and a special room dedicated to local history.

Churches in Dover Plains

Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Dover Plains was founded in 1852.

St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church

This church is an important part of the community. You can find more details about it at St. Charles Borromeo's Church (Dover Plains, New York).

St. James Episcopal Church

St. James Episcopal Church was built in 1904 by Rector Alexander Hamilton.

Geography of Dover Plains

Dover Plains is located in the eastern part of Dutchess County. It sits in the valley of the Ten Mile River. The area covers about 1.8 square kilometers (0.7 square miles), with a small part of that being water.

Population of Dover Plains

In 2020, the population of Dover Plains was 1,322 people. In 2000, there were 1,996 people living here. The community has a mix of different people and families. The average age of residents in 2000 was 41 years old.

Downtown near train station

See also

In Spanish: Dover Plains para niños