Dover Plains is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,322 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Dover Plains is in the northern part of the town of Dover on NY Route 22.

Metro-North Railroad has a Harlem Line station here, bringing commuters to New York City. This station was the line's northern terminus until 1852 when the line was carried farther north to Chatham.

History

It is not known when or by whom the first settlement was made in Dover Plains. Lawrence and Joseph ran the first store under the name Belding & Co. In 1802 the village had less than a dozen buildings. In 1806 Jonathan Mabbett and James Ketcham bought out the Beldings and ran the business under the name Mabbett & Ketcham. When the town of Dover was formed from the town of Pawling, James Ketcham became the first town clerk.

George Casey was the first postmaster. Mail was delivered on horseback. When Casey left, James Ketcham was appointed to succeed him; he held the post for thirty years until he was replaced during the administration of President James K. Polk. James Ketcham served in the War of 1812. He was Town Supervisor for five years and a member of the State Legislature in 1814. Dr. Thomas Hammond was a surgeon during the war. He commenced his practice in Dover Plains in 1824 and continued to 1869.

The J.H. Ketcham Hose Co. was organized in 1903. Dr. George B. Chapman owned Midfield Dairy Farm. He served on the Board of Education in 1908 when the new Union Free School at Dover was established. The McDermott Milk Company had a large factory at Dover Plains, processing 100 cans of milk a day. Hall & Ferguson's cold storage plant had a capacity for 15,000 barrels of fruit. in the northern part of the town of Dover.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which , or 2.19%, is water.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1996 people, 834 households, and 503 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 892 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.79% White, 2.40% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.

There were 834 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,979, and the median income for a family was $45,586. Males had a median income of $36,442 versus $26,776 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,676. About 8.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

200px|thumb|right|Downtown near train station

References

  • Dover Plains Library
  • Town of Dover