Union Vale

For residents of Dutchess County, mentioning the Town of Union Vale brings very little to mind. A few who don't live in said town might even say "where's that?" It's not hard to imagine why, because even though this town shows up on a map, there's basically nothing in it of which to speak (aside from the aforementioned natural phenomena). I'm not kidding: there is almost literally nothing here in the way of local businesses or other establishments aside from private homes. You could drive through it from end to end and not even know you were in a town, because you won't see much of anything like a cluster of civilization.

If peace and quiet is your thing, you'll likely find it in abundance here. Being more towards the eastern side of Dutchess County, like nearly every other incorporated municipality around here, it's scarcely populated. If being surrounded by wide-open spaces and nature's beauty are also your thing, there's no reason you wouldn't find Union Vale appealing. There is also quite a bit of farmland that one can even see from a satellite view, which should adequately demonstrate what a quiet lifestyle you're likely to experience here. This also means that traffic is essentially not a concern.

There are some schools here in the general area, if not in the town proper; some are newer and appear to be nice facilities for schoolchildren.

Now the bad news, and there's plenty depending on your perspective: first, you're pretty isolated. There are no malls, hospitals, major retailers, or fitness facilities anywhere near Union Vale. Next, restaurants, bars, or other nightlife attractions simply do not exist here, and if they do, I've yet to learn of their existence. Finally, there is no public transportation for miles around. Your best bet on accessing the latter from Union Vale would likely be Dover Plains for the Metro North train to New York City, and perhaps Millbrook for the Dutchess County Loop Bus, both of which would take a little bit of time to get to, but you'll need a car to live here and get around, anyway.

Union Vale is the kind of place you want to live if you seek a quiet, undisturbed lifestyle. Perhaps you want to raise your kids or maybe you're just a country lover or retiree who seeks a peaceful setting. If that's your aim, then consider this town. If you're looking for activity or close proximity to restaurants, stores, and so forth, this is not the place for you.