BEACON, a city of Dutchess county, N.Y., U.S.A., pleasantly situated on the east bank of the Hudson, opposite Newburgh, about 5om. N. of New York city. It is served by the New York Central and the Central New England railways and by river boats. The population was 10,996 in 1920, of which 2,010 were f oreign born white, and 11,933 in 193o Federal census. Its manufactures include bakers' machinery, fireworks, brick, paint, hats and tyres; the aggregate output of its 23 factories in 1927 was valued at $6,015,180. The Matteawan State hospital for insane criminals is situated here, and at Castle Point, near by, is the U.S. Veterans' Bureau Hospital 98.
Mt. Beacon, which forms the city's background, was so named from the signal fires which were lighted on its summit in Revolu tionary days. There are several historic buildings in and near the city, including the Ver Planck mansion, where the Society of the Cincinnati was organized in 1783. The first house here was built in 1709. The city was created in 1913 by the consolida tion of the old villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan. A commission form of government (the first in the State) was pro vided for in its charter.