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is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The name is derived from the local Wappinger Indians. One half of the village is in the town ofWappinger and the other half is in the town of Poughkeepsie, with Wappinger Creek forming the dividing line between the towns.
The population was 4,929 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.
The Village of Wappingers Falls also holds claim to New York State's 6th oldest library, the Grinnell Library. US 9 passes through the village, as well as NY 9D.
The area was part of the Rombout Patent.
The community was founded around 1659. The village of Wappingers Falls was incorporated in 1871 and included the adjacent community of Channingville.
In 1987, Wappingers Falls gained national prominence when then resident Tawana Brawley was perportedly raped in the encompassing town of Wappinger. The allegations proved to be false. Years later, the former assistant district attorney that was falsely accused in the rape allegations successfully sued Al Sharpton, who had exploited and fueled the media coverage.