[7][8][9] Wappinger Indians were reportedly the town's original residents before the first European settlers arrived around 1710.

Beekman contributed part of its territory to the newer towns of LaGrange (1821) and Union Vale (1827).

Residents could only lease the land and pay rent in wheat, fat fowls and work on roads.

[6] Beekman began its "boom" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the communities of Sylvan Lake, Beekmanville, and Clove Valley were in the active mining business.

Many townsfolk that settled in town during this time were Irish men, escaping the Great Famine, and sent their families to Beekman as well.

After the demise of the mining business in the late 19th century, Beekman saw another boom in the 20th century, with housing developments such as Dalton Farm, the first gas stations, and construction of the first supermarket in town and other stores signalling the beginning of suburban development.

Comparatively few farms remain, and commerce and industry increasingly shape the non-residential areas of the town.

Beekman is located in the southeastern part of Dutchess County, about 70 miles (110 km) north of New York City.

Most of the town is drained by Fishkill Creek, which flows west to the Hudson River at Beacon.

The southern corner of the town is drained by Stump Pond Creek, part of the Croton River watershed that flows to the Hudson at Croton-on-Hudson.

The Town Supervisor is the chief administrative officer of the city selected to carry out the directives of the Council.

The Town Supervisor is also involved in the discussion of all matters coming before Council yet has no final vote.

Firefighters in Beekman get alerted via paging through the Dutchess County Department Of Emergency Response, which is located in Poughkeepsie.

[12] The fire department received the United States Life Safety Achievement Award for five consecutive years in 2003.

It is currently a non-revenue line with no station stops, but is used for equipment moves between Beacon, Southeast and Danbury.