The first U. S. Post Office in New York state was established in Fishkill by Samuel Loudon, its first Postmaster.

The name "Fishkill" evolved from two Dutch words, vis (fish) and kil (stream or creek).

The Queen's Highway, connecting Albany to New York City, intersected with a major overland route from New England to the Hudson River.

[4] Among the first to occupy the land now within the village limits were Johannes Ter Boss and Henry Rosecrance.

American spy Enoch Crosby was held there briefly with Loyalist recruits before being allowed to escape.

The site used for the schoolhouse belonged to the Fishkill Reformed Church and was formerly used as pasture land for the pastor's cow.

[11] The town declined this change because the name is not meant to suggest violence but instead comes from the Dutch who originally settled the land in which "kil" means "creek".

Both "Catskill" and "Beaver Kill" could be considered to promote animal violence when their names are improperly understood.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.3 square kilometres (0.89 sq mi), all land.

Fishkill is served by the bus routes "A", "B", and "F", operated by Dutchess County Public Transit.

In 2014, the company announced plans to add 1,200 jobs over a 5-year period and invest US$96 million into the distribution center.

600 employees were safely evacuated from the facility on Merritt Boulevard just before 23:00 EDT, when the fire appeared to have started on the second floor and quickly spread.