Beekman is a town in Dutchess County, New York. The population was 11,452 at the 2000 census. The name is from Henry Beekman, an early land owner. The Town of Beekman is in the south part of the county.

The town had been occupied by the Wappinger Indians, before the first European settlers arrived around 1710. The Beekman Patent, granted to Col Henry Beekman in 1697, was the second largest land holding in Dutchess County.

The town was formed in 1788 during the initial period of establishing towns and counties in the newly independent state of New York, but parts were removed subsequently to form other towns. Beekman contributed part of its territory to the newer Towns of La Grange (1821) and Union Vale (1827). Iron ore extraction and smelting were important in the early economy

• Beekman -- The hamlet of Beekman is near the town center on Route 216 with the intersection of Routes 216 and 55 its east boundary. It was formerly known as "Beekmanville."
• Clove Valley -- A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on Route 216.
• Green Haven -- A hamlet south of Beekman village.
• Green Haven Correctional Facility -- A state prison near the coummunity of Green Haven.
• Poughquag -- A hamlet east of Beekman village, running along Route 55 with that road's intersection with Route 9 its boundary with Beekman and Clove Valley. It is the main business district of the town and home of Beekman town hall.
• Sylvan Lake -- A hamlet by the west town line. It is named after Sylvan Lake, which was formed during the ice age. The early Indians originally named it "poughquag" which means "round body of water". A smaller lake known as Hidden Lake is where Mr. Daniel Delany, in the late 1800s, discovered iron ore and made his fortune. He eventually bought the adjacent property which was the entire shoreline of Sylvan Lake and rebuilt St. Denis church for the town. Some iron ore mining also took place along the shores of Sylvan Lake in the early 1930s and some of these retainer wall pilings are still standing and can be clearly seen from a boat. When the mine was filled with water, construction equipment and mining tools were left on the bottom and are present today.