The hamlet of Wassiac was named, with good reason, Washiac, or "land of difficult access," by the Indians. Wassiac grew up around the Gridley Iron Works and along the new Harlem division of the New York Central Railroad in the early 1800's. The Harlem Valley Rail Trail passes through Wassiac. In 1861 Gail Borden opened the world's first factory for producing a milk that would not need refrigeration. Known today as Borden's Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, it was a revolutionary product. Made right here in the "Milky Way" and shipped by train throughout the country, it made possible the growth of the local dairy industry, replacing the sheep and grain farming of earlier times. This area was also a major transportation route. During the Revolutionary War General Washington marched his troops through Wassiac on the way to Connecticut.

Wassiac is part of Dutchess County, boasting attractions like the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home/Library/Museum, the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, the Locust Grove Samuel Morse Historic Site, Montgomery Place and Mills Mansion State Historic Site. Some Dutchess County events are: the Dutchess County Fair, Antique & Craft Shows, Great Estates Holiday Celebration, Food & Wine Festivals, Antique Car Shows, Arts & Harvest Festivals.

Cascade Mountain Winery and Restaurant is quite near Wassiac. It was founded in the spring of 1972 by the Wetmore family who pioneered the production of premium table wines on the eastern side of the Hudson River. Bill, along with his wife Margaret and their three children Charles, Michael and Joan, planted the vineyard in 1972, built the winery in 1977, and opened the restaurant in 1985. Today, Cascade Mountain is a thriving business which features a full line of award-winning table wines and a highly rated restaurant. Customers come from all over the world to enjoy a few pleasant hours on top of the Berkshire foothills accompanied by some of the best food and wine to be found in the Hudson River Valley.

Other points of interest in the immediate area are: the Silo Ridge Country Club, the Troutbeck Inn (where NAACP was founded), the Wassaic State Forest, and the World Peace Sanctuary. In addition to the Borden Milk Factory in Wassaic, another nearby historical site is the Smithfield Church (1847).

The Harlem Valley consists of the well-known and charming towns, villages, and hamlets that form the eastern border of Dutchess County - Pawling, Wingdale, Dover, Wassaic, Amenia, Millerton, North East and Pine Plains. The area is also home to several cherished hidden hamlets, such as Amenia Union, Leedsville, Coleman Station, and much more! These rural communities have beautiful vistas, farms, small Town centers, and a total population of about 29,000, according to the 2000 Census. Separated from the rest of the county by the Taconic Mountain range, the valley is geographically removed from the typical economic development activities in western Dutchess. It is connected to the New York City metropolitan area by Metro-North Commuter Railroad's Harlem Division Line and NYS Route 22 which have both seen significant increased usage by commuters and tourists in recent years.

Wassiac has no schools of its own, so the youth of the town attend schools in nearby towns. The closest schools are in the Webutuck Central School District: is the local public grade school. Webutuck Jr Sr High School.