Pawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name stuck.The Town of Pawling is in the southeast part of the county. The town has a village of Pawling.