This reconnaissance-level resource survey, conducted with Neil Larson & Associates, was the second phase of a town-wide effort to document remarkable cultural heritage in southern Ulster County. Whereas the first phase concentrated on the river hamlets of Marlboro and Milton, the second looked at the more expansive upland section west of Route 9W. The survey collected data on 276 properties, most of which are currently, or historically, associated with farms.

This landscape is a rich tapestry of orchards and vineyards, reflecting Marlborough's prominence as one of the state's major fruit-growing regions. The rolling topography offer picturesque interior views and stunning vistas across the Hudson Valley. The most commonly encountered building type is the farmhouse, with the earliest examples dating back to the mid-18th century. The survey also documented barns and cold storage facilities, the latter being a building type distinctive to fruit farms. Marlborough's original settlement pattern remains easily discernible, recorded in the surviving houses, farmsteads, agricultural structures, roads, orchards, pastures, and fields. The town's still considerable output is a big reason why the area retains a strong association and feel as a rural agricultural community.

Funding for this survey was provided by the Preservation League's Preserve New York grant program. Christopher Brazee did GIS mapping.