The Town of
Islip is located in southern
Suffolk CountySuffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2000 census, the population was 1,419,369. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came. The county seat is Riverhead, though many county...
,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(
USAThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) on the south shore of
Long IslandLong Island is an island located in southeastern New York, United States, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City, and two of which are mainly suburban...
. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 322,612.
New York Air Route Traffic Control CenterNew York Air Route Traffic Control Center is one of 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers in the United States.-Area of responsibility:...
is located in the
RonkonkomaRonkonkoma is a census-designated place and hamlet in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,029 at the 2000 census...
section of Islip.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 322,612 people, 98,936 households, and 78,555 families residing in the town. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 3,064.5 people per square mile (1,183.1/km²). There were 104,278 housing units at an average density of 990.5/sq mi (382.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.25% White, 9.02% Black or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% Native American, 2.17% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.32% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.16% of the population.
There were 98,936 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.55.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the CDP was $78,991, and the median income for a family was $86,190. Males had a median income of $49,069 versus $33,660 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the town was $29,699. About 4.1% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Geography and climate
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the town has a total area of 163.1
square mileThe square mile is an imperial and US unit of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one statute mile.
s (422.5 km²), of which, 105.3 square miles (272.7 km²) of it is land and 57.8 square miles (149.8 km²) of it (35.46%) is water.
The Town of Islip has the following boundaries: to the West, the hamlet of West Islip at approximately route 231; to the East, the hamlet of Bayport at approximately Nicoll's Road; to the North, approximately the Long Island Expressway; and to the South, the
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres , it covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface and about one-quarter of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek...
. The town includes part of
Fire IslandFire Island is both the name of an island and the name of a census-designated place .The island is one of Long Island's south shore outer barrier islands, approximately 31 miles long and varying between approximately 0.1 mile to 0.25 mile wide...
and the
Great South BayThe Great South Bay is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 45 mi long, forming a large natural harbor on the southern side of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York...
.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rec High °F |
69 |
67 |
82 |
94 |
98 |
96 |
102 |
100 |
92 |
86 |
78 |
77 |
| Norm High °F |
39.1 |
40.5 |
48.5 |
58.1 |
68.9 |
77.4 |
83.2 |
81.7 |
74.9 |
64 |
53.7 |
43.9 |
| Norm Low °F |
22.6 |
24.3 |
31.1 |
40 |
49.4 |
59.6 |
65.9 |
64.5 |
56.6 |
44.6 |
36.1 |
27.5 |
| Rec Low °F |
-7 |
1 |
8 |
24 |
34 |
43 |
50 |
45 |
38 |
28 |
11 |
5 |
| Precip (in) |
4.27 |
3.33 |
4.76 |
4.13 |
3.9 |
3.71 |
2.93 |
4.48 |
3.39 |
3.63 |
3.86 |
4.13 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com http://www.ustravelweather.com/weather-new-york/islip-weather.asp |
History
In the early years, forming the Town was a major venture. William Nicoll became a patentee of the east end of what is now the Town of Islip, and his domain extended from East Islip to Bayport and embraced Sayville, West Sayville, Oakdale, Great River, Islip Terrace, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Bohemia, Brentwood, Holtsville and a portion of Ronkonkoma. All of this land was purchased from Winne-quaheagh, Sachem (chief) of Connetquot in 1683. The annual fee paid to Governor Thomas Dongan of New York was five bushels of good winter wheat or 25 shillings. Other early land patentees were Andrew Gibb (Islip Hamlet), John Mowbray (Bay Shore), Stephan Van Cortlandt (Sagtikos Manor), and Thomas Willets (West Islip).
By 1710 the colonial government passed an act to enable the precinct of Islip in the County of Suffolk to elect two assessors, a collector, a constable and a supervisor. The people had a voice. Growth, however, remained at a standstill until the Revolutionary War ended when, in the 17 years that followed, there was more progress than in the 50 years proceeding. This activity was partly due to the impact of American shipping.
By 1825 it was necessary to install a Fire Island light across the
Great South BayThe Great South Bay is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 45 mi long, forming a large natural harbor on the southern side of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York...
and regular ferry service between Bay Shore and Fire Island began in 1862. In 1867[?] the
Long island Rail RoadThe Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York that has been classified as a Class II railroad by the Surface Transportation Board. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, servicing around 81 million passengers each year, and...
came to Islip and the first depot was built. People were discovering Islip and the tourist trade soon took hold.
Tourism brought much wealth into the area and business spung up to service the hotels that began to dot the landscape. Some of those tourists stayed on and built summer homes, thus the vacationers and the town seemed to enjoy a mutual prosperity. But the old guard was changing. Early in the 20th Century diesel-powered ferries replaced the whale boats while housing developments and small manufacturing firms sprang up on the sites of old farms. Like the rest of the country, Islip and all of Long Island suffered during the Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression. World War II came and went, and when the veterans returned home, there was a housing shortage in New York City, but a rebirth on Long Island. Within a decade following the end of the War, Islip began to turn from a bucolic farming community into a bustling suburb, becoming what was once described as a "bedroom" of New York City. The influx of people was tremendous - from 71,000 in 1950 to 280,000 in 1970. Then, as growth continued eastward on Long Island, the pace in Islip slowed.
Mobro garbage
In 1987 the City found that it had filled its landfill capacity. The city agreed to ship its garbage to
Morehead CityMorehead City is a port town in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 7,691. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
,
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
, where there were plans to convert it into
methaneMethane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas. Methane's bond angles are 109.5 degrees. Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. The relative abundance of methane and its clean...
. On March 22, 1987, the tugboat
Break of Day towed the barge
Mobro 4000The Mobro 4000 was a barge made infamous in 1987 for hauling the same load of trash along the east coast of North America from New York to Belize and back until a way was found to dispose of the garbage....
and its cargo of over 3,100 tons of trash. While in transit, a rumor spread that the 16 bundles of trash that contained hospital gowns, syringes, and diapers was a contaminant that affected the entire load. In consequence, the state of
North CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties...
refused to accept the waste. After an 11-day delay, the
Mobro made way to its home port in
LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, but that state, too, declined the waste. Similarly, Alabama, three other states, and the nations of
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
,
BelizeBelize , is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language...
, and the Bahamas refused the load before the operators abandoned the plan and returned to
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Lowell Harrelson, the owner of the garbage, tried to negotiate for the
Mobro to dock near the Borough of
QueensQueens is the largest in area, the second-largest in population, and the easternmost of the Five Boroughs which form New York City. The Borough of Queens' boundaries are identical to those of the County of Queens , a subdivision of the State of New York in the Northeastern United States.Located on...
, whence the refuse would be carried back to Islip by trucks.
Claire ShulmanClaire K. Shulman is an American politician. She was the borough president of Queens, New York from 1986 until 2002; the first woman to hold this position in New York City's history....
, the President of Queens, was not consulted, however; she obtained a temporary restraining order that forced the waste to stay at sea. The
Mobro and its decaying cargo stayed off the shores of
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
until July, when the vessel was granted a federal anchorage in
New JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
. The court hearings ran until October, when it was agreed that the cargo should be incinerated in Brooklyn. The 430 tons of ash that remained from this process was added to the landfill in Islip.
In response to the garbage barge incident, the town of Islip developed
Keep Islip CleanKeep Islip Clean is a non-for-profit, volunteer organization that seeks to promote community beautification throughout the hamlets of Islip , New York on Long Island. The program is one of the largest of its kind covering the entire township of Islip Keep Islip Clean (KIC) is a non-for-profit,...
, WRAP, and other environmentally friendly initiatives to help bolster the image of the town.
Government and Politics
The town is governed by a
town supervisorTown Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
, which is a similar position to that of a
mayor"Mayor" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government....
, and four councilmembers elected at an at-large basis. There is also a town clerk and receiver of taxes, both duly elected. All of the elected officials serve staggered four year terms that are up for election in odd years, except when special election is held pursuant to state law.
The town board has jurisdiction over governmental affairs within the town's boundaries, excluding incorporated villages which have their own local government. Such things include passing a budget and enacting new laws.
Villages (incorporated)
- Brightwaters
Brightwaters is a village in southwest part of the town of Islip, which is in western Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census. Brightwaters is a suburb of New York City.-Geography:...
- Islandia
Islandia is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,057 at the 2000 census.The Village of Islandia is in the northern part of the Town of Islip.-Overview:...
- Ocean Beach
The Village of Ocean Beach is in the south part of the Town of Islip on Fire Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is considered a more popular tourist location, due to its popular nightlife and increased number of stores and restaurants among other communities.-Transportation:An...
- Saltaire
Saltaire is a village in the southern part of the town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The year-round population was 43 at the 2000 census, which, as a summer beach community, increases many times over in the summer....
Hamlets (unincorporated)
- Bay Shore
Bay Shore is a hamlet , located in the town of Islip, County of Suffolk County, New York, United States. Bay Shore celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. The population was 23,852 at the 2000 census. Bay Shore is 42 miles from New York City and 75 miles from Montauk...
- Bayport
Bayport is the name of a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, U.S. on Long Island. The population was 8,662 at the 2000 census.Bayport is in the southeast part of the Town of Islip.-Geography:...
- Baywood
Baywood is a census-designated place and a hamlet in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Baywood is located at 40° 45' 5" North, 73° 17' 26" West...
- Bohemia
Bohemia is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 9,871 at the 2000 census.Bohemia is in the Town of Islip.The main school district in the town is the Connetquot School District...
- Brentwood
Brentwood is a hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York on Long Island. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 53,917.-Geography:Brentwood is located at ....
- Central Islip
Central Islip is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, U.S., and a hamlet of the Town of Islip. The population was 31,950 at the 2000 census.-History and Overview:...
- East Islip
East Islip is a census-designated place and a hamlet located in the Town of Islip on unincorporated land in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had 4,578 households and a total population of 14,078 persons.-History and overview:...
- Great River
Great River is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It was formerly known as Youngsport and was once a mansion-heavy enclave, home to many aristocratic New York families including the Vanderbilts...
- Hauppauge
Hauppauge is a hamlet in the Town of Islip and the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States.At the headwaters of the Nissequogue River, it derives its name from the Native American term for "overflowed land."...
(partially; shared with the Town of SmithtownSmithtown is a town in Suffolk County, New York, United States, on the North Shore of Long Island. The population was 115,715 at the 2000 census.The census-designated place of Smithtown lies in the town.- History :The town was first settled around 1665...
)
- Holbrook
Holbrook is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,512 at the 2000 Census.-Geography:Holbrook is located at ....
(partially; shared with the Town of BrookhavenThe Town of Brookhaven is a town located in central Suffolk County, New York, USA, and stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. Brookhaven is part of the New York metropolitan area. The population of the town was 448,248 at the 2000 census...
)
- Holtsville
Holtsville is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 17,006 at the 2000 census....
(partially; shared with the Town of Brookhaven)
- Islip
- Islip Terrace
Islip Terrace is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,641 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- North Bay Shore
North Bay Shore is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 14,992 at the 2000 census.-Geography:North Bay Shore is located at ....
- North Great River
North Great River is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,929 at the 2000 census. The hamlet is served by the Islip Terrace Post Office and the East Islip School District.-Geography:...
- Oakdale
Oakdale is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 8,075 at the 2000 census. Oakdale is in the Town of Islip.- History :...
- Ronkonkoma
Ronkonkoma is a census-designated place and hamlet in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,029 at the 2000 census...
- Sayville
Sayville is the name of a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island. The population was 16,735 at the 2000 census.Sayville is a community in the southeast part of the Town of Islip.- History :...
- West Bay Shore
West Bay Shore is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 4,775 at the 2000 census.West Bay Shore is located in the southwest part of the Town of Islip.-Geography:...
- West Islip
West Islip is a census-designated place located is in southwest part of the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York. The population was 28,907 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
- West Sayville
West Sayville is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,003 at the 2000 census.West Sayville is located in the southwest part of the Town of Islip.-Geography:...
Other communities
- Dunewood
- Fair Harbor
- Fire Island
Fire Island is both the name of an island and the name of a census-designated place .The island is one of Long Island's south shore outer barrier islands, approximately 31 miles long and varying between approximately 0.1 mile to 0.25 mile wide...
, many Islip communities are on this barrier island
State parks
- Connetquot River State Park Preserve
Connetquot River State Park Preserve is a conservation area in the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York in the USA. Visitors can enjoy activities that have low impact on conservation programs ....
- Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is located on the west bank of the Connetquot River, in Long Island's Suffolk County, New York, USA in the hamlet of Great River near East Islip . The extensive landscape garden is in the nature of an estate arboretum, laid out, starting in 1887, for William...
- Heckscher State Park
Hecksher State Park is a park on the shore of the Great South Bay at East Islip in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The park was that was once the 19th century estates of George C. Taylor and J. Neal Plum. Islip's founder, William Nicoll, originally built his estate on this property...
Culture
On the First Sunday of March, the Town of Islip and the
East IslipEast Islip is a census-designated place and a hamlet located in the Town of Islip on unincorporated land in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had 4,578 households and a total population of 14,078 persons.-History and overview:...
Ancient Order of HiberniansThe Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
has an annual St. Patrick's Day parade, starting at East Islip Library on Montauk Highway and going west, ending on Irish Lane. It is the largest St. Patrick's Day parade on Long Island and most resembles the New York City parade since it does not include floats. The 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade held on March 2 was the first time the parade had a Green Line like the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade held on March 17.
External links