West Islip, New York
Encyclopedia
West Islip is a hamlet
and CDP
, located in Suffolk County, New York
, USA. Situated on the south shore
of Long Island
, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (6.49%) is water.
Great South Bay
, Jones Beach Island and Fire Island lie to the south. Babylon
and North Babylon
form the western Border. Bay Shore
lies to the east, and in the north West Islip borders on Deer Park
and Brentwood
. West Islip is 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Manhattan, New York City
and 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Southampton, NY.
West Islip is located on the south shore of Long Island about 45 miles (72.4 km) east of New York City. A hamlet shared by the Town of Babylon and the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, West Islip is bordered on the north by Brentwood, on the east by Bay Shore, on the south by the Great South Bay, and on the west by the village of Babylon and North Babylon. West Islip's western boundary is a natural one formed by Sumpwams Creek, Hawley's Lake, Deer Lake and Swan Creek.
One of the main Indian trails was Udall's Road which was the first road in Suffolk County to run north and south. It was named for the Richard Udall family who had an estate on South Country Road (now Montauk Highway).
In the early 17th century, the West Islip area came under the influence of the Dutch. In 1664 it came under English rule when the Duke of York claimed Long Island with the permission of King Charles II.
In 1692 this land was purchased by Thomas and William Willetts through an agreement with the Secatogue Indians. These settlers found the area well suited for farming and hunting and the many waterways abundant with fish and shellfish. Since the Willetts owned most of West Islip, additional families did not arrive until late in the 1770s when parcels of land were sold to others. The tax rolls of 1757 only listed Willetts.
During the 19th century, the community became a popular haven of wealthy estate owners. Among these were the Magoun, Udall, Gerek and Smith families. Farming, charcoal production, lumbering and fishing were the main occupations. In the mid-19th century, the completion of the Long Island Railroad brought travelers to West Islip and helped make the La Grange Inn a popular attraction. The Inn had been established in the mid-18th century by the Higbie family.
The first schoolhouse was started in 1807 and was located on South Country Road. One of our first teachers, G.M. Bishop, taught for thirty-three years and by 1872 had sixty-four students in his class.
West Islip's population continued to grow slowly and the 1930 census recorded 734 residents. In the early part of the 20th century, many Ukrainian people settled in West Islip seeking refuge from political repression and economic hardships. Some worked as gardeners on the estates while others became farmers, land owners and owners of small businesses. The Ukrainian heritage is still part of the community.
From 1940 until 1970, West Islip experienced most of its population growth. It had become an attractive suburban home community with its own fire department, post office, public library and Good Samaritan Hospital. A short drive on the Robert Moses Causeway affords access to good fishing at the Captree Boat Basin and swimming at the Robert Moses State Park. West Islip boasts its own beach and marina.
Today West Islip is situated on over 4000 acres (16.2 km²) and approximately 35,000 residents make West Islip their home. Numerous community groups offer support services and cultural enrichment for its residents. In addition to the various clubs and organizations affiliated with its schools and churches, there are the Chamber of Commerce, West Islip Beautification Society, American Legion, the Chamber Orchestra Society, Youth Enrichment Services and the West Islip Fire Department. In addition, every September the West Islip Bicentennial Committee sponsors a county fair. (AM)
people in 8,833 households in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.9% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Black, 0.1% Native American, and 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% being multiracial.
There were 7,591 families out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $101,623, and the median income for a family was $107,736. Males had a median income of $65,440 versus $37,185 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $37,151. About 2.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
West Islip is served by the Babylon
station of the Long Island Railroad.
Children living in West Islip attend grades K-5 in one of the district's six elementary schools, and grades 6-8 in one of two middle schools. Elementary and middle schools in West Islip are assigned by demographics. Children in families living on the south side of the LIRR Babylon/Montauk branch tracks are assigned to either Bayview Elementary, Paul J. Bellew Elementary, or Captree Elementary School. Children who live on the North side of the tracks attend either Manetuck Elementary, Westbrook Elementary, or Oquenock Elementary School. North side junior high school students attend Udall Road Middle School, and those on the South side attend Beach Street Middle school. For high school all middle schoolers move up to West Islip High School (located at 1 Lions Path, off of Higbie Lane) for 9th grade through 12th grade graduation.
makes fun of West Islip in this cartoon when Strong Bad calls West Islip a "British New Wave
band", and mispronounces Islip as "Is Lip".
Administrative divisions of New York
The administrative divisions of New York are the various units of government that provide local government services in the state of New York. The state has four types of multi-purpose municipal corporation that provide most local government services, namely: counties, cities, towns, and villages...
and CDP
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, located in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, USA. Situated on the south shore
South Shore (Long Island)
The South Shore of Long Island, in the U.S. state of New York, is the area along Long Island's Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Though some consider the South Shore to include parts of Queens, particularly the beach communities in the Rockaways such as Belle Harbor, the term is generally used to refer to...
of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, 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...
, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.
Geography
West Islip is located at 40°42′54"N 73°17′52"W (40.715008, -73.297746).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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...
, the CDP has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (6.49%) is water.
Great South Bay
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
, Jones Beach Island and Fire Island lie to the south. Babylon
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
and North Babylon
North Babylon, New York
North Babylon is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 17,877 at the 2000 census.North Babylon is a community in the Town of Babylon.-Geography:...
form the western Border. Bay Shore
Bay Shore, New York
Bay Shore is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, USA. It is situated on the south shore of Long Island, adjoining the Great South Bay. Bay Shore celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. The population of the CDP was 23,852 at the time of...
lies to the east, and in the north West Islip borders on Deer Park
Deer Park, New York
Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and Brentwood
Brentwood, New York
Brentwood is a hamlet of the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Brentwood is 53,917.The colony was established on March 21, 1851, on 750 acres of land on Long Island, New York, by Josiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrews...
. West Islip is 45 miles (72.4 km) east of Manhattan, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Southampton, NY.
West Islip is located on the south shore of Long Island about 45 miles (72.4 km) east of New York City. A hamlet shared by the Town of Babylon and the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, West Islip is bordered on the north by Brentwood, on the east by Bay Shore, on the south by the Great South Bay, and on the west by the village of Babylon and North Babylon. West Islip's western boundary is a natural one formed by Sumpwams Creek, Hawley's Lake, Deer Lake and Swan Creek.
History
The first people to settle in this area more than one thousand years ago were the Secatogue Indians. The unearthing of an Indian burial ground north of West Islip beach enabled historians to reconstruct a village of these Indians who lived along the edges of the Great South Bay, Sumpwams Creek, Trues Creek and Willets Creek.One of the main Indian trails was Udall's Road which was the first road in Suffolk County to run north and south. It was named for the Richard Udall family who had an estate on South Country Road (now Montauk Highway).
In the early 17th century, the West Islip area came under the influence of the Dutch. In 1664 it came under English rule when the Duke of York claimed Long Island with the permission of King Charles II.
In 1692 this land was purchased by Thomas and William Willetts through an agreement with the Secatogue Indians. These settlers found the area well suited for farming and hunting and the many waterways abundant with fish and shellfish. Since the Willetts owned most of West Islip, additional families did not arrive until late in the 1770s when parcels of land were sold to others. The tax rolls of 1757 only listed Willetts.
During the 19th century, the community became a popular haven of wealthy estate owners. Among these were the Magoun, Udall, Gerek and Smith families. Farming, charcoal production, lumbering and fishing were the main occupations. In the mid-19th century, the completion of the Long Island Railroad brought travelers to West Islip and helped make the La Grange Inn a popular attraction. The Inn had been established in the mid-18th century by the Higbie family.
The first schoolhouse was started in 1807 and was located on South Country Road. One of our first teachers, G.M. Bishop, taught for thirty-three years and by 1872 had sixty-four students in his class.
West Islip's population continued to grow slowly and the 1930 census recorded 734 residents. In the early part of the 20th century, many Ukrainian people settled in West Islip seeking refuge from political repression and economic hardships. Some worked as gardeners on the estates while others became farmers, land owners and owners of small businesses. The Ukrainian heritage is still part of the community.
From 1940 until 1970, West Islip experienced most of its population growth. It had become an attractive suburban home community with its own fire department, post office, public library and Good Samaritan Hospital. A short drive on the Robert Moses Causeway affords access to good fishing at the Captree Boat Basin and swimming at the Robert Moses State Park. West Islip boasts its own beach and marina.
Today West Islip is situated on over 4000 acres (16.2 km²) and approximately 35,000 residents make West Islip their home. Numerous community groups offer support services and cultural enrichment for its residents. In addition to the various clubs and organizations affiliated with its schools and churches, there are the Chamber of Commerce, West Islip Beautification Society, American Legion, the Chamber Orchestra Society, Youth Enrichment Services and the West Islip Fire Department. In addition, every September the West Islip Bicentennial Committee sponsors a county fair. (AM)
Demographics for the CDP
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,907people in 8,833 households in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.9% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Black, 0.1% Native American, and 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% being multiracial.
There were 7,591 families out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.5% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $101,623, and the median income for a family was $107,736. Males had a median income of $65,440 versus $37,185 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $37,151. About 2.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
- Long Island Rail Road Website (Babylon Station)
- Long Island (Islip) MacArthur Airport Website
- Fire Island Ferries Website
West Islip is served by the Babylon
Babylon (LIRR station)
Babylon is a station on the Long Island Rail Road in the village of Babylon, New York at Railroad Avenue west of Deer Park Avenue. It is on the Montauk Branch, and is the eastern terminus of the Babylon Branch service...
station of the Long Island Railroad.
Education
- Babylon School District Website
- West Islip School District Website
- St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School Website
- Our Lady of Lourdes School Website
- Babylon Public Library Website
- West Islip Public Library Website
Children living in West Islip attend grades K-5 in one of the district's six elementary schools, and grades 6-8 in one of two middle schools. Elementary and middle schools in West Islip are assigned by demographics. Children in families living on the south side of the LIRR Babylon/Montauk branch tracks are assigned to either Bayview Elementary, Paul J. Bellew Elementary, or Captree Elementary School. Children who live on the North side of the tracks attend either Manetuck Elementary, Westbrook Elementary, or Oquenock Elementary School. North side junior high school students attend Udall Road Middle School, and those on the South side attend Beach Street Middle school. For high school all middle schoolers move up to West Islip High School (located at 1 Lions Path, off of Higbie Lane) for 9th grade through 12th grade graduation.
Parks and recreation
- Fire Island National Seashore
- Robert Moses State Park
- Captree State Park
- Babylon Beach & Marina
- West Islip Beach & Marina
In popular culture
The Flash cartoon Homestar RunnerHomestar Runner
Homestar Runner is a Flash animated Internet cartoon. It mixes surreal humor with references to retro pop culture, notably video games, classic television, and popular music.The cartoons are nominally centered on the title character, Homestar Runner...
makes fun of West Islip in this cartoon when Strong Bad calls West Islip a "British New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band", and mispronounces Islip as "Is Lip".
Residents (past and present)
- Matt AndersonMatt AndersonMatthew Jason Anderson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Early life and college career:...
- Chicago Wolves forward. - A.J. Benza - a gossip columnist and television host.
- Sal CaccavaleSal CaccavaleSal Caccavale is an American soccer midfielder last playing for Real Maryland Monarchs in the USL Second Division....
- former MLS player for New York Red Bulls - Anthony CasamentoAnthony CasamentoCorporal Anthony Casamento, was presented the Medal of Honor by President Jimmy Carter on September 12, 1980 in a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, 38 years after Cpl Casamento's heroism on Guadalcanal in 1942....
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
US Marine Corps Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient. - Jennifer Corey - Miss District of Columbia 2009.
- Kevin CosgroveKevin CosgroveKevin Michael Cosgrove was an American business executive in the insurance industry who was a victim of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center....
- A victim of the September 11th terrorist attacks whose 9-1-19-1-19-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
call was recorded. - Thomas Joseph DowneyThomas Joseph DowneyThomas Joseph Downey was a U.S. Representative from New York.Downey graduated from West Islip High School, West Islip, New York, 1966, and went on to earn a B.S. from Cornell University, 1970. He attended St. John's University Law School, Brooklyn, N.Y. from 1972 to 1974, and earned a J.D. from...
- United States CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man from 1975–1993, Class of 1966 W.I. High School. - Boomer EsiasonBoomer EsiasonNorman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
- Retired NFL Quarterback who played for the Bengals, Jets, and Cardinals was born in West Islip. - Edie FalcoEdie FalcoEdith "Edie" Falco is an American television, film and stage actress, known for her roles in Oz as Diane Wittlesey, as Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos, and as the titular character on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie...
-actress best known for her role on the long-running hit cable TV series The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads... - Captain KangarooCaptain KangarooCaptain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
- At one point in the 1950s, Bob KeeshanBob KeeshanRobert James "Bob" Keeshan was an American television producer and actor. He is most notable as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of people during its 30-year run from 1955 to 1984.Keeshan also played the original...
(Captain Kangaroo) was a member of the School Board. - Minor C. KeithMinor C. KeithMinor Cooper Keith was a U.S. railroad, fruit, and shipping magnate whose business activities had a profound impact in Central America and in Colombia.- Early life :...
- Railroad, fruit and shipping magnate. - Mike KomisarekMike KomisarekMichael Komisarek is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League .- Amateur years :...
- Current NHL player for the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Rick LazioRick LazioEnrico Anthony "Rick" Lazio is a former U.S. Representative from the state of New York. Lazio became well known nationally when he ran against Hillary Rodham Clinton for the U.S. Senate in New York's 2000 Senate election...
- 1976 WIHS graduate, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 2nd congressional district, 1993–2001. Lost with 43% of the vote against Hillary Clinton for US Senate in 2000. - Ken MarinoKen MarinoKenneth Joseph "Ken" Marino is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's The State and on the Starz comedy Party Down. He currently co-stars on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital.-Early life and career:Marino was born in West Islip, New York to an...
-actor and comedian - Matthew Milligan - Bassist of WheatusWheatusWheatus are an American rock group from Northport, New York. They are known for their 2000 single "Teenage Dirtbag" which was featured in the movie Loser, as well as in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-1995-2002: Formation and Wheatus:...
fame who graduated from the West Islip High School in 2004. - Al OerterAl OerterAlfred Adolf Oerter, Jr. was an American athlete, and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw....
- Prior to Mexico City Olympics in 1968, this Olympic discus thrower lived in West Islip, and would frequently work out at the High School field. - Justin H. Rucki - Notable corporate bankruptcy lawyer, was born in West Islip.
- Pete SellPete SellPeter K. Sell, is an American mixed martial artist specializing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is a black belt under teacher and fellow mixed martial artist Matt Serra in East Meadow, New York, and has trained extensively under striking coach Ray Longo in Garden City, New York...
- UFC "Ultimate Fighting Championship" middleweight fighter was born in West Islip - Gary SullivanGary SullivanGary Sullivan may refer to:*Gary Sullivan , electrical engineer*Gary Sullivan , American radio host*Gary Sullivan , Australian rugby league footballer*Gary Sullivan , American soccer player...
, professional soccer player - Bob WenzelBob WenzelBob Wenzel is a former American college basketball coach and a current broadcaster for ESPN, the Big East Network, and CBS Sports.-College playing/Coaching career:...
- CBS Sports Analyst, Graduate of West Islip High School, Captain of Suffolk County Championship Basketball team in 1967. - Jeff Olson The cowboyCowboyA cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
of the Village PeopleVillage PeopleVillage People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
moved to West Islip when he was 6 months old - Brett SwensonBrett SwensonBrett Swenson is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Michigan State University.-Early life:...
- Placekicker in the NFL- Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
- was born and raised in West Islip - Bill DiNicola - Sports Anchor WITN