Suffolk County, New York
Categories: Suffolk County, New York | New York counties | New York metropolitan area | Long Island
- In the United States, there is also a Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
- For other places named "Suffolk," see Suffolk (disambiguation).
| Image:Map of New York highlighting Suffolk County.png Location in the state of New York | |
| Formed | 1683 |
| Seat | Riverhead |
| Area - Total - Water | 6,146 km² (2,373 mi²) 3,784 km² (1,461 mi²) 61.56% |
| Population - (2000) - Density | 1,419,369 617/km² |
Suffolk County is a county located in the state of New York. As of 2000, the population is 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 most county offices are located in Hauppauge on the west side of the county where most of the population lives. There are also offices in Smithtown, for the legislature, and Yaphank.
Suffolk and Nassau counties are generally referred to as Long Island by area residents (as distinct from Brooklyn and Queens, both physically on Long Island but part of New York City). Suffolk County is the easternmost county in New York State.
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History
Suffolk County was an original county of New York State, one of twelve created in 1683. Its boundaries were substantially the same as at present, with only minor changes in the boundary with its western neighbor, which was originally Queens County but since 1899 has been Nassau County. However, as western Suffolk County has become more suburbanized there has been agitation by people living in the more rural East End of the island to divide Suffolk into two counties, with the easternmost part tentatively named Peconic County, after the Peconic Bay. Supporters of the idea believe that this create a more efficient and responsive government and would would give them a larger voice than they currently have in Suffolk County as it now stands, as well as lower taxes. Peconic County would tentatively include the towns of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,146 km² (2,373 mi²). 2,363 km² (912 mi²) of it is land and 3,784 km² (1,461 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 61.56% water.
Suffolk County occupies the easternmost portion of Long Island, in the southeastern portion of New York State. The eastern end of the county splits into two peninsulas, known as the North Fork and the South Fork. The county is surrounded by water on three sides, including the Atlantic Ocean and the Long Island Sound. The eastern end contains large bays. Suffolk County is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Town of Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold. Adjacent Counties and areas: Nassau County, New York is on the western border. To the north is the Long Island Sound, and the State of Connecticut is on the opposite shore. To the east is Block Island Sound. The south boundary is the Atlantic Ocean.
Economy
Major facilities include Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton and Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Plum Island. Several airports serve commuters and business travelers, most notably Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, Republic Airport in East Farmingdale and Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.
Law and government
| Year | GOP | Dems |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 48.5% 309,949 | 49.5% 315,909 |
| 2000 | 42.0% 240,992 | 53.4% 306,306 |
| 1996 | 36.1% 182,510 | 51.8% 261,828 |
| 1992 | 40.4% 220,811 | 38.9% 229,467 |
| 1988 | 60.5% 311,242 | 38.7% 199,215 |
| 1984 | 66.0% 171,295 | 33.7% 335,485 |
| 1980 | 57.0% 256,294 | 33.3% 149,945 |
| 1976 | 54.1% 248,908 | 45.3% 208,263 |
| 1972 | 70.3% 316,452 | 29.4% 132,441 |
| 1968 | 58.2% 218,027 | 32.7% 122,590 |
| 1964 | 44.4% 144,350 | 55.5%% 180,598 |
| 1960 | 59.3% 166,644 | 40.6% 114,033 |
Suffolk County has long been a Republican bastion in New York. U.S. Congressman Rick Lazio, who opposed Hillary Clinton in the 2000 Senate Race was from here. However, recent elections have turned the county more toward the Democrats. In 2003, Democrat Steve Levy was elected county executive, ending longtime Republican control. Although Suffolk voters gave George H. W. Bush a victory here in 1992, the county voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 and continued the trend by giving Al Gore a large victory here in 2000 and John Kerry a smaller margain of victory in 2004.
Suffolk County is represented by three congressional districts, the first, second and part of the third. The former two seats are held by Democrats. Tim Bishop, a Democrat, represents the once heavily Republican first district, which includes almost half of the county, from Smithtown to Montauk, including The Hamptons and Riverhead. The second district, which includes Huntington, Brentwood and Bay Shore, is represented by Steve Israel. A Democrat, Israel won a seat in 2000 vacated by Republican Rick Lazio when made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate. The third district, which is mainly in Nassau County, but includes wealthy coastal areas of southwestern Suffolk County, is represented by Peter King, a Republican.
Democratic voters in Suffolk, as well as next-door Nassau County have helped to turn New York into a solidly Democratic state.
Suffolk County Executives
- H. Lee Dennison, Democrat: 1961-1973
- John V.N. Klein, Republican: 1973-1979
- Peter F. Cohalan, Repulican: 1979-1986
- Michael A. LoGrande, Republican: 1986-1987 (appointed to complete Cohalan's term)
- Patrick G. Halpin, Democrat: 1987-1991
- Robert J. Gaffney, Republican: 1991-2003
- Steve Levy, Democrat: 2003-present
Suffolk County Legislature
The county is divided into 18 legislative districts, each represented by a legislator. As of 2005, there are eleven Republicans and seven Democrats:
- Micheal J. Caracciolo
- Jay Schneiderman
- Peter O'Leary -- Majority Leader
- Joseph T. Caracappa -- Presiding Officer
- Vivian Viloria-Fisher
- Daniel P. Losquadro
- Brian X. Foley
- William Lindsay -- Minority Leader
- Ricardo Montano
- Cameron Alden
- Angie Carpenter -- Deputy Presiding Officer
- John M. Kennedy, Jr.
- Lynne Nowick
- David Bishop
- Elie Mystal
- Allan Binder
- Paul J. Tonna
- Jon Cooper
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,419,369 people, 469,299 households, and 360,421 families residing in the county. The population density is 601/km² (1,556/mi²). There are 522,323 housing units at an average density of 221/km² (573/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 84.60% White, 6.94% African American, 0.27% Native American, 2.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.65% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 10.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Some main European ancestries in Suffolk county as of 2000: 28.33% Italian, 22.02% Irish, 16.95% German and 5.98% English.
There are 469,299 households out of which 37.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% are married couples living together, 10.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% are non-families. 18.30% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.80% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.96 and the average family size is 3.36.
In the county the population is spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $65,288, and the median income for a family is $72,112. Males have a median income of $50,046 versus $33,281 for females. The per capita income for the county is $26,577. 6.00% of the population and 3.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.70% of those under the age of 18 and 6.30% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Colleges and universities
Suffolk County is home to numerous colleges and universities, including Stony Brook University, Dowling College, Southampton College, Saint Joseph's College and Suffolk County Community College.
Indian reservations
Two Indian reservations are located within the borders of Suffolk County:
Towns, villages, and hamlets
In New York State, a town is the major subdivision of each county. Towns provide or arrange for most municipal services for residents of hamlets and selected services for residents of villages. All residents of New York who do not live in a city or on an Indian reservation live in a town. A village is an incorporated area which is usually, but not always, within a single town. A village is a clearly defined municipality that provides the services closest to the residents, such as garbage collection, street and highway maintenance, street lighting and building codes. Some villages provide their own police and other optional services. A hamlet is a populated area within a town that is not part of a village. The term "hamlet" is not defined under New York law (unlike cities, towns and villages), but is often used in the state's statutes to refer to well-known populated sections of towns that are not incorporated as villages. For more information, see the article Political subdivisions of New York State.
Sorted by town
- Town of Babylon
- Villages: Amityville, Babylon, Lindenhurst
- Hamlets: Copiague, Deer Park, East Farmingdale, Gilgo, Oak Beach & Captree, North Amityville, North Babylon, North Lindenhurst, West Babylon, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch
- Other communities: Copiague Harbor
- Town of Brookhaven
- Villages: Belle Terre, Bellport, Lake Grove, Old Field, Patchogue, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Shoreham
- Hamlets: Blue Point, Brookhaven, Canaan Lake, Centereach, Center Moriches, Cherry Grove, Coram, Crystal Brook, Cupsogue Beach, Davis Park, East Moriches, East Patchogue, East Setauket, East Shoreham, Farmingville, Fire Island Pines, Gordon Heights, Hagerman, Manorville, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Medford, Middle Island, Miller Place, Moriches, Mount Sinai, North Bellport, North Patchogue, Ocean Bay Park, Point of Woods, Port Jefferson Station, Ridge, Rocky Point, Selden, Setauket, Shirley, Southaven, Sound Beach, Stony Brook, Strongs Neck, Terryville, Upton, Water Island, West Manor, Yaphank
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Islip: Holbrook, Holtsville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Ronkonkoma
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Riverhead: Calverton, Wading River
- Hamlet located partly in the Town of Southampton: Eastport
- Town of East Hampton
- Villages: East Hampton
- Village located partly in the Town of Southampton: Sag Harbor
- Hamlets: Amagansett, Montauk, Springs, Wainscott
- Town of Huntington
- Villages: Asharoken, Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, Northport
- Hamlets: Centerport, Cold Spring Harbor, Dix Hills, East Northport, Eatons Neck, Elwood, Greenlawn, Halesite, Huntington, Huntington Station, Melville, South Huntington
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Smithtown: Commack, Fort Salonga
- Town of Islip
- Villages: Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach, Saltaire
- Hamlets: Bay Shore, Bayport, Baywood, Bohemia, Brentwood, Central Islip, East Islip, Great River, Hauppauge, Islip, Islip Terrace, North Bay Shore, North Great River, Oakdale, Sayville, West Bay Shore, West Islip, West Sayville
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Brookhaven: Holbrook, Holtsville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Ronkonkoma
- Town of Riverhead
- Villages: none
- Hamlets: Aquebogue, Baiting Hollow, Jamesport, Northville, Riverhead
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Brookhaven: Calverton, Wading River
- Town of Shelter Island
- Village: Dering Harbor
- Hamlet: Shelter Island Heights
- Town of Smithtown
- Villages: Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, Village of the Branch
- Hamlets: Kings Park, Nesconset, Smithtown, St. James
- Hamlets located partly in the Town of Huntington: Commack, Fort Salonga
- Town of Southampton
- Villages: North Haven, Quogue, Southampton (village), Westhampton Beach, Westhampton Dunes
- Village located partly in the Town of East Hampton: Sag Harbor
- Hamlets: Bridgehampton, East Quogue, Flanders, Hampton Bays, Northampton, North Sea, Noyack (Noyac), Quioque (Quiogue), Remsenburg, Riverside, Sagaponack, Shinnecock Hills, Southampton (hamlet), Speonk, Tuckahoe, Water Mill (Watermill), Westhampton
- Hamlet located partly in the Town of Brookhaven: Eastport
- Town of Southold
- Village: Greenport
- Hamlets: Cutchogue, East Marion, Fishers Island, Laurel, Mattituck, Orient, New Suffolk, Peconic, Southold
- Fire Island
- Villages in the Town of Islip: Ocean Beach, New York, Saltaire
- Hamlets in the Town of Brookhaven: Cherry Grove (a.k.a. Fire Island), Fire Island Pines.
- Other communities: Atlantique, Bayberry Dunes, Corneille Estates, Davis Park, Dunewood, Fair Harbor, Kismet, Lonelyville, Long Cove, Ocean Bay Park, Point o' Woods, Robbins Rest, Seaview, Watch Hill, Water Island, West Fire Island
Sorted by name
- Babylon (town), Babylon (village), Baiting Hollow, Bay Shore, Bayport, Baywood, Belle Terre, Bellport, Blue Point, Bohemia, Brentwood, Bridgehampton, Brightwaters, Brookhaven (town), Brookhaven (hamlet)
- Calverton, Center Moriches, Centereach, Centerport, Central Islip, Cherry Grove (a.k.a. Fire Island), Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Copiague, Copiague Harbor, Coram, Cutchogue
- East Farmingdale, East Hampton (town), East Hampton (village), East Islip, East Marion, East Moriches, East Northport, East Patchogue, East Quogue, East Setauket, East Shoreham, Eastport, Eatons Neck, Elwood
- Farmingville, Fire Island (a.k.a. Cherry Grove), Fire Island Pines, Fishers Island, Flanders, Fort Salonga
- Halesite, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Head of the Harbor, Holbrook, Holtsville, Huntington (town), Huntington (hamlet), Huntington Bay, Huntington Station
- Manorville, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Mattituck, Medford, Melville, Middle Island, Miller Place, Montauk, Moriches, Mount Sinai
- Napeague, Nesconset, New Suffolk, Nissequogue, North Amityville, North Babylon, North Bay Shore, North Bellport, North Great River, North Haven, North Lindenhurst, North Patchogue, North Sea, Northampton, Northport, Northville, Northwest Harbor, Noyack (Noyac)
- Sag Harbor, Sagaponack, Saltaire, Sayville, Selden, Setauket, Shelter Island, Shelter Island Heights, Shinnecock Hills, Shirley, Shoreham, Smithtown (town), Smithtown (hamlet), Southampton (town), Southampton (village), Southampton (hamlet), Southold (town), Southold (hamlet), Sound Beach, South Huntington, Speonk, Springs, St. James, Stony Brook
- Wading River, Wainscott, Water Mill (Watermill), West Babylon, West Bay Shore, West Gilgo Beach, West Hampton Dunes (Westhampton Dunes), West Hills, West Islip, West Sayville, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, Wheatley Heights, Wyandanch
External links
- Suffolk County, New York official site
- Suffolk County information
- Suffolk County heritage
- Newsday - Long Island History: Suffolk County
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