CENTRE ISLAND, LONG ISLAND

Centre Island, Long Island

Centre Island is an incorporated village located in Nassau County, Long Island, New York. It is within the Town of Oyster Bay. As of the 2000 census, there were just 444 people, 174 households, and 128 families residing in the area. Centre Island is a claw shaped peninsula overlooking Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. The median income for a household in the village was $117,848, and the median income for a family was $115,972. Males had a median income of $100,000 and only $40,000 for females. The latitude of Centre Island is 40.901N. The longitude is -73.52W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 33 feet.

Hog Island is the former and merged name of Centre Island. The area was a popular summer resort in the late 1800s. Centre Island was once home to the Matinecock Indians, who came about 10,000 years ago by canoe to fish, hunt, and collect shellfish. The Island changed hands many times over the years and in 1844, the island changed its name and finally became Centre Island. According to the famous researchers in New York, there were no sex offenders living in this village in early 2007.

Centre Island is currently the home of Billy Joel, famed piano rock musician. He bought a $22-million brick manor home on 15 acres in Centre Island about a year ago but residents prefer secrecy and keep to themselves. Other people living in the area include John Barry (Oscar-winning composer of James Bond), Rupert Murdoch (media tycoon), and Alan Jay Lerner (composer of My Fair Lady). The racial-makeup of Centre Island comprises of 96.62% White, 0.45% African American, 0.90% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Most of its resident’s ancestries were Irish, Italian, English, German, and Polish. Students attend the Oyster Bay- East Norwich school district. The district enjoys a reputation for excellent academic programs, with instruction programs extending from the classroom to interscholastic athletics and co-curricular activities.

Centre Island has its own police department stationed at entrance to the village. With several shopping centers, restaurants, golf and country clubs in town; there are also public beaches at entrance to Centre Island and everyone will find Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club on the Island. It is the premier sailing club in the country founded here in 1871 which attracted by leading yachtsmen. The Club's sailing activities include one-design dingy sailing from November to April. The Clubhouse maintains many rooms for use of its members and their guests for overnight stays and vacations. Residents today can also enjoy private beaches and all types of water sports. Realty market in Centre Island has been a big contribution in terms of their economy. Many of its stately mansions owned mostly by wealthy people of European descent. There are about three hundred residences along narrow, tree-lined roads and the expansive properties usually have landscaped gardens of several acres on the waterfront.

--- Center Island Police Department