ISLIP, LONG ISLAND

Islip, Long Island

Islip is a hamlet and census-designated place located in Suffolk County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. It is within the Town of Islip. The Islip Train Station serves the community with hourly service west to New York City and east to the Hamptons via the Long Island Rail Road. It is also served by Sunrise Highway and the Southern State Parkway. As of the 2000 census, there were 20,575 people, 6,868 households, and 5,302 families residing in the CDP. The median income for a household in the CDP was $65,657, and the median income for a family was $72,361. Males had a median income of $49,424 and only $33,600 for females. The latitude of Islip is 40.729N. The longitude is -73.21W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 7 feet.

On November 29, 1683, an early settler named William Nicoll bought land from Sachem (Chief) Winnequaheagh of Connetquot. The community was named after Islip, Oxfordshire, England. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the area originated as a subsistence farming community in its earliest years transforming to a posh resort and mansion heavy enclave for aristocratic families. The original settlement encompassed Bayport, Bohemia, Brentwood, Central Islip, East Islip, Great River, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islip Terrace, Oakdale, Sayville, West Sayville, and part of Ronkonkoma. Part of Nicoll’s original domain is now the site of the Heckscher State Park. Some early setters made their living raising grain and beef although Islip’s closeness to the water made fishing and shipping the primary way of life.

Well-known residents have included J. Michael Plumb, an Olympic medalist. Most of the resident ancestries were Italian, Irish, German, Black or African American, and Puerto Rican. The community is served by the Islip Union Free School District which has three elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school. The district provides academic excellence towards their students and also develops their personal potentials. One of the town’s most important and precious assets is Long Island MacArthur Airport. It is located near the center of Long Island with an easy access from major highways and the only airport in Suffolk or Nassau County with scheduled service on major airlines and serves over two million passengers a year. The town has several churches including Presbyterian, Episcopal, Apostle, and Methodist that all have a combination of beautifully made architecture and devotional services. Brookwood Hall Park, the Islip Art Museum, and Heckscher State Park are also near by. The local Chamber of Commerce which is founded in 1924 help makes Islip a better place in which to live and work. Their goal is to promote and encourage public improvements and commerce, support industry, adjust disputes relative to trade, transportation and navigation, and many more.