Huntington, New York | |
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Town of Huntington | |
Oheka Castle, Heckscher Park, Walt Whitman's Birthplace, sunset at Centerport Harbor, the historic former Huntington Sewing and Trade School, and the Heckscher Museum of Art | |
![]() Location in Suffolk County | |
Coordinates: 40°51′36″N73°21′8″W / 40.86000°N 73.35222°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Suffolk |
Town Seat | Huntington |
Government | |
• Town Supervisor | Edmund Smyth (R) |
Area | |
• Total | 137.1 sq mi (355 km2) |
• Land | 94.0 sq mi (243 km2) |
• Water | 43.1 sq mi (112 km2) |
Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 204,127 |
• Density | 2,162/sq mi (835/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP Codes | 11721, 11724, 11731, 11740, 11743, 11746, 11747, 11750, 11768 |
Area code(s) | 631, 934 |
FIPS code | 36-68000 |
GNIS feature ID | 0979498 |
Website | huntingtonny |
Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The town's population was 204,127 at the time of the 2020 census, making it the 11th most populous city/town in the state. [1]
Founded in 1653, the Town of Huntington is located on the North Shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with the Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. [2] It is part of the New York metropolitan area.
In 1653, three men from Oyster Bay, Richard Holbrook, Robert Williams and Daniel Whitehead, purchased a parcel of land from the Matinecock tribe. [2] This parcel has since come to be known as the "First Purchase" and included land bordered by Cold Spring Harbor on the west, Northport Harbor on the east, what is now known as Old Country Road to the south, and the Long Island Sound to the north. The three men immediately turned the land over to the settlers who had already been living there. [2] [3]
The origin of the name is unknown but the consensus among historians is it was named for the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell who was Lord Protector of England at the time of the town's establishment.[ citation needed ] From that initial settlement, Huntington grew over subsequent years to include all of the land presently comprising the modern Towns of Huntington and Babylon. The southern part of the town was formally separated to create Babylon in 1872. [3]
Because Huntington was populated largely by English settlers, unlike the rest of the New Amsterdam colony, the town voted in 1660 to become part of the Connecticut colony rather than remain under the authority of New Amsterdam. It was not until the British gained control of New Amsterdam in 1664 (renaming it New York) that Huntington was formally restored to the jurisdiction of New York. [3]
Following the Battle of Long Island during the American Revolutionary War, British troops used Huntington as their headquarters, and remained encamped there until the end of the war. [3]
The arrival of the Long Island Rail Road in 1867 transformed the economy of Huntington from primarily agriculture and shipping (based on its well protected harbor) to tourism and commuting. Cold Spring Harbor became a popular summer resort. [3]
The end of World War II brought about an explosive growth of population in Huntington as western Suffolk County began suburbanizing. [3] Farms and resorts gave way to homes, and Huntington transformed into a major commuter town for nearby New York City. [3]
In 1988, the Supreme Court ruled that Huntington had violated the Fair Housing Act by preventing apartment construction anywhere except in black neighborhoods. [4] A developer of an affordable housing project sought to build it in a white neighborhood, but the town restricted the developer to black neighborhoods. [5] The Supreme Court ordered the town to build an affordable housing project in a white neighborhood. Construction on that project began in 2023. [4]
In 2019, Huntington banned the creation of new basement apartments. [4] In 2023, a council member proposed legalizing basement apartments to alleviate the housing crisis in Huntington and other communities surrounding New York City. [4] At a July 2023 hearing, in which local residents railed against "migrants, pedophiles, or criminals" moving into Huntington, council members backtracked on their support for the zoning change. [4]
Huntington is bounded by Long Island Sound to the north, Nassau County to the west, Babylon to the south, and Smithtown to the east. It also shares a small border with Islip to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 137.1 square miles (355 km2), of which 94.0 square miles (243 km2) is land and 43.1 square miles (112 km2) (31.44%) is water. [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 3,260 | — | |
1800 | 3,894 | 19.4% | |
1810 | 4,424 | 13.6% | |
1820 | 4,935 | 11.6% | |
1830 | 5,582 | 13.1% | |
1840 | 6,562 | 17.6% | |
1850 | 7,481 | 14.0% | |
1860 | 8,924 | 19.3% | |
1870 | 10,704 | 19.9% | |
1880 | 8,098 | −24.3% | |
1890 | 8,277 | 2.2% | |
1900 | 9,483 | 14.6% | |
1910 | 12,004 | 26.6% | |
1920 | 13,893 | 15.7% | |
1930 | 25,582 | 84.1% | |
1940 | 31,768 | 24.2% | |
1950 | 47,506 | 49.5% | |
1960 | 126,221 | 165.7% | |
1970 | 200,172 | 58.6% | |
1980 | 201,512 | 0.7% | |
1990 | 191,474 | −5.0% | |
2000 | 195,289 | 2.0% | |
2010 | 203,264 | 4.1% | |
2020 | 204,127 | 0.4% | |
2021 (est.) | 204,197 | [7] | 0.0% |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] |
Data source | Population | White | Black | Asian | Native Americans | Pacific Islanders | Hispanic/Latino | Other | Two or more races |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 Census | 195,289 | 88.31% | 4.22% | 3.50% | 0.13% | 0.02% | 6.58% | 2.27% | 1.55% |
2010 Census | 203,264 | 84.15% | 4.68% | 4.96% | 0.20% | 0.02% | 11.00% | 3.89% | 2.10% |
2020 Census | 204,127 | 79.0% | 4.2% | 5.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 11.9% | 4.1% | 6.6% |
As of the census [9] of 2000, there were 195,289 people, 65,917 households, and 52,338 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,078.4 inhabitants per square mile (802.5/km2). There were 67,708 housing units at an average density of 720.6 units per square mile (278.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town in 2000 was 88.31% White, 4.22% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 3.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.58% of the population. As of the census of 2010, the racial makeup of the town was 84.15% White, 4.68% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 4.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.89% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.00% of the population.
There were 65,917 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% 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 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
According to a 2023 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $164,196, and the median income for a family was $190,280. [10] About 4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
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The town government consists of a town council with four members, all of whom are elected at large. The town supervisor is elected by the entire town. Other elected positions are the Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent, and Receiver of Taxes. [11] A referendum to move to a ward district system on December 22, 2009, failed 81% to 18%.
Until 2017, Huntington was generally controlled by the Democratic Party, having the same Democratic town supervisor, Frank Petrone, for 20 years prior to 2017. The town board followed suit during these years, generally being controlled by the Democratic Party. In 2017, the Republican Party took control of the town supervisor position with the election of Chad Lupinacci. [12] The Republicans have held this position since. In the 2021 general election, [13] the people of Huntington elected Edmund Smyth [14] to the supervisor position. Two Republicans were also elected to the town board: Dr. Dave Bennardo [15] and Salvatore Ferro. [16] In the 2023 general election, [17] Brooke Lupinacci [18] and Theresa Mari [19] were elected, creating a 5–0 super majority for the Republican Party on the town board. The town clerk position is held by Andrew Raia, [20] and the highway superintendent is Andre Sorentino, [21] both Republicans. The lone Democrat in the Huntington town government is Jillian Guthman, [22] who has served as the receiver of taxes since 2017, when she was appointed to the position by the board, and shortly after re-elected to serve a full term in 2018.
Position | Name |
---|---|
Supervisor | Edmund J.M. Smyth (R) |
Town Clerk | Andrew P. Raia (R) |
Councilman | Dr. Dave Bennardo (R) |
Councilman | Salvatore Ferro (R) |
Councilwoman | Brooke A. Lupinacci (R) |
Councilwoman | Theresa Mari (R) |
Receiver of Taxes | Jillian Guthman (D) |
Highway Superintendent | Andre Sorentino (R) |
Sbarro's headquarters were located in Melville in the Town of Huntington until 2015. [24]
Around 2002, Swiss International Air Lines's North American headquarters moved from Melville to Uniondale, Town of Hempstead. The facility, the former Swissair North American headquarter site, was completed in 1995. Swissair intended to own, instead of lease, its headquarters site. It enlisted architect Richard Meier to design the Melville facility. [25] [26]
In 1997, Aer Lingus announced that it was moving its North American headquarters from Manhattan to Melville; James Lyndon, a spokesperson for the airline, said that the company moved to Long Island in an effort to reduce costs, as leasing costs are lower on Long Island than in Manhattan. The move would transfer 75 employees, including administrative personnel, marketing personnel, sales personnel, and telephone reservation agents. The airline planned to move on June 15, 1997. The airline had also considered sites in Boston and in Westchester, New York. [27]
According to Huntington's 2025 Adopted Budget, [28] the top employers in the town are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Canon | 3,103 |
2 | Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center | 1,929 |
3 | Huntington Hospital | 1,810 |
4 | Estée Lauder | 1,700 |
5 | Half Hollow Hills School District | 1,682 |
6 | Henry Schein | 1,268 |
7 | Western Suffolk BOCES | 1,140 |
8 | South Huntington Union Free School District | 1,110 |
9 | Northport-East Northport School District | 945 |
10 | Huntington - Town Government | 773 |
Huntington is home to two institutions of higher education, including:
Several weekly newspapers cover local news exclusively, including The Long-Islander, since 1838 as well as The Times of Huntington by TBR News Media. The Village Connection Magazine, published by Jim Savalli, is a lifestyle and entertainment magazine dedicated to the town of Huntington. Additionally, Patch, an online-only news website formerly owned by AOL – as well as the Huntington Buzz, an online-only news website that is independently owned – cover hyper-local news on issues, people, and events in Huntington.
The Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch serves the town's vicinity, and uses stations between Cold Spring Harbor through Northport. Huntington is the eastern terminus of electrification along the Port Jefferson Branch.
The Town of Huntington is served primarily by Huntington Area Rapid Transit bus routes, though some routes from Suffolk County Transit also serve the town.
Huntington is the only township in the United States to ban self-service gas stations at the township level and among the few places in the U.S. where full-service gas stations are compulsory and no self-service is allowed; [66] the entire state of New Jersey and the western-Mid Valley portion of Oregon are the only other places in the country with similar laws.
Suffolk County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of New York, constituting the eastern two-thirds of Long Island. It is bordered to its west by Nassau County, to its east by Gardiners Bay and the open Atlantic Ocean, to its north by Long Island Sound, and to its south by the Atlantic Ocean.
Cold Spring Harbor is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Huntington, in Suffolk County, on the North Shore of Long Island in New York. As of the 2010 United States census, the CDP population was 5,070.
Dix Hills is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP), in the Town of Huntington, on Long Island, New York, United States. The population was 26,180 at the time of the 2020 census.
East Northport is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,217 at the 2010 census.
Smithtown is a town in Suffolk County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. The population was 116,296 at the 2020 Census.
The North Shore of Long Island is the area along the northern coast of New York's Long Island bordering Long Island Sound. Known for its extreme wealth and lavish estates, the North Shore exploded into affluence at the turn of the 20th century, earning it the nickname the Gold Coast. Historically, this term refers to the affluent coastline neighborhoods of the towns of North Hempstead and Oyster Bay in Nassau County and Huntington in Suffolk County. Some definitions may also include the parts of Smithtown that face the Sound. The region is also largely coextensive with the Gold Coast region of Long Island, though this region excludes Smithtown, as the easternmost Gold Coast mansion is the Geissler Estate, located just west of Indian Hills Country Club in the Fort Salonga section of Huntington.
New York State Route 25A (NY 25A) is a state highway on Long Island in New York, United States. It serves as the main east–west route for most of the North Shore of Long Island, running for 73 miles (117 km) from Interstate 495 (I-495) at the Queens–Midtown Tunnel in the New York City borough of Queens to NY 25 in Calverton, Suffolk County. The highway is a northern alternate route of NY 25, which follows a more inland routing along Jericho Turnpike.
Half Hollow Hills Central School District (#5) is located in Dix Hills, New York, on Long Island, and primarily serves the hamlets of Dix Hills and part of Melville, while also serving small areas of East Farmingdale, Deer Park, West Hills, East Northport, and Wheatley Heights in Suffolk County. The district include five elementary, two middle, and two high schools.
The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson. Several stations on the Main Line west of Hicksville are served primarily by trains bound to/from the Port Jefferson branch, so LIRR maps and schedules for the public include that part of the Main Line in the "Port Jefferson Branch" service.
New York's 1st congressional district is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern Long Island. It includes the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County, including the northern portion of Brookhaven, as well as the entirety of the towns of Huntington, Smithtown, Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, and Shelter Island. The district encompasses extremely wealthy enclaves such as the Hamptons, middle class suburban towns such as Selden, Centereach, and Lake Grove, working-class towns such as Riverhead and rural farming communities such as Mattituck and Jamesport on the North Fork. The district currently is represented by Republican Nick LaLota.
Commack Union Free School District is a public school district located in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The school district straddles the towns of Huntington and Smithtown, with Townline Road as the dividing line. It serves the residents of Commack as well as parts of Dix Hills, Smithtown and East Northport. It served approximately 6,000 students during the 2018–2019 school year. There are four primary schools, two intermediate schools, one middle school and one high school.
County Route 11 (CR 11), mostly known as Pulaski Road, is a county road in northwestern Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It runs west to east between New York State Route 108 in Cold Spring Harbor and New York State Route 25A in Kings Park. Most of the road is two lanes wide, although there are some areas where it opens up to four lanes, or simply allows center-left-turn lanes.
Times Beacon Record Newspapers is a community newspaper publisher, located in Setauket, NY, consisting of seven different weekly newspapers serving Suffolk County localities on the North Shore of Long Island spanning from the town of Huntington into Wading River. The current publisher is Leah S. Dunaief.
The Northport Branch was a spur off the Port Jefferson Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, running from between Greenlawn and Northport stations to directly within Northport Village.
Huntington Area Rapid Transit is a bus system exclusively within the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York, in the United States.
Long Islander News is a local news organization that covers the town of Huntington, New York. The organization's flagship newspaper, The Long-Islander, was founded by American poet Walt Whitman in 1838. It is the oldest continuously-published community newspaper on Long Island.
Long Islander Newspapers is a chain of weekly newspapers covering the town of Huntington, New York.
Everything's OK on Robin Hood Lane, which was the name of our street.[ permanent dead link ]
Hennessy grew up in Huntington, Long Island.
He has long been away from Huntington