West Islip, New York

"West Islip" redirects here. For the USSB ship, see SS West Islip.

West Islip, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
U.S. Census map
West Islip Location within the state of New York Show map of Long Island West Islip West Islip (New York) Show map of New York West Islip West Islip (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°42′54″N73°17′52″W / 40.71500°N 73.29778°W / 40.71500; -73.29778
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Suffolk
Area [1]
• Total	7.81 sq mi (20.22 km2)
• Land	6.09 sq mi (15.78 km2)
• Water	1.71 sq mi (4.44 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,048
• Density	4,438.46/sq mi (1,713.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	11795
Area code	516/631
FIPS code	36-80302 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0969276 [3]

West Islip is a hamlet and CDP founded in 1683, located in the Town of Islip, in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Situated on the South Shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 27,048 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[4]

Geography

West Islip is located at 40°42′54″N73°17′52″W / 40.71500°N 73.29778°W / 40.71500; -73.29778 (40.715008, -73.297746). ^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.5 km²), of which 6.3 square miles (16.4 km²) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km²), or 6.46%, is water. ^[4]

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 km) east of Manhattan and 45 miles (72 km) west of Southampton, New York. West Islip's western boundary is a natural one formed by Sampawams Creek, Hawley's Lake, and the Guggenheim Lakes.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	27,048		—
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

History

The first people to settle in the area were the Secatogue Native Americans. The unearthing of a Native American burial ground north of West Islip beach enabled historians to reconstruct a village of these Native Americans who lived along the edges of the Great South Bay, Sampawams Creek, Trues Creek and Willetts Creek. [Citation needed.]

Farming and fishing were the main occupations. In the mid-19th century, the completion of the Long Island Rail Road brought travelers to West Islip.

Today West Islip has its own fire department, post office, public library and Good Samaritan Hospital. A short drive affords access to good fishing and swimming.

Demographics of the CDP

As of the census of 2020, there were 27,048 people in 8,107 households in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.9% Non-Hispanic White, 2.3% Asian, 0.7% Black, and 10.4% identifying as multiracial or “other race” on the US Census. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 9.7% of the population, with Puerto Ricans making up 37.1% of the total Hispanic population. ^[7] Of the Non-Hispanic White population, West Islip residents claimed ancestries of Italian (43.7%), Irish (14.9%), German (5.9%), and Turkish (1.9%), among others.

There were 7,459 families, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. Nearly 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09, and the average family size was 3.43.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.6% 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 $103,789, ^[8] and the median income for a family was $117,451. ^[8] Males had a median income of $75,868 versus $54,389 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $38,933. About 2.9% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

West Islip is located approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Babylon station on the Long Island Rail Road. Suffolk County Transit bus route 2 runs along Montauk Highway in West Islip.

Health

• Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center

Education

Public school districts:

• West Islip School District
• Brentwood Union Free School District

Private schools:

• St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School
• Our Lady of Lourdes School
• The Bridges Academy

Public libraries:

• West Islip Public Library

Notable people

• Matt Anderson, New Jersey Devils forward
• A. J. Benza, gossip columnist and television host
• Tom Bohrer, two time Olympic silver medalist in the coxless four (1988 and 1992) and head coach of the Boston University Men's Crew.
• Sal Caccavale, former MLS player for the New York Red Bulls
• Kevin Cosgrove, victim of the September 11th terrorist attacks whose 9-1-1 call and last words were recorded
• Thomas Joseph Downey, congressman from 1975 to 1993, West Islip High School Class of 1966
• Edie Falco, actress best known for her role on the long-running hit TV series The Sopranos
• Sean Henry, CEO of the Nashville Predators
• John J. Flanagan, New York State Senator
• Aidan Kelly, 2014 USA Olympic Luge slider
• Mike Komisarek, retired NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Rick Lazio, 1976 WIHS graduate, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 2nd congressional district, 1993–2001
• Ken Marino, best known for his work with MTV's The State and Wet Hot American Summer
• Al Oerter, Olympic discus thrower. Prior to Mexico City Olympics in 1968 he lived in West Islip and would frequently work out at the high school field.
• Gary Sullivan, professional soccer player
• Brett Swenson, placekicker in the NFL (Indianapolis Colts) born in West Islip
• Kris Statlander, professional wrestler and TBS Champion for All Elite Wrestling
• Nick Tropeano, Major League Baseball pitcher
• Frank Vignola, virtuoso guitarist
• Jarett Gandolfo, New York State Assemblyman
• Maria Tash, jewelry designer and founder of the eponymous luxury piercing and fine jewelry brand

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): West Islip CDP, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. "United States Census Bureau". data.census.gov. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
8. "American FactFinder". Factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2014.

External links

• West Islip Historical Society
• West Islip (Long Island Oddities)