Babylon, New York
Babylon, New York | |
|---|---|
| Town of Babylon | |
 Town of Babylon - Old Town Hall (1917) | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location inSuffolk County | |
   | |
| Coordinates:40°41′40″N73°19′46″W/ 40.69444°N 73.32944°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Formed | 1872 |
| Government | |
| • Supervisor | Rich Schaffer (D) |
| • Deputy Supervisor | Antonio A. Martinez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 114.20 sq mi (295.78 km2) |
| • Land | 52.31 sq mi (135.48 km2) |
| • Water | 61.89 sq mi (160.30 km2) 54.19% |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 218,223 |
| • Density | 4,170/sq mi (1,611/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5(EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4(EDT) |
| FIPS code | 36-103-04000 |
| Website | townofbabylon.com |
TheTown of Babylonis one of tentownsinSuffolk County, New York,United States. Its population was 218,223 as of the 2020 census. Parts ofJones Beach Island,Captree Island andFire Islandare in the southernmost part of the town. It bordersNassau Countyto the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.[2]At its westernmost point, it is about 20 miles (32 km) fromNew York Cityat theQueensborder, and about 30 miles (48 km) fromManhattan.ThevillageofBabylonis also within the town.[3]
History
[edit]The region was once called Huntington South. Nathaniel Conklin and Nathan Kowitt[4]moved their families to the area, and around 1803 named it New Babylon, after the ancient city ofBabylon.[5]
The town was officially formed in 1872 by a partition of theTown of Huntington.[5]
Communities and locations
[edit]The following communities and locations are within the Town of Babylon:[2][6]
Villages
[edit]- Amityville,in the southwestern part of the town.
- Babylon,in the southeastern section of the town.
- Lindenhurst,in the southern part of the town, between the villages of Babylon and Amityville.
Hamlets
[edit]- Captreeor Captree Island
- Copiague
- Deer Park
- East Farmingdale
- Gilgo,includes communities ofWest Gilgo Beach,Gilgo Beach,andCedar Beach
- North Amityville
- North Babylon
- North Lindenhurst
- Oak Beach,includes community of Oak Island
- West Babylon
- Wheatley Heights
- Wyandanch
Other communities
[edit]- Amity Harbor,in the hamlet ofAmityville
- Copiague Harbor,in the hamlet ofCopiague
Islands
[edit]- Captree Island,an island partly in the southeastern part of the town and containing part of Captree State Park.
- Cedar Island,an island in the Great South Bay.
- Fire Island,a barrier beach island between the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, of which west of the Robert Moses Causeway, is within the confines of the Town of Babylon.
- Gilgo Island,an island in the western end of the Great South Bay.
- Grass Island,an island in the Great South Bay.
- Thatch Island,an island in the Great South Bay.
- Oak Island,an island in the Great South Bay.
Beaches
[edit]- Cedar Beach
- Gilgo Beach
- Oak Beach
- Overlook Beach
- Venetian Shores
State parks
[edit]- Belmont Lake State Park,astate parkin the northeastern part of the town.
- Captree State Park,astate parkpartly in the southeastern section of the town and adjacent to the Fire Island Inlet.
- Gilgo State Park,an undeveloped preserve on a barrier island on the southern side of the town.
- Robert Moses State Park,astate parkon Fire Island, is partly in the town west of the Robert Moses Causeway.
Other
[edit]- Fire Island Inlet,a passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay.
Town Parks
[edit]- Geiger Lake Memorial Park, Wyandanch, NY
- North Amityville Park, North Amityville, NY
- North Lindenhurst Park, North Lindenhurst, NY
- Phelps Lane Park, North Babylon, NY
- Tanner Park, Copiague, NY
Geography
[edit]Babylon is bounded by theAtlantic Oceanto the south,Nassau Countyto the west,Huntingtonto the north, andIslipto the east.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 114.3 square miles (296 km2), of which 52.3 square miles (135 km2) is land and 62.0 square miles (161 km2) (54.24%) is water.[7]
Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 4,739 | — | |
| 1890 | 6,035 | 27.3% | |
| 1900 | 7,112 | 17.8% | |
| 1910 | 9,030 | 27.0% | |
| 1920 | 11,315 | 25.3% | |
| 1930 | 19,291 | 70.5% | |
| 1940 | 24,297 | 25.9% | |
| 1950 | 45,556 | 87.5% | |
| 1960 | 142,309 | 212.4% | |
| 1970 | 204,256 | 43.5% | |
| 1980 | 203,483 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 202,889 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 211,792 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 213,603 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 218,223 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
As of thecensus[9]of 2000, there were 211,792 people, 69,048 households, and 52,407 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,050.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,563.7/km2). There were 71,186 housing units at an average density of 1,361.3 per square mile (525.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 76.34%White,15.65%BlackorAfrican American,0.27%Native American,1.89%Asian,0.03%Pacific Islander,3.36% fromother races,and 2.47% from two or more races. 10.05% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race.
There were 69,048 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% weremarried couplesliving together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.45.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,064, and the median income for a family was $66,261. Males had a median income of $45,160 versus $32,062 for females. Theper capita incomefor the town was $22,844. 6.7% of the population and 4.6% of families were below thepoverty line.Out of the total population, 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Media
[edit]WBAB102.3FM is licensed to Babylon with studios at 555 Sunrise Highway.[10]
The Babylon Beaconhas covered the town for many years.[11]
Government
[edit]Babylon is governed by supervisorRich Schafferand four town council members.
Transportation
[edit]Airports
[edit]Republic Airportis an airport in East Farmingdale originally built byFairchild Aircraftin 1927 and acquired byRepublic Aviationin 1939. Currently, it also houses theAmerican Airpower Museum.[12]Zahn's Airport also existed in North Amityville from 1936 to 1980.[13]Long Island Macarthur Airportis a nearby commercial city-owned airport inRonkonkoma,with daily commercial flights.
Railroad lines
[edit]TheLong Island Rail Road'sBabylon Branchis the primary railroad line in the town running from the Nassau County Line and terminating in the Village of Babylon with stations fromAmityvilletoBabylon.Rail freight service also exists along theCentral Branchwhich also uses someMontauk Branchtrains running from the Main Line in Bethpage. East of Babylon station, the Montauk Branch continues across the Babylon-Islip Town Line. Additionally, theMain Lineruns through the northern part of the town with stations inPinelawn,WyandanchandDeer Park.
Bus service
[edit]The Town of Babylon is served primarily bySuffolk County Transitbus routes.
Major roads
[edit]
Southern State Parkway
Robert Moses Causeway
Ocean Parkway
New York State Route 24
New York State Route 27
New York State Route 27A
New York State Route 109
New York State Route 110
New York State Route 231
Notable people
[edit]- Bob Keeshan,better known asCaptain Kangaroolived in Babylon Village
- Steve Bellone,Suffolk County Executive
- Tom Bohrer,Olympic rower
- Rodney Dangerfield,comedian
- Dan Meuser,US Representative forPennsylvania's 9th congressional district
- Rakim,rapper[14][15]
- The Sopranos actressEdie Falcoin North Babylon for several years in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- LL Cool J(born James Todd Smith) in North Babylon in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Dee Snider,singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister lived in North Babylon in the early 1980s.
- Patricia Kennealy-Morrison,born Patricia Kennely, grew up in North Babylon and graduated from North Babylon High School in 1963. She exchanged marriage vows in a Celtic pagan handfasting ceremony with The Doors singer Jim Morrison in June 1970. In Oliver Stone's film The Doors, Kennealy-Morrison appears in a brief cameo as the Wiccan Priestess. Kennealy-Morrison's character is portrayed by Kathleen Quinlan. Patricia passed away on July 21, 2021.
- Billy Hayes (writer)(North Babylon) wrote the autobiographicalMidnight Express (book),which was made into a film by Oliver Stone.
- Ronald DeFeoinfamously known as the man who murdered his family in the beginning of the filmThe Amityville Horror
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^"2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on August 24, 2017.RetrievedJuly 5,2017.
- ^ab"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Babylon town, Suffolk County, New York".www.census.gov.Archivedfrom the original on September 30, 2023.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"Village of Babylon | Babylon, NY - Official Website".www.townofbabylon.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 13, 2020.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"Affordable Auto Insurance in Amityville, NY".First Choice Insurance.January 17, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
- ^ab"Town History | Babylon, NY - Official Website".www.townofbabylon.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2020.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"Villages & Hamlets | Babylon, NY - Official Website".www.townofbabylon.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2020.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"Gazetteer Files".Census.gov.Archivedfrom the original on August 24, 2019.RetrievedMay 16,2023.
- ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.Archivedfrom the original on April 26, 2015.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"WBAB 102.3fm | Contact Us".102.3 WBAB.Archivedfrom the original on August 10, 2020.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"About the Babylon Beacon".NYS Historic Newspapers.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2020.RetrievedAugust 17,2020.
- ^"American Airpower Museum".www.americanairpowermuseum.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2022.RetrievedAugust 18,2022.
- ^"Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: New York, Western Suffolk County".www.airfields-freeman.com.Archivedfrom the original on August 30, 2022.RetrievedAugust 18,2022.
- ^George, Nelson (2001).Buppies, B-Boys, Baps & Bohos: Notes on Post-Soul Black Culture.Da Capo. p. 77.ISBN978-0-306-81027-5.
- ^"The Microphone God".Vibe.December 1997 – January 1998. p. 134.RetrievedOctober 4,2011.
External links
[edit]
Babylon, New Yorktravel guide from Wikivoyage
Media related toTown of Babylon, New Yorkat Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Babylon Beacon(local newspaper)
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