Middle Island, New York
Encyclopedia
Middle Island is a hamlet
(and census-designated place
) in Suffolk County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 9,702 at the 2000 census. It is situated between the towns of Coram
and Ridge
, to the west and east, respectively, and Rocky Point
and Yaphank to the north and south. The name derives from the fact that it lies approximately half way between the Eastern and Western ends of Long Island (Montauk Point and the East River) as well as half way between the Northern and Southern boundaries (Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean).
Middle Island is a community in the Town of Brookhaven
served by the Longwood Central School District
Longwood School District (58 square miles) is the biggest school district on Long Island. The Longwood Public Library is located in Middle Island.
Parks within Middle Island include Cathedral Pines County Park (formerly a Boy Scout Camp) and the adjacent Prosser Pines County Park. Middle Island is surrounded by three public golf courses. Middle Island Country Club and Spring Lake Golf Club are both within Middle Island; Mill Pond Golf Course is just to the South, in Yaphank.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.84%) is water.
Middle Island has many lakes such as Spring Lake, Artist Lake
, and Pine Lake (which has a new dock). Middle Island also contains the headwaters of the Carmans River
, which originally began at Pfeiffer's Pond on the northeast corner of NY 25 and Old Middle Island Road, but now begins within Cathedral Pines County Park.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1813, just east of the church. In 1837, a new church was built just to the rear of the older one, and served the community for 200 years until the new Christian Education building was built at the Longwood Estate in 1966.
For over 100 years (until it was burned down in 1971), Pfeiffer's Store was a center of activity for Middle Island and surrounding communities. A nearby lake, known as Corwin's Pond, was renamed "Artist Lake
" after Alonzo Chappel settled there in 1869.
, there were 9,702 people, 3,720 households, and 2,548 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,175.9 per square mile (454.1/km²). There were 3,900 housing units at an average density of 472.7/sq mi (182.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.45% White, 7.58% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races
, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.87% of the population.
Of the 3,720 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 23.7% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,818, and the median income for a family was $58,171. Males had a median income of $41,618 versus $30,516 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $23,129. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
(and census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
) in Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 9,702 at the 2000 census. It is situated between the towns of Coram
Coram, New York
As of the 2000 census, 34,923 people, 12,530 households, and 9,121 families resided in the CDP. The population density was 2,532.1 per square mile . There were 12,880 housing units at an average density of 933.9/sq mi...
and Ridge
Ridge, New York
Ridge is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 13,380 at the 2000 census.Ridge is served by the Longwood Central School District.-Geography:Ridge is located at ....
, to the west and east, respectively, and Rocky Point
Rocky Point
Rocky Point may refer to:in Australia:*Rocky Point, New South Wales*Rocky Point, Queensland in Canada:*Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, British Columbiain Mexico:...
and Yaphank to the north and south. The name derives from the fact that it lies approximately half way between the Eastern and Western ends of Long Island (Montauk Point and the East River) as well as half way between the Northern and Southern boundaries (Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean).
Middle Island is a community in the Town of Brookhaven
Brookhaven, New York
The Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
served by the Longwood Central School District
Longwood Central School District
Longwood Central School District covers in central Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It serves the hamlets of Ridge, Middle Island, Coram, and Yaphank, and parts of Shoreham, Shirley, Medford, Miller Place, Mount Sinai, and Upton...
Longwood School District (58 square miles) is the biggest school district on Long Island. The Longwood Public Library is located in Middle Island.
Parks within Middle Island include Cathedral Pines County Park (formerly a Boy Scout Camp) and the adjacent Prosser Pines County Park. Middle Island is surrounded by three public golf courses. Middle Island Country Club and Spring Lake Golf Club are both within Middle Island; Mill Pond Golf Course is just to the South, in Yaphank.
Geography
Middle Island is located at 40°53′6"N 72°56′36"W (40.885095, -72.943452).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.84%) is water.
Middle Island has many lakes such as Spring Lake, Artist Lake
Artist Lake
Artist Lake is a glacial kettle hole lake located in Middle Island, New York south of Middle Country Road in central Long Island.Artist Lake holds a diverse warm water fish community including largemouth bass and pickerel...
, and Pine Lake (which has a new dock). Middle Island also contains the headwaters of the Carmans River
Carmans River
The Carmans River is a long river in Brookhaven in Suffolk County on Long Island.It is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island and is similar to other Long Island rivers in that is totally groundwater generated , although a lake did exist long ago. Almost all of the river is specifically...
, which originally began at Pfeiffer's Pond on the northeast corner of NY 25 and Old Middle Island Road, but now begins within Cathedral Pines County Park.
History
The history of Middle Island goes back at least to 1766, when the first Presbyterian church was built. Rev. David Rose, who was also a doctor and pastor of the South Haven church as well, covered his immense parish on horseback, with saddle bags filled with Bibles and medicines. A cemetery was opened just across from the church, in 1766.The first schoolhouse was built in 1813, just east of the church. In 1837, a new church was built just to the rear of the older one, and served the community for 200 years until the new Christian Education building was built at the Longwood Estate in 1966.
For over 100 years (until it was burned down in 1971), Pfeiffer's Store was a center of activity for Middle Island and surrounding communities. A nearby lake, known as Corwin's Pond, was renamed "Artist Lake
Artist Lake
Artist Lake is a glacial kettle hole lake located in Middle Island, New York south of Middle Country Road in central Long Island.Artist Lake holds a diverse warm water fish community including largemouth bass and pickerel...
" after Alonzo Chappel settled there in 1869.
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 9,702 people, 3,720 households, and 2,548 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,175.9 per square mile (454.1/km²). There were 3,900 housing units at an average density of 472.7/sq mi (182.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.45% White, 7.58% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.87% of the population.
Of the 3,720 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 23.7% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,818, and the median income for a family was $58,171. Males had a median income of $41,618 versus $30,516 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $23,129. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.