Wading River, New York
Encyclopedia
Wading River is a hamlet
(and census-designated place
) in Suffolk County
, New York
, USA, on the North Shore
of Long Island
. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 7,719.
Most of Wading River lies within the town of Riverhead
, but a small portion is in the town of Brookhaven
. The name of the hamlet comes from the original Algonquian
name for the area, Pauquaconsuk, meaning "the place where we wade for thick, round-shelled clams". "Wading in the River" or Wading River was adopted by the first English colonists.
of the Long Island Rail Road
extended to Wading River. It was once planned to continue eastward to rejoin the Main Line at Riverhead or Calverton. From 1905 to 1928, Wading River was also the site of an LIRR
demonstration farm. Another was east of Medford Station on the Main Line. The Hamlet of Wading River had a year-round population of less than 500. But during the summer months, hundreds of visitors filled the town to use Wildwood State Park
, the cottages on the cliffs and dunes and, of course, the beaches.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.41%, is water.
of 2000, there were 6,668 people, 2,370 households, and 1,813 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 680.5 per square mile (262.7/km²). There were 2,713 housing units at an average density of 276.9/sq mi (106.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.10% White, 1.96% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.69% of the population.
There were 2,370 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% were married couples
living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,938, and the median income for a family was $73,059. Males had a median income of $58,214 versus $34,594 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $26,322. About 2.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 1.3% 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...
, USA, on the North Shore
North Shore (Long Island)
The North Shore of Long Island is the area along Long Island's northern coast, bordering Long Island Sound. The region has long been the most affluent on Long Island, as well as the most affluent in the New York metropolitan area, which has earned it the nickname "the Gold Coast." Though some...
of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 7,719.
Most of Wading River lies within the town of Riverhead
Riverhead (town), New York
The town of Riverhead is in Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census. The name signifies that the mouth of the Peconic River is in this town...
, but a small portion is 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...
. The name of the hamlet comes from the original Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
name for the area, Pauquaconsuk, meaning "the place where we wade for thick, round-shelled clams". "Wading in the River" or Wading River was adopted by the first English colonists.
1671
The earliest English records show a settlement known as Wading River was founded by eight colonial families. "The spot for the village was chosen with care. There was a stream adequate for water power and abounding in seafood...good water for drinking...soil rich enough to grow essential crops, woodland for fuel, building material and food, topography to offer protection from the elements, meadowland for its grass."Until 1947
Between 1895 and 1938, the Port Jefferson BranchPort Jefferson Branch
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...
of the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
extended to Wading River. It was once planned to continue eastward to rejoin the Main Line at Riverhead or Calverton. From 1905 to 1928, Wading River was also the site of an LIRR
Lirr
Lirr or LIRR may refer to:*Long Island Rail Road, a commuter railroad in Long Island, New York, USA*Lapeer Industrial Railroad, in Lapeer, Michigan*Leeds Inner Ring Road, a motorway and A-road circling Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
demonstration farm. Another was east of Medford Station on the Main Line. The Hamlet of Wading River had a year-round population of less than 500. But during the summer months, hundreds of visitors filled the town to use Wildwood State Park
Wildwood State Park
Wildwood State Park is a state park located in Suffolk County, New York in the USA. The park is in the Town of Riverhead on the north shore of Long Island...
, the cottages on the cliffs and dunes and, of course, the beaches.
1947
This year was a landmark year of change for the sleepy little Hamlet; noteworthy accomplishments include the following:- Returning service men from World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began building homes in Wading River - The formation of Wading River's own volunteer Fire Department, Wading River Fire Department
- The military instillation known as Camp UptonCamp UptonCamp Upton was an installation of the United States Army located in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. It was located near Camp Mills.-History:...
was converted for use as Brookhaven National LaboratoryBrookhaven National LaboratoryBrookhaven National Laboratory , is a United States national laboratory located in Upton, New York on Long Island, and was formally established in 1947 at the site of Camp Upton, a former U.S. Army base... - The Wading River Historical Society was formed.
Geography
Wading River is located at 40°57′9"N 72°49′48"W (40.952599, -72.829907).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 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.41%, is water.
Demographics
As of the 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...
of 2000, there were 6,668 people, 2,370 households, and 1,813 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 680.5 per square mile (262.7/km²). There were 2,713 housing units at an average density of 276.9/sq mi (106.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.10% White, 1.96% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.81% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.69% of the population.
There were 2,370 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.7% 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, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $63,938, and the median income for a family was $73,059. Males had a median income of $58,214 versus $34,594 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 $26,322. About 2.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.