Learn About The Town of Islip
The Town of Islip encompasses several hamlets and villages on the south shore of Long Island. Located in Suffolk County, it is a beautiful place to live, work and play and it has several Atlantic Ocean beaches, a beautiful lake, canals, ponds, parks, and preserved natural areas. The Town of Islip is also home to a major airport, a historic lighthouse, a minor league ballpark, several business parks that support many local businesses and a thriving economy. It is one of the larger townships on Long Island, and it encompasses about 106 square miles and has a population of approximately 334,350 people.
History of The Town of Islip
The Algonquin and Secatogue Indians originally inhabited the entire area that now encompasses the Town of Islip. In 1683, William Nicoll purchased the land now known as Sachem from Chief Winnequaheagh of Connetquot. He named his plantation Islip Grange, in honor of the town where he came from in England, which was called Islip. Part of this original land purchase is the area that is now the location of Heckscher State Park. Moreland purchases were eventually made of the surrounding regions by several different men including Andrew Gibb (Islip), Stephanis Van Cortlandt (Sagtikos Manor), John Mowbray (Bay Shore) and Richard and Thomas Willets (West Islip). Eventually, all of these areas joined together to form the town of Islip.
In 1710, the district of Islip was officially established, and in 1720, the first elections were held for the positions of town supervisor, constable, collector, and assessor. In 1844, the Long Island Railroad expanded to include the Town of Islip, and over the years the town gradually changed from a farming community in its earliest stages to a successful fishing and tourism area during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Hamlets and Towns within the Town of Islip
Islip Town is home to four incorporated villages including:
- Brightwaters
- Islandia
- Ocean Beach
- Saltaire
Town of Islip School Districts
The Town of Islip is home to twelve school districts that serve students from kindergarten through twelfth grade living within the different hamlets within the town including:
- Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District
- Bay Shore Union Free School District
- Brentwood Union Free School District
- Central Islip Union Free School District
- Connetquot Central School District
- East Islip Union Free School District
- Fire Island Union Free School District
- Hauppauge Union Free School District
- Islip Union Free School District
- Sachem Union Free School District
- Sayville Union Free School District
- West Islip Union Free School District
Colleges and Universities
The Town of Islip is home to a community college as well as campuses and annexes of major universities. The locations are listed below:
- Adelphi University: Hauppauge Center - 55 Kennedy Drive, Hauppauge
- LIU Brentwood Campus: 100 Second Ave, Brentwood,
- Suffolk Community College: Brentwood Campus - Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood
- St. John's University: Oakdale Campus - 500 Montauk Highway, Oakdale
- Touro College: 1700 Union Blvd, Bayshore
Islip Parks and Beaches
As it is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Islip is home to numerous parks and beautiful beaches. There are also several town pools, recreation centers, athletic fields, and nature preserves and hiking trails. Some of the most popular spots within the town of Islip are listed below:
Town of Islip Parks
There are several state parks located in the Town of Islip. They are all situated on acres of beautiful natural preserves and have numerous hiking trails, nature paths and water views of either the Great South Bay or the Atlantic Ocean.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park, Oakdale
Byron Lake Park, Bayview Avenue, Oakdale
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Sunrise Highway, Oakdale
Heckscher State Park, East Islip
Town of Islip Beaches:
Except for Lake Ronkonkoma Beach, all of the beaches within the Town of Islip are located either on the picturesque waters of the Great South Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the most popular beaches within the town are listed below:
- Atlantique Bay Beach, Fire Island
- Bayport Beach, Bayport
- Islip Beach - South Bay Avenue, Islip
- Lake Ronkonkoma Beach and Recreation Center
- Sayville Beach and Marina
- West Islip Beach and Marina
Community Pools in the Town of Islip:
- Byron Lake Pool, Oakdale
- Hidden Pond Pool, Hauppauge
- Roberto Clemente Pool, Brentwood
- Ship Wreck Cove Spray Park, Bayshore
- Casamento Pool, West Islip
Town of Islip Museums
Long Island Maritime Museum
The Long Island Maritime Museum is located on West Avenue in West Sayville. This museum features displays and artifacts of the nautical history of Long Island. It runs programs and special events that celebrate the local and national maritime story.
Business and Industry in the Town of Islip
Islip MacArthur Airport
MacArthur Airport is a public airport that is located in Ronkonkoma within the Town of Islip. The Town of Islip owns and operates MacArthur Airport and over 5,000 people utilize MacArthur Airport each day, which makes it one of the leading 110 airports within the country. It serves approximately two million commercial passengers a year Major airlines that serve MacArthur airport include American, Frontier, US Airways and Southwest Airlines.
Islip Business and Industrial Parks
The Town of Islip has several different business and industrial parks that are home to hundreds of businesses serving multiple industries within the Islip community. Some of the larger business parks are listed below:
- Heartland Business and Industrial Center
- Airport Industrial Plaza
- MacArthur Center
- Motor Parkway
- Central Islip Industrial Park
- Parkland Commercial Industrial Park
- Racanelli Industrial Park
- Equi-Park Industrial Mall
- Serota Corporate Park
- Tech Park (Empire Zone)
- Gateway Industrial Park
Town of Islip Hospitals
The Town of Islip has two hospitals listed below:
Good Samaritan Hospital, 1000 Montauk Hwy, West Islip
Southside Hospital, 301 East Main Street, Bayshore
Bethpage Ball Park
Bethpage Ball Park is located in Central Islip and is a major attraction within the Town of Islip and all of Long Island. It is a full service, 6,002-seat baseball park and minor league baseball stadium that is home to the Long Island minor league baseball team, The Long Island Ducks. The home games at this park are always filled with fun and excitement for the whole family.
The Town of Islip has so much to offer; from beautiful ocean beaches and parks to a sprawling suburban community and bustling business and industrial district. It’s a great place to live.
Sources:
townofislip-ny.gov
isliphamlethistory.org/
theislips.com