Babylon, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babylon, New York
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| Town of Babylon | |||
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Town hall
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Location in Suffolk County
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New York | ||
| County | Suffolk | ||
| Formed | 1872 | ||
| 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)
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| • 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 | ||
The Town of Babylon is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 218,223 people lived here. Some parts of Jones Beach Island, Captree Island, and Fire Island are in the southern part of the town.
Babylon is located next to Nassau County on its west side and the Atlantic Ocean to its south. It's about 20 miles (32 km) from New York City at the Queens border. The small village of Babylon is also part of this town.
Contents
History of Babylon Town
This area was once known as Huntington South. Around 1803, two families, the Conklins and the Kowitts, moved here. They decided to name the place New Babylon, inspired by the ancient city of Babylon.
The Town of Babylon officially became its own town in 1872. Before that, it was part of the Town of Huntington.
Communities and Places in Babylon
The Town of Babylon includes several smaller communities and locations. These are divided into villages and hamlets.
Villages in Babylon
- Amityville: This village is in the southwestern part of the town.
- Babylon: You can find this village in the southeastern section.
- Lindenhurst: This village is in the southern part, located between Babylon and Amityville.
Hamlets in Babylon
Hamlets are smaller communities that are not officially incorporated as villages.
- Captree or Captree Island
- Copiague
- Deer Park
- East Farmingdale
- Gilgo: This area includes West Gilgo Beach, Gilgo Beach, and Cedar Beach.
- North Amityville
- North Babylon
- North Lindenhurst
- Oak Beach: This includes the community of Oak Island.
- West Babylon
- Wheatley Heights
- Wyandanch
Other Communities in Babylon
- Amity Harbor: This is part of the hamlet of Amityville.
- Copiague Harbor: This is part of the hamlet of Copiague.
Islands Near Babylon
Several islands are located near or within the Town of Babylon.
- Captree Island: Part of this island is in the southeastern part of the town.
- Cedar Island: This island is in the Great South Bay.
- Fire Island: This is a long, thin island between the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The western part of Fire Island is in the Town of Babylon.
- Gilgo Island: You can find this island at the western end of the Great South Bay.
- Grass Island: Another island in the Great South Bay.
- Thatch Island: Also located in the Great South Bay.
- Oak Island: An island in the Great South Bay.
Beaches in Babylon
- Cedar Beach
- Gilgo Beach
- Oak Beach
- Overlook Beach
- Venetian Shores
State Parks in Babylon
These parks offer great places for outdoor activities.
- Belmont Lake State Park: This park is in the northeastern part of the town.
- Captree State Park: Part of this park is in the southeastern section, near the Fire Island Inlet.
- Gilgo State Park: This is an undeveloped nature preserve on a barrier island to the south.
- Robert Moses State Park: This park is on Fire Island, and a portion of it is in the town.
Town Parks in Babylon
The town also has its own parks for residents to enjoy.
- 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
Other Important Places
- Fire Island Inlet: This is a passage that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay.
Geography of Babylon
The Town of Babylon is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south. To its west is Nassau County. To the north, you'll find Huntington, and to the east is Islip.
The town covers a total area of about 114.3 square miles (295.8 square kilometers). About 52.3 square miles (135.5 square kilometers) of this is land, and the rest, about 62.0 square miles (160.3 square kilometers), is water. This means more than half of the town's area is water!
Population of Babylon
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | |||
In 2020, the Town of Babylon had a population of 218,223 people. This means it's a busy and populated area.
In 2000, there were about 69,048 households in the town. Many of these households, about 35.7%, had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 3 people. The median age of people in the town was 36 years old.
Media in Babylon
- WBAB 102.3FM is a radio station licensed to Babylon. Its studios are located on Sunrise Highway.
- The Babylon Beacon is a local newspaper that has covered the town for many years.
Transportation in Babylon
Getting around Babylon is easy with various transportation options.
Airports Near Babylon
- Republic Airport: This airport is in East Farmingdale. It was first built in 1927. Today, it also hosts the American Airpower Museum.
- Long Island Macarthur Airport: This is a larger commercial airport nearby in Ronkonkoma. It offers daily flights.
Train Lines in Babylon
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) serves the town.
- The Babylon Branch is the main train line. It runs through the town with stations from Amityville to Babylon.
- The Main Line also goes through the northern part of the town. It has stations in Pinelawn, Wyandanch, and Deer Park.
Bus Service in Babylon
Most bus services in the Town of Babylon are provided by Suffolk County Transit.
Major Roads in Babylon
Several important roads and parkways run through the town.
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 from Babylon
Many well-known people have lived in or have connections to the Town of Babylon.
- Bob Keeshan: Famous as Captain Kangaroo, he lived in Babylon Village.
- Steve Bellone: He is the Suffolk County Executive, a key leader in the county.
- Tom Bohrer: An Olympic rower.
- Rodney Dangerfield: A famous comedian.
- Dan Meuser: A US Representative for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district.
- Rakim: A well-known rapper.
- Edie Falco: An actress from The Sopranos, she lived in North Babylon in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith): This famous musician lived in North Babylon in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Dee Snider: The singer of the band Twisted Sister lived in North Babylon in the early 1980s.
- Patricia Kennealy-Morrison: She grew up in North Babylon and graduated from North Babylon High School in 1963. She was a writer and had a special ceremony with Jim Morrison.
- Billy Hayes (writer): From North Babylon, he wrote the book Midnight Express (book), which was made into a movie.
- Robert Moses: A resident of Babylon Village, he is known for creating modern state parks and highways.
See also
In Spanish: Babylon (Nueva York) para niños
