Holtsville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holtsville, New York
|
|
|---|---|
The Holtsville Post Office in 2018.
|
|
U.S. Census map of Holtsville
|
|
 Holtsville, New York
Location in Long Island
Holtsville, New York
Location in New York
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Towns | Brookhaven Islip |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.11 sq mi (18.41 km2) |
| • Land | 7.11 sq mi (18.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 18,937 |
| • Density | 2,663.81/sq mi (1,028.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 |
| ZIP Codes |
00501, 00544, 11742
|
| Area code(s) | 631, 934 |
| FIPS code | 36-35254 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0953030 |
Holtsville is a community in Suffolk County, New York. It's known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a small area that isn't officially a town or city, but the government collects information about the people living there. Holtsville is located on Long Island. In 2020, about 18,937 people lived here.
Most of Holtsville is in the Town of Brookhaven. A smaller part is in the Town of Islip. Holtsville is home to an important IRS Processing Center. This is where a lot of the U.S. government's tax paperwork is handled. The NYPA's Richard M. Flynn Power Plant is also located here.
Contents
History of Holtsville
How Holtsville Got Its Name
In the late 1700s, the area we now call Holtsville was mostly farmland with only a few houses. In 1843, the Long Island Rail Road opened a train station here. It was called the Waverly station. Maps from that time show the area as Waverly. There was even a stagecoach line that ran through the area.
However, there was already another post office in New York State named Waverly. To avoid confusion, the name of this community was changed to Holtsville in 1860. It was named after Joseph Holt, who was the U.S. Postmaster General at the time. The Postmaster General is in charge of the country's postal service.
Early Development and Growth
By 1874, Holtsville had grown to include about 15 houses, a school, and a general store. The train station kept the name "Waverly" for a while. But in the 1890s, farmers complained that their shipments were accidentally going to the wrong Waverly. So, the train station's name was also changed to Holtsville.
In 1916, a special hospital for people with Tuberculosis (a lung disease) opened in an area that was then considered part of Holtsville. This site later became the main campus for Suffolk County Community College.
Modern Holtsville Landmarks
A very large Internal Revenue Service (IRS) processing center opened in Holtsville in 1972. This center is built on a big piece of land, about 67 acres (27 hectares).
The train station in Holtsville closed in 1998. This happened because not many people were using it. Commuters from Holtsville now use the Medford or Ronkonkoma stations. Most use Ronkonkoma because it offers more direct train services.
Did you know? As of 2016, the IRS office in Holtsville uses the lowest ZIP Code in the United States, which is 00501.
Geography of Holtsville
Holtsville is a census-designated place (CDP). This means it has clear boundaries for collecting population data. The total area of Holtsville is about 7.11 square miles (18.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 18,937 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 19,714 people living in Holtsville. The community had 5,316 households. Many families live here, with 70.4% of households being married couples living together. About 43.7% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The population of Holtsville is diverse. In 2010, about 81.7% of residents were White, 1.7% were African American, and 4.4% were Asian. About 11.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The average age of people in Holtsville was 34 years old.
Parks and Recreation
Holtsville is home to the Harold H. Malkmes Wildlife Education and Ecology Center. This is a public zoo and a park focused on nature. It's built on the site of an old landfill, which shows how land can be reused!
At the park, you can find:
- A swimming pool complex with three pools.
- An exercise trail for fitness.
- A nature preserve and ecology center.
- Animals like buffalo, bobcats, and eagles.
- Exhibits and tours about ecology.
- Free compost for gardening.
- Greenhouses.
- A picnic area where you can relax and eat.
Education
Students living in Holtsville attend schools in the Sachem School District.
