Sayville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sayville, New York
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The Great South Bay at Sayville Sunset
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U.S. Census map
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 Sayville, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.38 sq mi (13.93 km2) |
| • Land | 5.31 sq mi (13.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,569 |
| • Density | 3,118.58/sq mi (1,204.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
11782
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| Area codes | 631, 934 |
| FIPS code | 36-65409 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0964554 |
Sayville is a small community in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It's known as a hamlet and a census-designated place. Sayville is located on the South Shore of Long Island, within the Town of Islip. In 2010, about 16,853 people lived here.
Contents
Sayville's Past: A Look at History
The first people known to live in the Sayville area were the Algonquian peoples, specifically the Secatogue tribe.
How Sayville Got Started
Sayville was founded by John Edwards, who was born in 1738 in East Hampton. He built the very first house in Sayville in 1761. This house was located where Foster Avenue and Edwards Street meet today. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1913. Another person, John Greene, settled what is now called West Sayville in 1767.
Naming the Town
For a long time, Sayville didn't have an official name. People just called it "over south." In 1838, residents decided to choose a name for their new post office, which had opened a year earlier. They held a meeting to vote on a name. The names "Edwardsville" and "Greensville" tied. Then, someone suggested "Seaville."
According to local stories, the clerk at the meeting wasn't sure how to spell "sea." He went home and looked in an old Bible from England. In that Bible, the word "sea" was supposedly spelled "s-a-y." So, he sent "Sayville" to Washington D.C. as the town's name.
When the mistake was found, the community sent a letter to protest. But the Postmaster General said the name should stay "Sayville." He explained that there were many "Seaville" towns, but only one "Sayville." So, the name stuck! It's also possible that in the past, some people pronounced "sea" to rhyme with "obey," making "Sayville" a phonetic spelling of "Seaville."
Growth and Tourism
Sayville became important for its timber (wood) and oysters. In 1868, the South Side Railroad arrived. This made Sayville a popular summer spot for tourists. More than 30 hotels were built in the area. Sayville also has a ferry that takes people to Fire Island.
Between 1880 and 1930, many large and fancy homes were built. One famous home is Meadow Croft. This was the home of John Ellis Roosevelt, a cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, who was a President. Meadow Croft is still standing today and is part of the San Souci Lakes Nature Preserve in Suffolk County.
The Wireless Station in World War I
In 1912, a German company called Telefunken built a wireless transmitter in Sayville (now West Sayville). This station sent radio messages to Germany. In 1915, there was a rumor that the transmitter sent a message about the RMS Lusitania. This ship was sunk on May 15, 1915.
The US government was worried about these messages. They sent Marines to make sure secret messages weren't being sent. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson sent Marines to take over the wireless station. This was the first time the US took action against Germany during the war.
Father Divine's Community
From 1919 to 1932, Sayville was home to Father Divine. He was a religious leader who started a movement called the International Peace Mission movement. His followers lived in a community house on 72 Macon Avenue. This was the first home in Sayville owned by a Black person.
At that time, Sayville was mostly a summer resort. Father Divine's followers often worked as house sitters. They gave their earnings to Father Divine, which allowed him to expand the house. He even bought a fancy Cadillac car.
Some of Sayville's residents found Father Divine's lifestyle annoying. The extra traffic he brought also bothered neighbors and businesses. After some issues with his neighbors in 1932, Father Divine moved to Harlem, New York. He felt unwelcome in Sayville. However, the community house on Macon Avenue stayed for many years. Father Divine sometimes returned to preach, but the house was no longer his main headquarters.
A Friendly Town
In 1994, California State University in Fresno named Sayville the "friendliest town in America."
Getting Around Sayville
Sayville is where people catch ferries to Fire Island. These ferries go to places like Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. These are popular vacation spots for many different people from New York City. Ferries also go to Sailors Haven, which has a beautiful Sunken Forest.
The Sayville train station is on the Montauk branch of the Long Island Rail Road. You can get taxis and vans from the station to the ferries. Suffolk County Transit also has bus service in Sayville along Montauk Highway.
Learning in Sayville
Sayville School District
The Sayville School District has one high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools.
- The high school is in West Sayville on Brook Street.
- The middle school is on Johnson Avenue.
- The elementary schools are named after their streets: Sunrise Drive, Lincoln Avenue, and Cherry Avenue.
- Lincoln and Sunrise Elementary Schools are in Sayville.
- Cherry Avenue Elementary School is in West Sayville.
Some parts of Sayville are also part of the Connetquot School District.
Sayville Public Library
The Sayville Public Library serves the area. It is located at 88 Greene Avenue.
Postal Services
The Sayville post office is located at 130 Greene Avenue.
Sayville's Location and Nature
Geography of Sayville
Sayville is located right next to the Great South Bay. Its exact location is 40°44′47″N 73°4′52″W / 40.74639°N 73.08111°W.
The community is bordered by the bay to the south and Sunrise Highway to the north. Brown Creek is to the east, and Greenes Creek is to the west.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Sayville has a total area of about 13.9 square kilometers (5.38 square miles). Most of this is land (13.7 square kilometers or 5.31 square miles), with a small amount of water (0.2 square kilometers or 0.07 square miles).
Sayville National Wildlife Refuge
Sayville is also home to the Sayville National Wildlife Refuge. This is a 127-acre area managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's a special place for wildlife.
Emergency Services in Sayville
Sayville Fire Department
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The Sayville Fire Department is a volunteer fire department. They protect the Sayville Fire District. They respond to all fire emergencies and car crashes with injuries. They also help with many other emergency situations. It is a certified New York State fire department.
Community Ambulance Company
Sayville also has emergency medical services from the Community Ambulance Company Inc. This is a volunteer ambulance company. They respond to medical emergencies in Sayville, West Sayville, Bayport, Bohemia, and Oakdale. They are certified to provide advanced medical care.
Sayville's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 16,569 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Sayville was 16,569 people. In 2000, there were 16,735 people living in Sayville. Most residents were White (95.81%). There were also people of African American, Native American, and Asian backgrounds. About 3.02% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 40.3% of households had children under 18. Most households (65.2%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.92 people. The median age in Sayville was 37 years old.
Famous People from Sayville
- Bessie Bonehill, an English vaudeville performer
- Mike Buck, a former NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints
- Jack Coan, a football quarterback for the Wisconsin Badgers football and Notre Dame Fighting Irish teams
- Louise Forsslund (1873–1910), an author
- Andrew Garbarino, a politician and lawyer who represents New York's 2nd congressional district
- Melissa Joan Hart, an actress
- Michael Jahn, an author who won an Edgar Award
- Shayana D. Kadidal, a civil rights lawyer
- Logan O'Hoppe, a Major League Baseball catcher
- Tom Westman, winner of Survivor: Palau and contestant on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
See also
In Spanish: Sayville para niños
