Speonk, New York facts for kids
Speonk is a small community, also called a hamlet, located in Suffolk County, New York. It is part of the Town of Southampton on Long Island.
Contents
Speonk's History
Early Days and Farming
People started using the meadows in Speonk as early as 1712. Cattle owners from Southampton would lease, or rent, these lands for their animals. Most of the first families moved to Speonk in the 1740s. They came from nearby towns like Southampton and Bridgehampton. These early settlers built farms and cleared the forests to get wood.
Duck Farms and Name Origin
In the 1880s, Speonk became known for its many duck farms. However, most of these farms did not last much longer than the turn of the century. The name "Speonk" comes from a Native American word. This word means "high place."
The Railroad and a New Name
In 1897, the Long Island Rail Road mentioned Speonk in their catalog. They even said the name "certainly sounds like the call of a frog!" Train conductors often made the name sound funny when they announced it. Some people in the community wanted to change the name. They suggested "Remsenburg" after Charles Remsen, who gave money for a new Presbyterian Church. Today, both names are still used, but they refer to different parts of the community.
Where is Speonk?
Speonk is located at specific geographic coordinates. These are like an address on a map using numbers. Its coordinates are 40° 49' 10" North and 72° 42' 27" West. The ZIP Code for Speonk is 11972. A ZIP Code helps the postal service deliver mail to the correct area.
Speonk in Books and Music
Music
The famous music group The Lovin' Spoonful recorded a song about Speonk. It was called "Big Noise From Speonk." This song was on their 1966 album, "Daydream."
Literature
A writer named David Leavitt also wrote a short story called "Speonk." This story was included in his book, The Marble Quilt, which came out in 2001.
