West Babylon, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Babylon, New York
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U.S. Census map
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 West Babylon, New York
Location in Long Island
West Babylon, New York
Location in New York
West Babylon, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.77 sq mi (22.70 km2) |
| • Land | 8.46 sq mi (21.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.31 sq mi (0.81 km2) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,213 |
| • Density | 5,110.94/sq mi (1,973.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
11704, 11707
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| Area code(s) | 631 |
| FIPS code | 36-79246 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0969082 |
West Babylon is a community in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that looks like a town but doesn't have its own local government. In 2010, about 43,213 people lived there. West Babylon is part of the larger Town of Babylon.
Contents
West Babylon's Location and Size
West Babylon is located at coordinates 40.713399 degrees North and -73.357106 degrees West. It sits on Long Island, a large island in New York.
Neighboring Communities
West Babylon shares its borders with several other places. To its west are Lindenhurst and North Lindenhurst. To the northwest, you'll find East Farmingdale. Wyandanch is to the north, and Deer Park is to the northeast. On its east side are North Babylon and the Village of Babylon. To the south, it touches the Great South Bay, which is a large body of water.
Land and Water Area
The total area of West Babylon is about 8.0 square miles (20.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 7.7 square miles (19.9 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers), is water.
Venetian Shores Neighborhood
In the southwest part of West Babylon, there's a small area called Venetian Shores. Even though it's part of West Babylon, it often feels like part of Lindenhurst. This is because it uses the Lindenhurst Post Office and its school district.
People and Families in West Babylon
As of the 2010 census, 43,213 people lived in West Babylon. There were 14,537 households, with about 2.93 people living in each home. The area was quite populated, with about 5,540 people per square mile.
Diverse Community
West Babylon is home to people from many different backgrounds. About 79.9% of the people were White, 11.2% were African American, and 2.7% were Asian. Some people were Native American or Pacific Islander, and others were from different races or a mix of races. About 12.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Ages
Many households in West Babylon have children under 18 living there, about 36.7%. Most homes, 54.3%, are families with married couples. About 13.4% of homes are led by a female parent without a husband.
The community has people of all ages. About 22.5% of the population is under 18 years old. About 14.2% are 65 years or older. The average age in West Babylon is 40.0 years.
Homes and Education
Most people in West Babylon own their homes, about 78.7%. The average value of a home owned by its resident was around $353,500.
Many residents have lived in the same house for a long time. About 12.9% of the people were born outside the United States. Also, about 19.9% of residents aged 5 and older speak a language other than English at home.
Education is important in West Babylon. About 87.9% of adults aged 25 and over have graduated from high school. About 20.5% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher.
The average time people spent traveling to work was about 28.8 minutes. The average income for a household was $103,248. About 4.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Schools in West Babylon
West Babylon has its own school district, the West Babylon Union Free School District. This district serves about half of West Babylon. It also includes parts of Babylon Village and Wyandanch.
Other School Districts
Some parts of West Babylon are served by different school districts:
- The Venetian Shores area is part of the Lindenhurst Union Free School District.
- The area around Sawyer Avenue Park is in the Babylon Union Free School District.
- A section east of Belmont Avenue and other specific roads is in the North Babylon Union Free School District.
- Some areas near Wyandanch are in the Wyandanch Union Free School District.
School History
Main School was one of the first schools in the area. It taught students from kindergarten to 10th grade. There's a story that the famous writer Walt Whitman taught there temporarily. However, this isn't true, as he passed away before the school district was formed. Main School was later expanded and became an elementary school. It was taken down in 1982.
Santapogue Elementary School opened in 1952. It helped reduce crowding at Main School. A well-known public official, Robert Moses, was there when the school's foundation stone was laid in 1951.
Current Schools and Student Life
For the 2010-2011 school year, the West Babylon Union Free School District had 4,360 students. The students came from various backgrounds, with 76% non-Hispanic white, 13% Hispanic or Latino, 7% non-Hispanic black, and 4% Asian.
The district has a high graduation rate, with 90% of students finishing high school. Many graduates go on to college, with 47% planning to attend a four-year college and 39% a two-year college.
The district currently has:
- Five elementary schools for grades K-5: Forest Avenue, John F. Kennedy, Santapogue, South Bay, and Tooker Avenue.
- One middle school for grades 6-8: West Babylon Junior High School.
- One high school for grades 9-12: West Babylon High School.
All schools in the district are considered "In Good Standing," which means they meet state standards.
Famous People from West Babylon
Several notable people have lived in or are from West Babylon:
- Jovan Belcher: A former football player for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Dan Deacon: An electronic music artist.
- Harold Dieterle: The first winner of the TV show Top Chef.
- Owen H. Johnson: A former member of the New York State Senate.
- Billy Koch: A former pitcher in Major League Baseball, who played for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Geraldo Rivera: A well-known Fox News reporter and host of Geraldo at Large. He graduated from West Babylon High School in 1961.
- Kevin Russo: A former baseball player for the New York Yankees.
West Babylon in Books
West Babylon is mentioned in the book Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. It appears in chapter 39 when the book talks about the hometown of one of the characters.
See also
In Spanish: West Babylon para niños
