Editing Bohemia, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Bohemia, New York
| settlement_type          = [[Hamlet (New York)|Hamlet]] and [[census-designated place]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Smithtown Avenue; Welcome to Bohemia Sign north of NY 27.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Sign welcoming motorists to Bohemia on Smithtown Avenue and the westbound service road of [[New York State Route 27|Sunrise Highway]].
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map              = New York
| pushpin_label_position   = none
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of New York
| pushpin_mapsize          = 
| image_map                = Bohemia-ny-map.png
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = U.S. Census Map
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{Flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|New York}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web |title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 22.38
| area_land_km2            = 22.29
| area_water_km2           = 0.09
| area_total_sq_mi         = 8.64
| area_land_sq_mi          = 8.61
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 9852
| population_density_km2   = 442.05
| population_density_sq_mi = 1144.92

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = −5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −4
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 20
| elevation_ft             = 66
| coordinates              = {{Coord|40|46|12|N|73|6|50|W|region:US-NY_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 11716
| area_code                = [[Area codes 631 and 934|631 and 934]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 36-07157
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0944396
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| subdivision_type3        = [[Town (New York)|Town]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Islip (town), New York|Islip]]
| unit_pref                = Imperial
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}

'''Bohemia''' {{IPAc-en|b|oʊ|h|iː|m|iː|ə}} is a [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] (and [[census-designated place]]) in [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 9,852 at the 2020 census. It is situated along the [[South Shore (Long Island)|South Shore]] of [[Long Island]] in the [[Islip (town), New York|Town of Islip]], approximately 50 miles from [[New York City]].

A portion of [[Long Island MacArthur Airport]] is located within the hamlet.

Many of Bohemia's current residents trace their ethnic heritage back to southern [[Italy]], [[Ireland]], and the historical [[Czech lands]] (also called [[Bohemia]]). A large percentage of Bohemia's growing population has migrated to the town from western Long Island, [[Brooklyn]], and [[Queens]].

[[Connetquot River State Park]] is also located in Bohemia. The park provides an ideal location for horse back riding and because of this, the town harbors a unique [[equestrianism|equestrian]] culture. Many of the homes located along the park have stables and it is common to see locals walking their horses through the town's tree lined streets.

==History==
The earliest known inhabitants of what is today Bohemia were the [[Mohegan-Pequot language|Secatogue]] tribe of the [[Algonquian peoples]].

The area was founded as Bohemia in 1855 by [[Slavic peoples|Slavic immigrants]] who were the first [[Europe]]ans to settle there in large numbers. These migrants came from a mountainous village near [[Kadaň]] in the [[Central Europe]]an [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], which is the town's namesake ([[Kadaň]] is located in present-day [[Czech Republic]]). Their pilgrimage coincided with a wave of [[Bohemia]]n nationals emigrating to the United States, many of whom embodied the free spirited and enlightened lifestyles synonymous with [[bohemianism]]. They had taken part in the widespread revolutions against autocratic rule that had shaken Europe in 1848 and came seeking a new life in the United States.  Work was hard to come by in New York and many of the men tried to support themselves as street musicians. An important contribution they made to the development of Long Island was adding their rich [[Central Europe]]an folklore to the local culture, a nice complement to the also rich [[oral tradition]] of the native people. Many of the first homes they built are located on the town's avenues and are distinguished by their [[gable|cross gable roofs]].<ref name="The History of Bohemia">{{cite web|title=The History of Bohemia|url=http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/histofBoh.html|access-date=10 February 2013|archive-date=July 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724025350/http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/histofBoh.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For 100 years, Bohemia remained a very small village most of whose residents were of [[Czechs|Czech]] descent. With the development of all of Long Island after [[World War II]], Bohemia also grew. At the time of the [[centennial]] in 1955, the population was about 3,000. Today there about 10,000 inhabitants from many national and ethnic backgrounds.<ref name="The History of Bohemia"/>

=== Local cigar industry ===
The [[Slavs|Slavic]] immigrants came to Bohemia with excellent cigar-making skills. There were once several cigar making factories in the town and the industry provided a living for many of the residents. Two notable cigar factories were Albert Kovanda's factory, located on the corner of Lakeland and Smithtown Avenues, and the M. Foster Cigar Factory, located at Ocean Avenue and Church Street. The local cigar industry continued until the 1930s when mechanized production did away with the need for hand manufacturing. No cigar factories remain today.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cigar Making|url=http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/Cigarmaking.html|access-date=10 February 2013|archive-date=July 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724025545/http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/Cigarmaking.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Name change ===
Over the years, there have been a number of attempts to change the name of Bohemia, which some people felt was too tied to one ethnic group. They felt this was keeping new people and new businesses from coming to the town. Proposed new names have included: Sayville Heights or North Sayville, after the town immediately to the south; Lidice, after a [[Czech Republic|Czech]] [[Lidice|town]] destroyed by [[Nazi]] troops during [[World War II]]; and MacArthur, after the airport built in the 1940s (the airport is named for American General [[Douglas MacArthur]]). None of the efforts to change the name received enough public support to be finalized.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bohemia, The Name|url=http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/nameBohemia.html|access-date=10 February 2013|archive-date=July 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724025517/http://www.bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/nameBohemia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|8.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|8.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} (0.34%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |date=2011-02-12 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html |access-date=2011-04-23 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Bohemia is bordered by [[Central Islip, New York|Central Islip]] and [[Great River, New York|Great River]] to the west; [[Islandia, New York|Islandia]], [[Ronkonkoma, New York|Ronkonkoma]] and [[Lake Ronkonkoma]] to the north; [[Holbrook, New York|Holbrook]] to the east; and [[Oakdale, New York|Oakdale]], [[Sayville]], [[West Sayville]], and [[Bayport, New York|Bayport]] to the south.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Long Island Index: Interactive Map |url=http://www.longislandindexmaps.org/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=www.longislandindexmaps.org}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Bohemia has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=725011&cityname=Bohemia%2C+New+York%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Bohemia, New York]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 9852
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 9,852 people and 3,386 households residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.9% of the population.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% under the age of five, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $108,276, while the [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $44,747. About 7.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bohemiacdpnewyork/HSD410221#HSD410221|title=QuickFacts, Bohemia CDP, New York|accessdate=March 13, 2022|website=census.gov}}</ref>

==Education==
District:  [[Connetquot School District]]<ref name=":0" />

High School: [[Connetquot High School]], grades 9–12<ref name=":0" />

Elementary: Sycamore Avenue School, Edward J. Bosti Elementary, Idle Hour Elementary and John Pearl Elementary, grades K-5<ref name=":0" />

Grades 6–8 are serviced by the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School, located in neighboring [[Oakdale, New York]] (formerly known as Oakdale-Bohemia Junior High School). Another middle school is Ronkonkoma Middle School.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Branford Hall Career Institute]] is located on Johnson Avenue<ref>{{cite web |title=Branford Hall/Bohemia, NY Campus |url=http://www.branfordhall.edu/Locations/Bohemia-Campus/84/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215061541/http://www.branfordhall.edu/Locations/Bohemia-Campus/84/ |archive-date=15 February 2013 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

The Dellacave Institute for Professional Development is located on Sycamore Avenue. The Institute offers a wide variety of courses designed for continued professional growth for lifetime learners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dellacave Institute |url=http://www.dellecave.org/ |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
The town is near the [[Oakdale, New York|Oakdale]] and [[Ronkonkoma, New York|Ronkonkoma]] stations of the [[Long Island Rail Road]], providing easy access to [[Manhattan]] where many residents work.<ref name=":0" />

[[Long Island MacArthur Airport]] is partially located in Bohemia (along with the bordering hamlet of [[Ronkonkoma, New York]]).<ref name=":0" /> The airport serves travelers from the Greater [[New York Metropolitan Area]] and around the nation who want a more convenient alternative to the congestion at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|John F. Kennedy]] and [[LaGuardia Airport|LaGuardia]] Airports. The airport's most popular destinations include: [[Orlando, Florida]]; [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]; and [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]].

Bohemia is a short drive from the [[Sayville]] Ferry Service of the [[Fire Island National Seashore]] which provides access to some of [[Long Island]]'s most pristine and least crowded ocean beaches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sayville Ferry Service |url=http://www.sayvilleferry.com |access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>

==Bohemia Historical Society==
Dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the hamlet, the Bohemia Historical Society (BHS) was founded in 1984. This non-profit local organization pursues this goal through its educational programs, slide presentations, involvement in community activities, a newsletter, its website and its museum. The museum was officially opened on April 26, 2009, and it houses a number of exhibits depicting life in the early days of [[Bohemia]], a photograph collection, and a book collection that includes many historical [[Czech language|Czech]] manuscripts. Additionally, the building serves as the society meeting place.

==Connetquot River State Park==
[[Connetquot River State Park Preserve]] maintains 3,473 acres of land and water for the protection and propagation of game birds, fish and animals. Deer and [[waterfowl]] are numerous, rare nesting birds, including the [[osprey]], are present and there are numerous rare plants, such as [[Epigaea repens|trailing arbutus]] and pyxie moss in their natural habitats. The preserve also has 50 miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross-country ski and nature trails, as well as fishing (by permit only) on the [[Connetquot River]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Connetquot River State Park Preserve|url=http://nysparks.com/parks/8/details.aspx|access-date=February 8, 2013}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{div col}}
* [[Michael Behonick]] (b. 1981) – soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Behonick |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-behonick/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref>{{div col end}}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bohemia, New York}}
* [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-historytown-hist006u,0,7769426.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation History of Bohemia in Newsday]
* [http://bohemiahistoricalsocietyny.org/ Bohemia Historical Society]
* [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/847591592345262222/ Old Photograph of Cerny’s Bakery, a former Czech Bakery recently added to the National Register of Historic Places (Pintrest)]

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[[Category:Islip (town), New York]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Czech-American culture in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Hamlets in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Suffolk County, New York]]
[[Category:Hamlets in Suffolk County, New York]]