Editing Fort Salonga, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Fort Salonga, New York
| settlement_type    = [[Hamlet (New York)|Hamlet]] and [[census-designated place]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Battle of Fort Slongo HM-EB NY 25A.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Historic marker for the "Battle of Fort Slongo" along eastbound [[NY 25A]].
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map        = USA New York Long Island#New York
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_label      = Fort Salonga, New York
| image_map          = Fort-salonga-map.gif
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = U.S. Census map of Fort Salonga

<!-- 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|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 34.26
| area_land_km2      = 24.58
| area_water_km2     = 9.68
| area_total_sq_mi   = 13.23
| area_land_sq_mi    = 9.49
| area_water_sq_mi   = 3.74
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 9652
| population_density_km2 = 392.67
| population_density_sq_mi = 1016.96
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 10
| elevation_ft       = 33
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|54|21|N|73|18|4|W|region:US-NY_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 11768
| area_code          = [[Area codes 631 and 934|631, 934]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 36-26946
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0950497
| website            = {{URL|https://www.fortsalonga.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| subdivision_type3  = [[Town (New York)|Town]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Huntington (town), New York|Huntington]] [[Smithtown (town), New York|Smithtown]]
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| named_for          = [[Fort Salonga]]
| pushpin_map_caption = Location on Long Island and within the state of New York
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}
'''Fort Salonga''' is a [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in the [[Town (New York)|Towns]] of [[Huntington, New York|Huntington]] and [[Smithtown, New York|Smithtown]] in [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]], on the [[North Shore (Long Island)|North Shore]] of [[Long Island]], in [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 10,008 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3626946| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212191523/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3626946| url-status=dead| archive-date=2020-02-12| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Fort Salonga CDP, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |work=American Factfinder|date=2010| access-date=2012-12-28}}</ref>

The hamlet is considered the easternmost part of the historic [[Gold Coast, Long Island|Gold Coast]] of Long Island, with the Geissler Estate being located within the hamlet.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The History Of Fort Salonga |url=https://www.fortsalonga.org/current-development-isuues |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Fort Salonga |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Michalos |first=Michelle |title=A Guide to Long Island's Gold Coast Mansions |url=https://www.thirteen.org/program-content/a-guide-to-long-islands-gold-coast-mansions/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=THIRTEEN - New York Public Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
One night during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], Colonial forces landed on the beach in nearby Crab Meadow, and moving down the beach overtook the fort.<ref name=":0" />

In the post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] era the rich red clay deposits gave birth to a successful [[brick]]works as well as other trade. Barges loaded with [[manure]] swept from the streets of [[New York City]] would arrive, and farmers from nearby towns would come to get the manure for fertilizer. The emptied barges were then loaded with bricks for the trip back to the city. One of the brick companies to operate there in the late 19th century was owned by the Brown family, whose bricks bore the initials BBB for Brown's Best Bricks. The family home on the top of the hill on Breeze Hill Road has served as the clubhouse for the Indian Hills Country Club since 1963.<ref name=":0" />

=== The hamlet's name ===
The area was formerly known as Fresh Pond.<ref name=":0" />

The name evolved from the Revolutionary War-era British [[Fort Salonga]], or Fort Slongo, (named after one of the fort’s architects) once located near the border of the towns of Huntington and Smithtown, overlooking the [[Long Island Sound]].<ref name=":0" />

Historically, Fort Salonga had its own post office. However, it closed sometime in the 1900s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Of Fort Salonga |url=https://www.fortsalonga.org/current-development-isuues |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Fort Salonga |language=en}}</ref> Fort Solonga now shares the Northport 11768 zip code and is still recognized as acceptable mailing address alternative by the USA post office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZIP Code 11768 Map, Demographics, More for Fort Salonga, NY |url=https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/11768/#cities |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241218052500/https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/11768/ |archive-date=2024-12-18 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.unitedstateszipcodes.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|25.7|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|25.5|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|km2|disp=flip|2}}, or 1.12%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010" /><ref name="GR1">{{cite web |date=2011-02-12 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2011-04-23 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The Fort Salonga CDP includes the hamlet of Crab Meadow.<ref name=":0" />

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 9652
|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>
}}
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 9,634 people, 3,225 households, and 2,715 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1,068.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,310 housing units at an average density of {{convert|367.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.61% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.71% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 3,225 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 12.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

Fort Salonga is an affluent location, with a median family income for a household in the CDP of $98,128, and the median income for a family was $106,253. Males had a median income of $70,663 versus $51,694 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $41,933. About 2.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the [[Poverty thresholds (United States Census Bureau)|poverty line]], including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
Historically, the Fort Salonga school district had its school, which consisted of a single schoolhouse. However, in 1926, like most school districts on Long Island, NY, it integrated itself into the neighboring school districts depending on what part of the hamlet it was in.<ref name=":0" />

The portion of Fort Salonga located within the Town of Huntington is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the [[Northport-East Northport Union Free School District]], while the portion located within the Town of Smithtown is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Kings Park Central School District.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Long Island Index: Interactive Map |url=http://www.longislandindexmaps.org/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.longislandindexmaps.org}}</ref> As such, children who reside within Fort Salonga and attend public schools go to school in one of these two districts, depending on where they live within Fort Salonga.<ref name=":1" />

The school district boundary within Fort Salonga overlaps with the town boundaries, following Bread and Cheese Hollow Road.<ref name=":1" />

==Notable Residents==
[[Elijah Churchill]] (1755–1841) was a notable figure associated with Fort Salonga, New York. Born in [[Newington, Connecticut]], he served as a sergeant in the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Churchill distinguished himself in several engagements, notably leading an attack on Fort Slongo (now Fort Salonga) on October 3, 1781. For his valor in this and other actions, he became one of the first recipients of the Badge of Military Merit, the predecessor to the modern [[Purple Heart]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patrick |first=Bethanne Kelly |date=2022-05-25 |title=The Story Behind the First Soldier Who Received What Became the Purple Heart |url=https://www.military.com/history/elijah-churchill.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[Booker T. Washington]] (1856–1915) was an influential African-American educator, author, and advisor to multiple U.S. presidents, including [[Theodore Roosevelt]]. He was the founding principal of the [[Tuskegee Institute]] in Alabama and a leading advocate for African-American economic self-sufficiency and education during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Washington maintained a residence in Fort Salonga, New York, where he spent time away from his duties at Tuskegee during the summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Booker T. Washington's Fort Salonga Summer House, Town of Huntington, Suffolk County THREATENED |url=https://preservationlongisland.org/booker-t-washington-house-fort-salonga-town-of-huntington-suffolk-county/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Preservation Long Island |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.fortsalonga.org/ Fort Salonga Association official website]
{{HuntingtonNY}}
{{SmithtownNY}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Huntington, New York]]
[[Category:Smithtown, New York]]
[[Category:Long Island Sound]]
[[Category:Census-designated places 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]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in New York (state)]]