Editing Middle Island, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Middle Island, New York

|settlement_type          = [[Hamlet (New York)|Hamlet]] and [[census-designated place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|image_seal               =

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|pushpin_map              = New York
|pushpin_label_position   = 
|pushpin_label            = Middle Island 
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of New York
|pushpin_mapsize          = 
|image_map                = Middle-island-ny-map.gif
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = U.S. Census map
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk]]
|government_footnotes     = 
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|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           = 21.44
|area_land_km2            = 21.29
|area_water_km2           = 0.15
|area_total_sq_mi         = 8.28
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.22
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 10546
|population_density_km2   = 495.42
|population_density_sq_mi = 1283.12

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone]]
|utc_offset               = −05:00
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 25
|elevation_ft             = 82
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|53|6|N|72|56|36|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 11953
|area_code                = [[Area codes 631 and 934|631, 934]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-46976
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0957111
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
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}}
'''Middle Island''' is a [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in the [[Brookhaven, New York|Town of Brookhaven]], [[Suffolk County, New York]], United States. The population was 10,483 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3646976| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212184828/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US3646976| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Middle Island CDP, New York| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> It is situated between the hamlets of [[Coram, New York|Coram]] and [[Ridge, New York|Ridge]], to the west and east, respectively, and [[Rocky Point, New York|Rocky Point]] and [[Yaphank, New York|Yaphank]] to the north and south.  The name derives from the fact that it lies approximately halfway between the eastern and western ends of Long Island ([[Montauk, New York|Montauk Point]] and the [[East River]]) as well as halfway between the northern and southern boundaries (the [[Long Island Sound]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]]).

==History==
The European-American history of Middle Island goes back at least to 1766, when the first [[Middle Island Presbyterian Church|Presbyterian church]] was built. Rev. David Rose, who was also a doctor and a pastor of the [[South Haven, New York|South Haven]] church,<ref>{{cite web |title=The History of the Old South Haven Church |url=http://oldsouthhavenchurch.org/history/history.htm |website=oldsouthhavenchurch.org |publisher=Old South Haven Presbyterian Church |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> covered his immense parish on horseback. He filled his saddle bags with Bibles and medicines to minister to his frontier congregation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rev. David Rose |url=http://brookhavensouthhaven.org/hamletpeople/tng/getperson.php?personID=I976&tree=hamlet |website=brookhavensouthhaven.org |publisher=Brookhaven/South Haven Hamlets and their People |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> In 1766 the parish opened a cemetery just across from the church.

Around the same time, a veteran of the [[French and Indian War]] named Jonathan Edwards who admired the white pine trees of [[Quebec]] swiped the seedlings for himself and began planting them along what is today Middle Island-Miller Place Road. Many of these pine trees were spread throughout the community. A local farmer named William Dayton swiped some of the pine cones from the site of the original plantings in 1812 and brought them to his farm south of what is today [[New York State Route 25|Middle Country Road]], towards an area of Yaphank-Middle Island Road north of Longwood Road. The area near the William Davis farmstead is now part of Prosser Pines and Cathedral Pines County Parks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/community/longwood_journey/hamlets/middle_island/w__dayton_house|title=W. Dayton House (Longwood's Journey)}}</ref>

The first schoolhouse was built in 1813 east of the church. In 1837, a new church was built just to the rear of the older one. It served the community for 200 years until the new Christian Education building was built at the Longwood Estate in 1966.

For over 100 years (until it was burned down in 1971), Pfeiffer's Store was a center of activity for Middle Island and surrounding communities.  A nearby lake, known as Corwin's Pond, was renamed "Artist Lake" after painter [[Alonzo Chappel]] settled there in 1869.
[[Image:Artist's Lake Memorial Plaque.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Plaque on [[NY 25]] at Artist Lake commemorating the spot where [[Ralph Johnstone]]'s plane landed on October 27, 1910]]
On October 27, 1910, the International Aviation Tournament was held at the [[Belmont Park]] racetrack in [[Elmont, New York]]. The meet offered $3,750 for the highest altitude, another $1,000 for a world record and a $5,000 bonus for exceeding 10,000 feet. [[Ralph Johnstone]] set a new American [[flight altitude record]] of 8,471 feet.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Striegel|first=Lawrence|date=October 31, 2000
|url=http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-past1031,0,6229656.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426015315/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-past1031,0,6229656.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation|archive-date=April 26, 2008|title=The Greatest Show Above Earth|work=Newsday}}</ref> During the flight, a gust of wind forced him to fly backwards, and he landed near Artist Lake.

Middle Island gained an influx of [[Estonian Americans|Estonian refugees]] during the 1940s and 1950s mainly around the Pine Lake area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2549374&pageId=2810184|title="The Estonians of Middle Island" by Julie Koello September, 2000 (Longwood's Journey)}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|21.5|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|21.3|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.2|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.71%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Middle Island has several lakes including [[Artist Lake]], Pine Lake,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pine Lake |url=http://longwood.k12.ny.us/community/longwood_journey/hamlets/middle_island/pine_lake |website=longwood.k12.ny.us |publisher=Longwood Central School District |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> and Spring Lake. Middle Island also contains the headwaters of the [[Carmans River]], which originally began at Pfeiffer's Pond on the northeast corner of [[New York State Route 25|NY 25]] and Old Middle Island Road,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pfeiffer's Pond |url=http://longwood.k12.ny.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=2549374&pageId=2808437 |website=longwood.k12.ny.us |publisher=Longwood Central School District |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> and now begins within Cathedral Pines County Park.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 10546
|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 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 9,702 people, 3,720 households, and 2,548 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1,175.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,900 housing units at an average density of {{convert|472.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.45% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.44% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.92% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.87% of the population.

Of the 3,720 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,818, and the median income for a family was $58,171. Males had a median income of $41,618 versus $30,516 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $23,129. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the [[poverty threshold]], including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Parks and recreation==
Parks within Middle Island include, Cathedral Pines County Park<ref>{{cite web |title=Cathedral Pines County Park |url=https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/Parks/Our-Parks/cathedral-pines-county-park |website=suffolkcountyny.gov |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> (formerly a [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout]] camp) and the adjacent Prosser Pines Nature Preserve.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prosser Pines Nature Preserve |url=https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Parks/Our-Parks/Prosser-Pines-Nature-Preserve |website=suffolkcountyny.gov |access-date=November 6, 2021}}</ref> Middle Island is surrounded by three public golf courses; Middle Island Country Club and Spring Lake Golf Club are both within Middle Island; Mill Pond Golf Course is just to the south, in Yaphank.

==Education==
Middle Island is served by the [[Longwood Central School District]], which at {{convert|58|sqmi}} is the largest school district on Long Island. The Longwood Public Library is located in Middle Island.

==Media==
[[Radio masts and towers|Transmitter facilities]] for [[WFTY-DT]] are located in Middle Island.

==Notable people==
[[Albert B. Randall]], Commodore of the United States Lines and Knight (Chevalier) of the Legion D'Honnere

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Middle Island, New York}}
* [http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/community/longwood_journey/hamlets/middle_island Middle Island History (Longwood Public Library)]

{{BrookhavenNY}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Brookhaven, New York]]
[[Category:Hamlets in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Suffolk County, New York]]
[[Category:Hamlets in Suffolk County, New York]]