Riverhead is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

within Suffolk County,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States, on the north shore of

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

. Since 1727, Riverhead has been the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Suffolk County, though most county offices are in

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. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,902. The town rests on the mouth of the

Peconic River The Peconic River is a river within Suffolk County on Long Island, New York.hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

of Riverhead lies within it, and is the town's principal economic center. The town is 166 miles (267 km) southwest of

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

via the Orient Point-New London Ferry, and is 76 miles (123 km) northeast of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. In the beginning of the 20th century, the town saw an influx of Polish immigrants. This led to the creation of Polish Town, a section of the Town and County seat where the popular Polish Town Fair is held annually. Riverhead is the agricultural apex of Long Island, with 20,000 of the 35,000 acres of the island's farmland located within the town. The town is also home to four separate beaches which are open year round. Iron Pier, Wading River, and Reeves Beach each offer boating access for residents and visitors alike.

History

European colonists purchased the "Southold land" from the local Algonquian-speaking Native Americans and Shinnecock Indian Nation in 1649. An additional portion was purchased from Col. William Smith and divided among settlers in 1742. The town of Riverhead was created in 1792 as part of new jurisdictions after the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. The New York State Legislature divided it from the town of Southold,

, which lies to the north and east. Riverhead was separated at the behest of its inhabitants, who "represented to the Legislature that their town is so long that it is very inconvenient for them eople of western regions of Southoldto attend at town meetings, and also to transact the other necessary business of the said town, and have prayed that the same may be divided into two towns". The poor western sections of Southold, with no harbor and little commerce, were thus divided. On March 13, 1792, the Legislature passed a bill splitting off this section under the name River Head. The new enclave's first town meeting was scheduled to be held April 3, 1792.Ross, Peter
''River Head: A History of Long Island: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time''
(Lewis Publishing: New York, 1902) River Head was named the

of Suffolk County (called a "county town" at the time), and its name was later combined as Riverhead. By 1902, its approximate population was 2,500.

Geography

The northern town line is delineated by

Long Island Sound Long Island Sound is a marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York to the south. From west to east, the sound stretches from the Eas ...

, with

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

on the opposite shore. The eastern town line is the border of the town of Southold. The town is partly on the North Fork of the county. The eastern terminus of the

Long Island Expressway Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mensur ...

is in Riverhead. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 66.53%, is water.

Climate

Long Island has one of the northernmost humid subtropical climates (Köppen Cfa) in the United States.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 13,506 people and 15,424 households residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 497.1 people per square mile (192.0/km²). As of the

of 2000, There were 10,749 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01. As of the

of 2010, in the town the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 2.2% from 18 to 20, 6.1% from 20 to 24, 10.5% from 25 to 34, 20.6% from 35 to 49, 21.8% from 49 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. As of the

of 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $52,195, and the median income for a family was $60,939. Males had a median income of $40,855 versus $32,288 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $24,647. About 15.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Danny Burawa Daniel James Burawa (born December 30, 1988) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves in 2015, and also played internationally for the Israel national baseball team. Early ...

(born 1988), major league baseball pitcher. *

Joseph McCrum Belford Joseph McCrum Belford (August 5, 1852 – May 3, 1917) was an American politician and a United States House of Representatives, United States Representative from New York. Biography Born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, Mifflintown, Juniata County, ...

(August 5, 1852 - May 3, 1917) - Born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York- 1st. District, 1897 - 1899 *

Ed Danowski Edward Frank Danowski (September 30, 1911 – February 1, 1997) was an American football player who played quarterback and halfback in the National Football League (NFL). He grew up in Aquebogue, his father, Anton, was a Polish immigrant. Foot ...

(September 30, 1911 - February 1, 1997) - Quarterback and Halfback in the NFL, Played for the New York Giants, 1934-1938, 1941. Quarterbacked Giants when they won the 1934 & 1938 NFL Championship Games. * Gen. Edmund Fanning (April 24, 1739 - February 28, 1818) -

Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cro ...

and Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, 1783-1786 * Garfield M. Langhorn (September 10, 1948 - January 15, 1969) -

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

recipient for his actions in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. * Scott Merserau (April 8, 1965) - Defensive end with the New York Jets, 1987-1993. * Otis Grey Pike (August 31, 1921 - January 20, 2014) - Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York - 1st. District, 1961 - 1979 * Anne C. Richard (born 1960) - Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, 2012-2017. *

Alexander M. Zaleski Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski (June 24, 1906 – May 16, 1975) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lansing in Michigan from 1965 until his death in 1975. He previously served as an auxil ...

(June 24, 1906 - May 16, 1975) - Roman Catholic Bishop of Lansing, 1965-1975.

Government and politics

Riverhead has a town council government. There is an elected Town Supervisor who is elected by the entire town, and four "at large" Town Council seats. The Town Supervisor term is for two years and four years for council seats. From 1956 to 1975, the Town Council consisted of the Town Supervisor, two Town Council members and two Justices of the Peace. Prior to 1956, the Town Council consisted of the Town Supervisor and four Justices of the Peace. As of 2016, there is a 12 year term limit for Town Council members and the Town Supervisor. The Town Supervisor term of office is for two years. Members of the board cannot serve 12 consecutive years. That means that they could take a break after serving their 12 years and then run for office once again.

Media

The Riverhead

newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports a ...

''Riverhead News-Review'', dates back to 1950, when the Harry Lee Publishing Co. Inc, publishers of ''The County Review'' (1903–1950), purchased ''The Riverhead News'' (1868–1950) and consolidated the two newspapers as ''The News-Review''. Times/Review Newspapers Corp. purchased ''The News-Review'' and ''The Suffolk Times'', based in Greenport, in 1977. The news website RiverheadLOCAL began publication in 2010. It is owned by East End Local Media Corp., an independent company based in Riverhead.

Communities and locations

Hamlets (unincorporated)

Aquebogue Aquebogue () is a census-designated place (CDP) roughly corresponding to the hamlet by the same name in the Town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The CDP's population was 2,438 at the 2010 census. Aqu ...

* Baiting Hollow * Calverton ''(small part in the Town of Brookhaven)'' * Jamesport *

Laurel Laurel may refer to: Plants * Lauraceae, the laurel family * Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel People * Laurel (given name), people with the given name * Laurel (surname), people with the surname * Laurel (mus ...

''(partially, with the Town of Southold)'' * Manorville ''(mostly in Brookhaven)'' * Northville * Riverhead (hamlet) * Wading River ''(small part in Brookhaven)''

Other communities

* Centerville * Polishtown * Reeves Park * Roanoke * South Jamesport * Sweyze

State parks

Hallock State Park Preserve Hallock State Park Preserve (formerly Jamesport State Park) is a state park and nature preserve located in the towns of Riverhead and Southold in Suffolk County, New York. The park is situated on Long Island's north shore, with nearly of b ...

Wildwood State Park Wildwood State Park is a state park located in Suffolk County, New York. The park is in the Town of Riverhead on the north shore of Long Island. The park includes a beach on Long Island Sound. The park offers a beach, a playground, picnic tab ...

* Indian Island County Park

Transportation

Railroad lines

The

Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road , often abbreviated as the LIRR, is a commuter rail system in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County, New York, Suffolk Co ...

Main Line Mainline, ''Main line'', or ''Main Line'' may refer to: Transportation Railway * Main line (railway), the principal artery of a railway system * Main line railway preservation, the practice of operating preserved trains on an operational railw ...

is the sole line within the Town of Riverhead. The only active station is Riverhead, which is also used as the western terminus of the Railroad Museum of Long Island.

Bus service

The Town of Riverhead is served primarily by Suffolk County Transit and Hampton Jitney bus routes.

Major roads

* Interstate 495 –

New York State Route 25A New York State Route 25A (NY 25A) is a state highway on Long Island in New York, United States. It serves as the main east–west route for most of the North Shore of Long Island, running for from Interstate 495 (I-495) at the ...

–

Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU), officially the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York system's ...

New York State Route 25 New York State Route 25 (NY 25) is an east–west state highway in downstate New York in the United States. The route extends for just over from east midtown Manhattan in New York City to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal at Orient Poin ...

–

, Orient Point * Suffolk County 58

County Route 58 (Suffolk County, New York) A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

County Route 105 (Suffolk County, New York) County Route 105 (CR 105) is a major north–south county road in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It is a four-lane, mostly divided highway that runs from CR 104 to Sound Avenue in Northville, west of the western t ...

*Sound Avenue

Airports

The town of Riverhead contains a minor private-use airport known as the

Calverton Executive Airpark Calverton Executive Airpark also known as Peconic River Airport and Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL) is a public-owned private-use airport located three miles (5 km) west of the central business district of the Calverton hamlet, in the ...

, originally the

Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Calverton Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Calverton (NWIRP) was a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility which had the mission of designing, fabricating, and testing prototype aircraft from 1956 until 1996, in Riverhead, New York, Un ...

Footnotes

References

Town of Riverhead
official site

External links

Riverhead Central School District

Taussig, Charles William, ''The Book of Radio'' (1922), Chapter XXI "The World's Greatest Radio Station", pp. 312–327
{{authority control Riverhead (town), New York, County seats in New York (state) Towns on Long Island Towns in Suffolk County, New York Towns in the New York metropolitan area Populated coastal places in New York (state)