History of Centereach, NY
History of Centereach, NY
Centereach is a small suburban community on Long Island that is popular for its beautiful modern neighborhoods and proximity to the Atlantic coast. Probably one of the most affluent locales on the Island, Centereach falls under the jurisdiction of Suffolk County. The hamlet covers a total area of 22.6 square kilometers and is bordered by several other prominent residential communities namely Stony Brook, Terryville, Holtsville, Lake Grove, East Setauket, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holtsville, Selden, and Holbrooks.
Just like most of Suffolk County, Centereach was originally occupied by American native tribes for hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the English colonialists in the early 17th century. The Montauk Indians were the last known inhabitants of the area right before the area was invaded by English settlers. The hamlet was established in the mid-17th century as part of a larger group of agricultural hamlets on Long Island.
At its inception, the hamlet was given the name West Middle Island. However, the name was later changed to New Village and remained so until the early part of the 20th century when it was discovered that the hamlet shared the name with another town in Upstate New York. Consequently, the name New Village was dropped in 1916 in favor of Centereach. The name Centereach is believed to have been derived from the phrase “center reached”- a reference to the hamlet’s central location on Long Island.
Centereach, NY remained quite remote and undeveloped until the establishment of the Eastwood Village and Dawn Estates in the1950s. The hamlet takes pride in being home to the oldest single-point urban interchange in the entire New York State.
The population of Centereach has grown from a mere 600 people in the early 1940s to a whopping 31,000 people according to the 2010 census. The population growth is expected to continue in the coming years as the hamlet continues to experience a housing boom.
Although Centereach remains a hamlet, it has evolved greatly over the years from the simple laidback settlement it was half a century ago to become of the most sophisticated suburban communities on Long Island. Today, the Centereach boasts of being home to a well-established transportation system and world-class neighborhoods that attract prominent residents from all over the world. Being a family-friendly community, the hamlet is also home to a number of popular public amenities and highly-rated educations institutions including the likes of Centereach High School and Dawnwood Middle School.