Brookhaven, New York

Brookhaven: Town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

About

Brookhaven is a town located in the county of Suffolk in the U.S. state of New York. Its population at the 2010 census was 486,040 and a population density of 914 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 479,883 inhabitants.

The town was created 369 years ago in 1654.

Brookhaven is a town located in Suffolk County, Long Island in New York. With close to 500,000 residents, it is the most populous town in the state outside of northern New York.

Early Settlement

The Town of Brookhaven was first settled in 1655 and incorporated in 1664 under English rule. The town included several smaller hamlets and villages across its 550 square miles. Brookhaven's early economy relied on agriculture and milling. The Setauketarea was known for livestock, while portions near the Great South Bay focused more on fishing and oystering.

In the 18th century, Brookhaven became recognized for its lumber mills thanks to the presence of significant timber resources. Milling lumber and producing paper from wood pulp would eventually support several prominent industries in the town.

19th and 20th Century Growth

The arrival of the Long Island Railroad in 1844 truly transformed Brookhaven, connecting it to New York City and enabling the rise of tourism, farming, and residential development.

In the post-WWII period, suburbanization and population growth exploded in Brookhaven as NYC residents sought homes along Long Island. Between 1950 and 1980, the population skyrocketed from under 50,000 to over 360,000 residents.

Modern Brookhaven is a product of this suburban expansion, with developments and hamlets like Shirley, Mastic, Lake Grove, Centereach and others forming in this period. As the population grew, commercial corridors, retail centers and civic infrastructure had to be built as well.

Brookhaven Today

Present-day Brookhaven functions as an expansive residential suburb along with some remaining industry. The northern coast along Long Island Sound consists of wealthier communities, while southern inland parts have more suburban density.

Brookhaven also contains significant historic and natural sites like the William Floyd Estate and Fire Island National Seashore. The Labrador Duck, now extinct, was first identified as a unique species in 1778 in Brookhaven.

While suburban in nature, Brookhaven retains much of its historical small-town identity through its hamlets, architecture, and natural spaces. The town balances steady population growth with preserving its past and providing a high quality of life.

Brookhaven locator map
Location of Brookhaven on New York map.

Quick Facts about Brookhaven

Population : 479,883 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : New York (United States)
County : Suffolk County
Postal code : 11719
Phone Area Codes : 631
Area : 531.54 km2
Altitude : 79 feet / 24 meters
Establishment : January 01, 1655 (369 years ago)
Time Zone : America/New_York
Local time : 05:26:53 (19th March 2024)
Density : 903 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : -1.28% (2010-2020)
Brookhaven Suffolk NY locator map image
Brookhaven Suffolk NY
Brookhaven Suffolk NY locator map image

Geography

Brookhaven is located at 40°46'45"N 72°54'55"W (40.7792700, -72.9153800).

Brookhaven map

Demographics

According to census records, the population of Brookhaven decreased by 1.28% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 486,040 - census
2011 488,253 0.45% estimation process
2012 487,629 -0.13% estimation process
2013 487,959 0.07% estimation process
2014 487,385 -0.12% estimation process
2015 486,195 -0.24% estimation process
2016 484,726 -0.3% estimation process
2017 483,963 -0.16% estimation process
2018 483,191 -0.16% estimation process
2019 481,537 -0.34% estimation process
2020 479,883 -0.34% estimation process

Brookhaven zip code is 11719. County name: Suffolk, County fips: 36103

Brookhaven, Brukgeven, Brukkhejven, WSH, Брукгевен, Брукхейвен, Брукхејвен

People born in Brookhaven (14)

People born in Brookhaven, including politician Felix Grucci, politician Edgar A. Sharp, politician Selah B. Strong, .

List

  • Arthur B. Reeve (American journalist) he was born in 15/10/1880
  • Benjamin Tallmadge (American politician (1754-1835)) he was born in 25/02/1754
  • Tapping Reeve (American lawyer, judge and law educator (1744-1823)) he was born in 01/10/1744
  • William Floyd (American statesman (1734-1821)) he was born in 17/12/1734
  • Pat Cardi (American actor) he was born in 02/05/1951
  • Derrick Rowland (basketball player) he was born in 21/06/1959
  • Jack Giarraputo (American film producer) he was born in 01/01/2000
  • Eric Sawyer (American composer) he was born in 02/06/1962
  • Norman Thaddeus Vane (screenwriter, producer, film director) he was born in 07/07/1928
  • Anthony Palumbo (American politician) he was born in 14/09/1970
  • Lewis Overton Conklin (American civil war participant) he was born in 01/01/1843

Schools in Brookhaven

College & universities near Brookhaven, NY

Code Name City ZIP
195562 St. Joseph's College-Long Island Patchogue (NY) 11772
366395 Suffolk County Community College Selden (NY) 11784-2899
195933 Branford Hall Career Institute-Bohemia Campus Bohemia (NY) 11716
486886 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Oakdale (NY) 11769-1650
196097 Stony Brook University Stony Brook (NY) 11794

Stations (18)

Amtrak & bus stations near Brookhaven, NY

Code Name Address Type
BRP Bridgeport 525 Water St. RAIL
NHV Union Station 50 Union Avenue RAIL
STM Stamford Transportation Center Washington Blvd and South State St. RAIL
OSB Old Saybrook station 455 Boston Post Road RAIL
NRO New Rochelle station 1 Railroad Plaza RAIL

Post offices near Brookhaven

Post Office Name City ZIP
Brookhaven Post Office Brookhaven (NY) 11719
Bellpor Post Office Bellport (NY) 11713
Mastic Beach Post Office Mastic Beach (NY) 11951
Shirley Post Office Shirley (NY) 11967
Ma Post Office Mastic (NY) 11950

Other places with the same name (4)

  • Brookhaven , Georgia A city in Fulton County, Georgia. It is located in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Brookhaven is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the Brookhaven Country Club and the Brookhaven Historical Society. with a population of 56,112 people.
  • Brookhaven , Mississippi city in Mississippi, United States with a population of 11,861 people.
  • Brookhaven , Pennsylvania borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania with a population of 8,053 people.

Other cities in Suffolk County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Suffolk County , NY. (more)

City Name Population Title
Islip 322,328 Town in New York, United States
Babylon 218,223 A town in Suffolk County, New York.
Huntington 200,102 Town in Suffolk County, New York, United States
Smithtown 110,876 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Brentwood 60,664 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Southampton 58,549 Town in Suffolk County, New York, partly on the South Fork of Long Island, USA
West Babylon 43,213 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Coram 39,113 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Commack 36,124 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Central Islip 34,450 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Riverhead 33,434 Town in New York
Huntington Station 33,029 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Centereach 31,578 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
West Islip 28,335 Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
Shirley 27,854 Census-designated place in New York, USA
Holbrook 27,195 City in and county seat of Navajo County, Arizona, United States

Distance to Other Cities

Brookhaven distances to largest New York cities