Brookhaven, New York 2025

Brookhaven is a town located in Suffolk County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 480,279 There are 2,313 people per square mile. If you travel 12 miles south of the county seat in Riverhead, you will reach the first settlement in the town of Brookhaven. Brookhaven, a remarkably beautiful city, is situated among the rolling hills of Long Island's North Fork, just a short trip from New England. In the fall, residents and visitors alike can choose their own pumpkins and enjoy the fall splendor during harvest time. Here are places to visit, and activities to engage in, when in Brookhaven:

* LongHouse Reserve. Image courtesy of LongHouse Reserve Facebook page.

* Splish Splash. Image courtesy of Splish Splash Facebook page.

* Walking Dunes Trail. Image courtesy of Brookhaven Wildlife Refuge Facebook page.

* Domaine Franey Vineyard. Image courtesy of Domaine Franey Vineyard Facebook page.

* Corey Creek Marina. Image courtesy of Corey Creek Marina Facebook page.

* Sandspit Park. Image courtesy of Sandspit Park Facebook page.

* Bayville Scream Park. Image courtesy of Bayville Adventure Park Facebook page.

* North Shore Environmental Awareness Nature Center. Image courtesy of North Shore Environmental Awareness Nature Center Facebook page.

* Port Jefferson. Image courtesy of Port Jefferson Facebook page.

* Mt. Sinai Harbor. Image courtesy of Mt. Sinai Harbor Facebook page.

* Aquaducks. Image courtesy of Aquaducks Facebook page.

* The Big Duck. Image courtesy of The Big Duck Facebook page.

Brookhaven is a city rich in history, dating back to 1655 when the first settler, William Floyd, arrived. From its early days as a rural farming community, Brookhaven rose to be on the cutting edge of technology during the 20th Century. Brookhaven National Laboratory was established in 1947 and became world-renowned for research in nuclear physics and the development of the atom bomb. Today, the 5,243-acre site at Brookhaven National Laboratory is used for scientific research in fields including material science, nuclear physics, and medicine.

Camp Upton, activated in 1917, is where soldiers received artillery training during World War I. It later became the base for the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Camp Upton extended through parts of Brookhaven and Yaphank. Now, its land serves as a research site for Brookhaven National Laboratory and is also home to many endangered species.

Brookhavens' residents trust in education, libraries, community service, police, fire, and emergency medical services, code enforcement, waste management, highways, parks and recreation, and consumer affairs are served by a number of different departments.

There are 16,256 households, out of which 28.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% are married couples living together, 16.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% are non-families. 25.1% of all households are made up of individuals, and 9.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.26.

In Brookhaven, the population is spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females, there are 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $66,419, and the median income for a family is $74,151. Males have a median income of $50,578 versus $34,236 for females. The per capita income for the town is $24,422. About 3.7% of families and 7.3% of the population are below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Brookhaven is served by the Longwood, Middle Country, and Three Village Central School Districts, as well as the Eastport-South Manor Central School District north of the town. Stony Brook University is located in the northwest part of Brookhaven. This public university was built using donations from the townspeople. The Long Island Museum of Art and Carriage Museum are located in Stony Brook. The LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River, and the Sitterly Lake and Bird Sanctuary in Bayport are all located on the North Shore. Brookhaven also owns and runs a third of Fire Island, a popular summer resort area south of Brookhaven. Fire Island National Seashore, a popular summer resort, is located entirely within the town limits, although unaccessible by road.

In recent years, Brookhaven has experienced a renaissance of sorts. Historic buildings in Port Jefferson are being renovated, and new businesses are emerging everywhere. Farmers markets and artisan food makers are popping up all over Brookhaven. Even the once-shuttered Splish Splash water park has reopened.

Overall, people visit Brookhaven to visit the scenic beaches and enjoy local foods. People move to Brookhaven because of the small-town community atmosphere and quality education.