Coram is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the Town of Brookhaven in, Suffolk County,on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 40,220 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

Coram is the oldest settlement in the central part of the town of Brookhaven. Its early name was "Wincoram", perhaps the name of a Native American who lived in the area as late as 1703. The first European settler in the area was likely William Satterly, who sought permission to open a tavern to cater to travelers in 1677.

During the American Revolutionary War, Benjamin Tallmadge with his contingent of Light Dragoons arrived and he with 12 Culper Ring men captured and burned 300 tons of hay the British were storing for winter to feed their horses. George Washington, on hearing the news, sent the following letter to Tallmadge:

I have received with much pleasure the report of your successful enterprise upon fort St. George, and was pleased with the destruction of the hay at Coram, which must be severely felt by the enemy at this time. I beg you to accept my thanks for your spirited execution of this business. Annually Coram celebrates the event in October.

From 1784 to 1885, Coram served as the meeting place for the Town of Brookhaven government, using the Davis Town Meeting House for much of that period. The Davis House, built in the 1750s, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and is the oldest existing structure in Coram.

<!--Near the southern border with Medford, Coram was the home of the Medford Sanitorium, a Tuberculosis Sanitorium for Working Men and Women from 1909 through the 1940's-->

A small airport, known as Coram Airport existed in Coram until 1984; the land is now part of a county park.

Geography

The CDP has a total area of , all land.

The 73rd meridian west passes directly through Coram.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Coram had a population of 40,220. The median age was 42.2 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males age 18 and over.

There were 15,234 households in Coram, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.0% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 25,662 || 63.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 5,051 || 12.6%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 170 || 0.4%

|-

| Asian || 2,232 || 5.5%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 13 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 2,781 || 6.9%

|-

| Two or more races || 4,311 || 10.7%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 7,454 || 18.5%

|}

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,

  • Middle Country Central School District
  • George J. Hochbrueckner, former congressman and resident of Coram while he was in office.

See also

  • Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

References

  • Coram's page at the Longwood School District website