Greenlawn is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Located on Long Island in the Town of Huntington, Greenlawn had a population of 13,661 at the 2020 census.

History

Originally known as Old Fields, it became known by the name Greenlawn with the coming of the Long Island Rail Road in 1870 or 1871. The LIRR chose the name Greenlawn for its station, apparently to project an idyllic rural/suburban image and foster resort travel to the beaches in Centerport. Greenlawn was well known for its pickle production during the 19th century, as well as, to a lesser degree, potato and cabbage farms; the principal commodity, pickles, is still celebrated by the annual Pickle Festival, held by the local Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association at the John Gardiner Farm. The Gardiner family made a name for themselves as farmers and by selling the latest farm equipment. A former enslaved man, Samuel Ballton, earned the moniker "The Pickle King" for becoming a prolific pickle farmer in Greenlawn in the early 1900s.

Geography

Greenlawn is located at (40.857648, -73.365932).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the census-designated place (CDP) has a total area of , all land.

The Greenlawn postal office zipcode is 11740.

Education

Greenlawn is primarly served by Harborfields Central School District, although very small portions are served by the Elwood Union Free School District and South Huntington Union Free School District.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Greenlawn had a population of 13,661.

The median age was 43.6 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 4,524 households in Greenlawn, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.0% were married-couple households, 12.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,560 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were headed by married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.45.

Films

  • The independent film Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was filmed in Greenlawn in late 2005 and early 2006.
  • The independent film L.I.E. had shots filmed in Harborfields High School.

Events

  • Greenlawn is well known for its annual pickle festival.
  • Members of the Greenlawn Fire Department hold an annual Greenlawn Firemans Fair on Labor Day weekend. First held in 1906, it is known as the oldest and largest in New York state.

Notable people

  • Greenlawn Fire Chief 1999-2000 Steve Fellmeth
  • The artist Cindy Sherman grew up in Greenlawn. She attended, and graduated from Harborfields High School
  • The pop singer Mariah Carey grew up in Greenlawn. She attended, and graduated from Harborfields High School.
  • Jeff Hawkins, born in 1957 in Huntington, New York, and who graduated from Harborfields High School in 1975, is the founder of Palm Computing where he invented the Palm Pilot, and Handspring where he invented the Treo.
  • Fay Kellogg, called the foremost woman architect in the US, summered on a farm that she owned in Greenlawn. She also designed and supervised the building of Greenlawn's post office east of Broadway behind the train station in 1911.
  • Christine Frederick, home economist and proponent of Taylorism, performed household experiments from her house on Cuba Hill Road.
  • The late Karl Linnas, surveyor and alleged war criminal and Nazi collaborator in Nazi-occupied Soviet Estonia during World War II.
  • The late Charles Ludlam, actor, playwright and founder of the Theater of the Ridiculous in New York City, grew up in Greenlawn and graduated from Harborfields High School.
  • Sara Whalen (born 1976), Olympic medalist soccer player
  • Clark Gillies, Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, four time Stanley Cup Champion (1979-1983), and former Captain of the New York Islanders, resided in Greenlawn until his death in January 21, 2022.
  • Matt Coronato is a professional ice hockey forward for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League who grew up in Greenlawn.

Historical Sites

  • John Gardiner Farm - Original house was built in the 1750s. The property is now owned by the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association.

References

  • Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association
  • Harborfields Public Library [https://www.harborfieldslibrary.org/]