200px|thumb|right|The ZIP Code on the wall of the Post Office.Mastic is a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP) in the southeastern part of the town of Brookhaven in central Suffolk County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, Mastic had a population of 15,404.

The hamlet was originally called Forge until 1893, when it was changed to the current name of Mastic. The Long Island Rail Road built a station in 1882 and, on July 15, 1960, the stop was moved west and renamed Mastic–Shirley.

The Poospatuck Indian Reservation of the state-recognized Unkechaug Nation lies entirely within the community, near its southern end and along the Forge River.

thumb|Forge River looking toward the [[Montauk Branch of the LIRR]]

thumb|right|Forge River along [[Montauk Highway]]

The northernmost section of the hamlet is unofficially referred to as Manor Park, which stretches from Sunrise Highway to Moriches-Middle Island Road immediately east of Brookhaven Airport. Part of the neighborhood lies within the hamlet of Shirley, but is served entirely by Mastic's zip code of 11950.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.13%, is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Mastic had a population of 15,404. The median age was 35.8 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,557 households in Mastic, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.9% were married-couple households, 14.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,526 households, 48.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were headed by married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 12.4% of households were one person and 3.3% were someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.41, and the average family size was 3.63.

Education

Mastic is served mostly by the William Floyd School District, but also the Eastport-South Manor Central School District north of Grove Drive in the Manor Park section of the hamlet.

Media

  • Tri Hamlet News

See also

  • Forge River
  • Moriches Bay
  • Moriches Inlet
  • Smith Point Bridge

References

  • Forge River Inlet at Marinas.com
  • Old Mastic RR Station