West Islip is a hamlet and CDP settled in 1683, located in the Town of Islip, in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Situated on the South Shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 27,048 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

The first people to settle in the area were the Secatogue Native Americans. The unearthing of a Native American burial ground north of West Islip beach enabled historians to reconstruct a village of these Native Americans who lived along the edges of the Great South Bay, Sampawams Creek, Trues Creek and Willetts Creek.

Farming and fishing were the main occupations. In the mid-19th century, the completion of the Long Island Rail Road brought travelers to West Islip.

Today West Islip has its own fire department, post office, public library and Good Samaritan Hospital. A short drive affords access to good fishing and swimming.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 6.46%, is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, West Islip had a population of 27,048. The median age was 42.5 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.

There were 8,763 households in West Islip, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 66.3% were married-couple households, 10.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 24,034 || 88.9%

|-

| Black or African American || 284 || 1.0%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 32 || 0.1%

|-

| Asian || 540 || 2.0%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 5 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 547 || 2.0%

|-

| Two or more races || 1,606 || 5.9%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,659 || 9.8%

|}

Non-Hispanic White residents made up 85.9% of the population, 2.3% were Asian, 0.7% were Black, and 10.4% identified as multiracial or “other race”. Hispanic or Latino residents comprised 9.7% of the population, with Puerto Ricans making up 37.1% of the Hispanic community. Of the Non-Hispanic White population, West Islip residents claimed ancestries of Italian (43.7%), Irish (14.9%), German (5.9%), and Turkish (1.9%), among others.

2000 census

There were 7,459 families, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. Nearly 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09, and the average family size was 3.43.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $103,789, and the median income for a family was $117,451. The boundary of the CDP differed in the 2010 censuses and before, and so that boundary extended into the Bay Shore Union Free School District<!--UNI 04080-->.

Private schools:

  • St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School [https://web.archive.org/web/20070510134833/http://www.stjohnsdhs.org/]
  • Our Lady of Lourdes School
  • The Bridges Academy

Public libraries:

  • West Islip Public Library

Notable people

  • Matt Anderson, New Jersey Devils forward
  • A. J. Benza, gossip columnist and television host
  • Tom Bohrer, two-time Olympic silver medalist in the coxless four (1988 and 1992) and head coach of the Boston University Men's Crew.
  • Doris Burke, American sports announcer and analyst for the NBA
  • Sal Caccavale, soccer player and coach
  • Kevin Cosgrove, victim of the September 11th terrorist attacks whose 9-1-1 call and last words were recorded
  • Thomas Joseph Downey, congressman from 1975 to 1993, West Islip High School Class of 1966
  • Edie Falco, actress best known for her role on the long-running hit TV series The Sopranos
  • John J. Flanagan, New York State Senator
  • Jarett Gandolfo, New York State Assemblyman
  • Billy Graham, professional boxer
  • Sean Henry, CEO of the Nashville Predators
  • Aidan Kelly, 2014 USA Olympic Luge slider
  • Mike Komisarek, retired NHL player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Rick Lazio, 1976 WIHS graduate, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 2nd congressional district, 1993–2001
  • Ken Marino, best known for his work with MTV's The State and Wet Hot American Summer
  • Reed Morano, Emmy award-winning film director and cinematographer
  • Al Oerter, Olympic discus thrower. Prior to Mexico City Olympics in 1968 he lived in West Islip and would frequently work out at the high school field.
  • Logan O'Hoppe, Major League Baseball catcher
  • Daniel Penny
  • Kris Statlander, professional wrestler for All Elite Wrestling
  • Gary Sullivan, professional soccer player
  • Brett Swenson, placekicker in the NFL (Indianapolis Colts) born in West Islip
  • Maria Tash, jewelry designer and founder of the eponymous luxury piercing and fine jewelry brand
  • Nick Tropeano, Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Frank Vignola, virtuoso guitarist

References

  • West Islip Historical Society
  • West Islip (Long Island Oddities)