- Commack, New York
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Commack — CDP — U.S. Census Map
Location within the state of New York
CommackCoordinates: 40°50′42″N 73°17′0″W / 40.845°N 73.283333°WCoordinates: 40°50′42″N 73°17′0″W / 40.845°N 73.283333°W Country United States State New York County Suffolk Town Smithtown and Huntington Area - Total 12.1 sq mi (31.2 km2) - Land 12.1 sq mi (31.2 km2) - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) Elevation 131 ft (40 m) Population (2000)[1] - Total 36,367 - Density 3,014.9/sq mi (1,164.1/km2) Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) ZIP code 11725 Area code(s) 631 FIPS code 36-17530 GNIS feature ID 0947221 Commack (/KO-mack/ or /KOM-mack/) is a census-designated place (CDP) that roughly corresponds to the hamlet (unincorporated community) by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island. The CDP's population was 36,367 at the 2000 census.
Contents
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31 km2), all land.
The name Commack comes from the Secatogue Indians who lived on the south shore between Copiague and Bayport. They named their northern lands in the center of the island Winnecomac meaning "Pleasant lands." This is what they must have thought when they looked over this area of flat lands with rich soil, and thick oak forests abounding with plants and wildlife. From the earliest days Commack was known for its fertile soil, abundance of game, and wood.
Today all of Commack is settled and suburbanized and, like most unincorporated areas of Long Island, does not have a true, walkable downtown or "Main Street." The community is served by four major thoroughfares: the Long Island Expressway, the Northern State Parkway, the Sunken Meadow State Parkway and the at-grade Jericho Turnpike. It also includes the historic Long Island Motor Parkway, which itself included the Spur to NY 25 that later became Harned Road.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,367 people, 11,697 households, and 10,176 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,014.9 per square mile (1,164.3/km²). There were 11,824 housing units at an average density of 980.2/sq mi (378.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.4% White, 10.6% African American, 3.8% Asian, 6.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.9% of the population.[2][1]
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.[1]
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the CDP was $109,431, and the median income for a family was $117,020. Males had a median income of $61,475 versus $39,124 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,840. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[3]
Notable sites
The American Basketball Association's New York Nets, later the New Jersey Nets, played its second season (1968–69) at the Long Island Arena in Commack. Also, some tracks on Frampton Comes Alive were recorded at the Long Island Arena. The Eastern Hockey League's Long Island Ducks also played there. The Arena, demolished in 1996, is now the site of a shopping center that includes a Sports Authority and Target.
The Commack Fire Department celebrated its centennial in 2006.[4]
Notable people from Commack
- Bob Costas - American sportscaster
- Rosie O'Donnell - stand-up comedienne, actress, singer, author and media personality
- James Hanges - The future of the Modern Business world
- Daniel Paulson - A division one Cross-Country great
In the media
On November 14, 2006, radio station WBLI rated the Commack Motor Inn second of the seven wonders of Long Island,[5][6] just behind the Flanders Duck and ahead of the Montauk Lighthouse. The Commack Inn gained notoriety by its advertisements on late night television and radio, extolling "the perfect romantic getaway", its "plush beds", "mirror ball disco room" and "heart-shaped love tubs". By the 1980s, the Commack Motor Inn had become such an accepted part of Long Island life, that its gift certificates were prizes at social clubs.[7] In a 1994 interview, actress Rosie O'Donnell recounted "That's where everyone in high school went to have their first sexual experience".[8]
The song "Wannabe Gangster" by alternative rock band Wheatus mentions going "Back to Commack".
In the American television program "Criminal Minds", Special Agent David Rossi's hometown is Commack. One episode in the fourth season of the same show takes place in Commack (although it was shot somewhere else).
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b c "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Commack CDP, New York, U.S. Census Bureau : 2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates : Data Profile Highlights.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=commack&_cityTown=commack&_state=04000US36&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010
- ^ Commack Fire Department, founded in 1906
- ^ 7 The Wonders of Long Island,WBLI Morning Show
- ^ A.J. Carter, Inside Stories, Newsday, November 20, 2006
- ^ Shawn Kennedy, Motels Profit From Search for Privacy, NY Times, February 22, 1980;Page A16
- ^ Todd S. Purdum, Hey, Rosie! It's No Dream. It's Broadway, And You're On, NY Times, May 8, 1994; Section 2, Page 8
External links
County Villages Hamlets Centerport · Cold Spring Harbor · Commack · Dix Hills · East Northport · Eatons Neck · Elwood · Fort Salonga · Greenlawn · Halesite · Huntington Station · Huntington · Melville · South Huntington · Vernon Valley · West Hills · Wincoma
Website: town.huntington.ny.us Town of Smithtown, New York County Villages Hamlets Commack · Fort Salonga · Hauppauge · Kings Park · Lake Ronkonkoma · Nesconset · Smithtown · St. JamesWebsite Categories:- Huntington, New York
- Smithtown, New York
- Census-designated places in New York
- Hamlets in New York
- Populated places in Suffolk County, New York
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