The Town of Babylon is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Its population was 218,223 as of the 2020 census. Parts of Jones Beach Island, Captree Island and Fire Island are in the southernmost part of the town. It borders Nassau County to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south.[2] At its westernmost point, it is about 20 miles (32 km) from New York City at the Queens border, and about 30 miles (48 km) from Manhattan. The village of Babylon is also within the town.[3]
The region was once called Huntington South. Nathaniel Conklin and Nathan Kowitt[4] moved their families to the area, and around 1803 named it New Babylon, after the ancient city of Babylon.[5]
Captree Island, an island partly in the southeastern part of the town and containing part of Captree State Park.
Cedar Island, an island in the Great South Bay.
Fire Island, a barrier beach island between the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, of which west of the Robert Moses Causeway, is within the confines of the Town of Babylon.
Gilgo Island, an island in the western end of the Great South Bay.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 114.3 square miles (296 km2), of which 52.3 square miles (135 km2) is land and 62.0 square miles (161 km2) (54.24%) is water.[7]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 211,792 people, 69,048 households, and 52,407 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,050.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,563.7/km2). There were 71,186 housing units at an average density of 1,361.3 per square mile (525.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 76.34% white, 15.65% black, 0.27% aboriginal American, 1.89% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.36% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. 10.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 69,048 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.45.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,064, and the median income for a family was $66,261. Males had a median income of $45,160 versus $32,062 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,844. 6.7% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Media
WBAB 102.3FM is licensed to Babylon with studios at 555 Sunrise Highway.[10]
The Babylon Beacon has covered the town for many years.[11]
Government
Babylon is governed by supervisor Rich Schaffer and four town council members.
The Long Island Rail Road's Babylon Branch is the primary railroad line in the town running from the Nassau County Line and terminating in the Village of Babylon with stations from Amityville to Babylon. Rail freight service also exists along the Central Branch which also uses some Montauk Branch trains running from the Main Line in Bethpage. East of Babylon station, the Montauk Branch continues across the Babylon-Islip Town Line. Additionally, the Main Line runs through the northern part of the town with stations in Pinelawn, Wyandanch and Deer Park.
The Sopranos actress Edie Falco in North Babylon for several years in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith) in North Babylon in the 1970s and 1980s.
Dee Snider, singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister lived in North Babylon in the early 1980s.
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison, born Patricia Kennely, grew up in North Babylon and graduated from North Babylon High School in 1963. She exchanged marriage vows in a Celtic pagan handfasting ceremony with The Doors singer Jim Morrison in June 1970. In Oliver Stone's film The Doors, Kennealy-Morrison appears in a brief cameo as the Wiccan Priestess. Kennealy-Morrison's character is portrayed by Kathleen Quinlan. Patricia passed away on July 21, 2021.
Robert Moses A resident of Thompson Avenue in Babylon Village, is world-renowned for creating the modern concepts of the state park and the super highway.
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