Stony Brook, New York

Stony Brook is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of Brookhaven on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 13,727.

General Information

Located on the picturesque North Shore of Long Island, New York, the area is home to, among other things, Stony Brook University, The Stony Brook School, and Stony Brook "Village". The history of the town has been closely linked to that of Ward Melville, a local businessman who at one point owned most of what is now sometimes called the "Three Villages" (consisting of the areas of Stony Brook, Setauket, and Old Field.)

Related Topics:
North Shore - Long Island - New York - Stony Brook University - Ward Melville - Setauket - Old Field

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Beginning in 1939 with the creation of the Community Fund (currently the Ward Melville Heritage Organization), Ward Melville began the transformation of the area into his idea of an idyllic New England village, with white clapboard and quaint stores. This effect has been largely achieved in the population center, which consists of a green and a crescent of stores. In further pursuit of this goal, Melville donated the land and funds for the creation of Stony Brook University to the state of New York, as well as for the local school district.

Related Topics:
New England - Stony Brook University - New York

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The area has virtually no industrial or commercial base due to current zoning, and the rapid growth of residential development in the past decade has begun to place serious strain on schools as they try to cope with the added strain. However, the schools are generally considered to be above average.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Visitors to the area with children should plan to see, as well as the nearby Sand Street Beach, a duck pond, a historic grist mill (c. 1751), as well as the newly created Avalon Park, which has a fabulous boardwalk, trails, landscaping, and a year-round groundskeeper. Additionally, the Carriage Museum is billed as one of the largest of its type in America.

Related Topics:
Avalon Park - Carriage Museum

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~