Riverhead (town), New York

The town of Riverhead is in Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census. The name signifies that the mouth of the Peconic River is in this town. Riverhead is the county seat of Suffolk County.

There is also a smaller hamlet of Riverhead, which lies in the town.

History
The town was created in 1792 as part of developing new jurisdictions after the American Revolution. The New York State Legislature divided it from the extant Southold, New York. Colonists has purchased the Southold land from the local Algonquian-speaking Native Americans in 1649. An additional portion was purchased from Col. William Smith and divided among settlers in 1742. The poor section of Southold, with no harbor and little commerce, the town was separated at the behest of its inhabitants, who "represented to the Legislature that their town is so long that it is very inconvenient for them to attend at [sic] town meetings, and also to transact the other necessary business of the said town, and have prayed that the same may be divided into two towns".

On March 13, 1792, the Legislature passed a bill splitting off this section under the name River Head. The new enclave's first town meeting was scheduled to be held April 3, 1792. River Head was named the county seat (called "county town" at the time), and its name was later combined as Riverhead. By 1902, its approximate population was 2,500.

Geography
The north town line is delineated by the Long Island Sound with Connecticut on the opposite shore. The east town line is the border of the town of Southold. The town is partly on the North Fork of the county. The eastern terminus of the Long Island Expressway is in Riverhead.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 201.3 sqmi, of which 67.4 sqmi is land and 133.9 sqmi, or 66.53%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,680 people, 10,749 households, and 7,288 families residing in the town. The population density was 410.8 people per square mile (158.6/km²). There were 12,479 housing units at an average density of 185.2 per square mile (71.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.71% White, 40.52% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.47% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.03% of the population.

There were 10,749 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,195, and the median income for a family was $60,939. Males had a median income of $40,855 versus $32,288 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,647. About 15.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics


Riverhead has a town council government. There is an elected Town Supervisor who is elected by the entire town, and four "at large" Town Council seats.

Media
The Riverhead newspaper The News-Review, owned by Times-Review Newspapers as of at least 2010, was founded in 1868. Its parent company also owns The Suffolk Times, Shelter Island Reporter, The North Shore Sun, and The Wine Press.

Radio stations WFTU, WRCN-FM and WRIV-AM are licensed to Riverhead.

Events and places of interest
Riverhead is the home each summer of the Long Island Blues Festival and the Polish festival. There is an aquarium called Atlantis Marine World. There is also a train museum, the water park Splish Splash, Riverhead Raceway, and the Tanger Outlet Mall. Riverhead is home to at least eight 18-hole PGA rated golf courses.

It is also where prospective students (Adult Learners) can find a quality education. There is a branch campus of Empire State College, where faculty and staff use innovative, alternative and flexible approaches to higher education such as guided independent study, working one-to-one with a faculty mentor, small seminars, study groups or cross registration at other colleges to engage in studies- whatever suits your interests and lifestyle. The college offers Associate, Bachelor's, and Masters degrees with the opportunity to potentially receive college credits for work or life experience.

It also has a branch campus of Long Island University, which transferred its master's degree programs here from its Southampton campus, which it sold in 2006 to State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook. The graduate programs include the Homeland Security Institute, rated the strongest program in the nation; creative writing, marine biology, and environmental protection.

Hamlets (unincorporated)

 * Aquebogue
 * Baiting Hollow
 * Calverton (partially; shared with Town of Brookhaven)
 * Jamesport
 * Laurel (partially; shared with Town of Southold)
 * Manorville (Partially; Shared with Town of Brookhaven)
 * Northville
 * Riverhead
 * Wading River (partially; shared with Town of Brookhaven)

Other communities

 * Centerville
 * Polishtown
 * Reeves Park
 * Roanoke
 * South Jamesport
 * Sweyze
 * Wildwood
 * Flanders

State parks

 * Wildwood State Park