Babylon is a town located in Suffolk County, New York, United States. According to the 2020 census, the town’s population was 212,091 making it one of the larger towns on Long Island. Babylon has a diverse economy with major employers in industries such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and tourism.
Population
According to the 2020 census, the population of Babylon was 212,091. This makes it the 13th most populous town in New York. The population density was 4,224 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 77.3% White, 9.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.5% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 17.8% of the population.
The town saw steady population growth through the 20th century. Between 1990 and 2000, the population grew 6.9% from 202,940 to 216,612. Growth has continued into the 21st century as well. Babylon’s population grew 2.1% between 2000 and 2010.
History
Babylon was first settled in the 1870s and 1880s by wealthy families looking to escape the city life of Brooklyn and Manhattan. They came out to Suffolk County by train and established lavish estates, many of which still stand today. By the early 20th century, more middle class families started moving into the area as well.
The Town of Babylon was officially established in 1872. It originally included present day towns of Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven, Huntington, and Smithtown. Over the years, Babylon lost territory as new towns were formed. Today, it retains its namesake village of Babylon along with West Babylon, Lindenhurst, Amityville, Copiague, and parts of Farmingdale among other hamlets and villages.
Government
Babylon is governed by a town council comprised of four council members, each representing a different district in the town. There is also a town supervisor who serves as the chief executive. The current town supervisor is Richard Schaffer who was first elected in 2002.
Residents also elect representatives to the Suffolk County legislature. Babylon is included in the 10th and 12th legislative districts. Babylon is patrolled by the Suffolk County Police Department‘s 4th Precinct.
Geography and Climate
Babylon is located on the south shore of Long Island in central Suffolk County. It includes part of the Great South Bay, which separates Long Island from Fire Island. The town has a total area of 115 square miles, of which 57 square miles is land and 59 square miles is water.
The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers and cold winters. July and August are the hottest months with average highs in the 80s Fahrenheit. January is the coldest month with average highs in the upper 30s. Babylon gets approximately 45 inches of rain per year, which is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Economy and Major Employers
Some of the major employers in Babylon include:
- Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center – One of the largest hospitals and employers on Long Island with over 4,500 employees.
- Broadridge Financial Solutions – A financial services company headquartered in Lake Success with several offices in Babylon. Employs around 10,000 people worldwide.
- Estee Lauder – The multinational cosmetics giant operates a manufacturing facility in Melville within the town of Babylon.
- Henry Schein – A distributor of medical, dental, and veterinary supplies based in Melville with over 1,000 local employees.
- Swiss Post Solutions – An international business process outsourcing company with a location in Babylon.
Other major industries in Babylon besides healthcare include retail, education, manufacturing, construction, and professional services. The Babylon Industrial Development Agency works to promote economic growth by incentivizing businesses to locate and expand in the town.
In 2019, the town of Babylon had a labor force of approximately 110,000 and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. The median household income was $108,030 compared to $68,486 statewide. About 5.8% of families were living below the poverty line.
Education
Babylon is served by the Babylon Union Free School District. The district operates five elementary schools, two middle schools, and Babylon High School. There are approximately 3,700 students enrolled in the district’s schools. Babylon High School offers a wide array of academic programs as well as athletic teams and extracurricular activities.
Several private schools are located in Babylon as well, including St. Joseph’s School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Our Lady of Grace.
For higher education, Suffolk County Community College has a campus in Selden near Babylon. Many Babylon residents also attend nearby colleges and universities such as Stony Brook University, Hofstra University, Adelphi University, and more.
Transportation
The main highways running through Babylon are the Southern State Parkway and Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27). Other major roads include NY Routes 109 and 231 and County Route 93 (Broadhollow Road).
The Suffolk County Transit provides local bus service throughout Babylon with connections to other parts of Long Island. The Long Island Rail Road’s Babylon station provides train service into Manhattan and Brooklyn. Islip MacArthur Airport is located just north of Babylon in Islip.
Landmarks and Attractions
Some of the most popular landmarks and attractions in Babylon include:
- Argyle Lake – A scenic 72 acre lake surrounded by walking trails, playgrounds, and sports fields in Babylon Village.
- Belmont Lake State Park – A 533 acre state park with hiking trails, fishing, and a beach for swimming on Belmont Lake.
- Fire Island Lighthouse – This historic lighthouse dates back to 1858 and stands at the western end of Fire Island.
- Cedar Beach – A wide sandy beach on the Great South Bay for swimming, fishing, and enjoying water views.
- Gilgo Beach – Part of Ocean Parkway which runs along barrier islands between Jones Beach and Fire Island.
- Splish Splash – A popular water park in Calverton with rides, slides, wave pools, and more attractions.
The beaches along the Great South Bay and Fire Island provide plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, kayaking, and enjoying the seaside setting. The bay is also popular for recreational fishing. There are also many parks, preserves, and golf courses throughout the town.
Babylon village has a charming historic downtown with restaurants, boutiques, and bars. The Babylon Cinema dates back to 1922 and shows indie films. Downtown hosts many annual events like the Babylon Chili Bowl Festival and Farmers Market.
Sports
The town is home to numerous youth, school, adult, and professional sports teams and organizations. On the professional level, the Long Island Ducks baseball team plays at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. Minor league hockey team, the Bridgeport Islanders, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New York Islanders, plays some home games at NYCB Live in Uniondale.
For high school sports, Babylon High School’s teams compete as the Babylon Panthers in Section XI of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Their football team plays at Babylon Memorial Stadium.
There are also many youth sports leagues in the town offering baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, and more. Popular golf courses include Titus Oaks Golf Club, Rock Hill Golf & Country Club, and Southward Ho Country Club.
Notable People
Babylon has been home to many famous individuals over the years, including:
- Walt Whitman – One of America’s most influential poets who died in Babylon in 1892.
- Richard Lewis – Comedian and actor who grew up in Babylon.
- Eddie Money – Rock musician who lived in Babylon as a teenager.
- John Petrucci – Guitarist and founding member of rock band Dream Theater.
- Chris Weidman – Professional MMA fighter and former UFC middleweight champion.