Riverhead (town), New York
| Riverhead, New York | |
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| Town | |
| Town of Riverhead | |
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 Riverhead, New York
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| Coordinates: 40°55′42″N 72°39′44″W / 40.92833°N 72.66222°WCoordinates: 40°55′42″N 72°39′44″W / 40.92833°N 72.66222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Government | |
| • Type | Civil Township |
| • Supervisor | Sean W. Walter (C) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 201.3 sq mi (521.3 km2) |
| • Land | 67.4 sq mi (174.5 km2) |
| • Water | 133.9 sq mi (346.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 33,506 |
| • Density | 170/sq mi (64/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−4) |
| ZIP code | 11901 |
| Area code(s) | 631 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0962565 |
| Website | www |
Riverhead is a town within Suffolk County, New York, on the north shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,506. The town rests on the mouth of the Peconic River, from which it derives its name. Since 1727, Riverhead has been the county seat of Suffolk County. The smaller hamlet of Riverhead lies within it, and is the town's principal economic center. The town is 166 miles (267 km) southwest of Boston via the Orient Point-New London Ferry, and is 76 miles (123 km) northeast of New York City.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the town saw an influx of Polish immigrants. This led to the creation of Polish Town, where the popular Polish Town Fair is held annually.
Riverhead is the agricultural apex of Long Island, with 20,000 of the 35,000 acres of the island's farmland located within the town. The town is also home to four separate beaches which are open year round. Iron Pier, Wading River, and Reeves Beach each offer boating access for residents and visitors alike.
European colonists purchased the "Southold land" from the local Algonquian-speaking Native Americans and Shinnecock Indian Nation in 1649. An additional portion was purchased from Col. William Smith and divided among settlers in 1742.
The town of Riverhead was created in 1792 as part of new jurisdictions after the American Revolution. The New York State Legislature divided it from the town of Southold, New York, which lies to the north and east. Riverhead 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 [people of western regions of Southold] 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". The poor western sections of Southold, with no harbor and little commerce, were thus divided. 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.
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