Commack

Commack
—  CDP  —
U.S. Census Map
Commack Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 40°50′42″N 73°17′0″W / 40.845°N 73.283333°W / 40.845; -73.283333Coordinates: 40°50′42″N 73°17′0″W / 40.845°N 73.283333°W / 40.845; -73.283333
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Suffolk
Town	Smithtown and Huntington
Area
• Total	12.1 sq mi (31.2 km2)
• Land	12.1 sq mi (31.2 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	131 ft (40 m)
Population (2000)[1]
• Total	36,367
• Density	3,014.9/sq mi (1,164.1/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	11725 </nowiki>
Area code(s)	631
FIPS code	36-17530
GNIS feature ID	0947221

Commack (/KO-mack/ or /KOM-mack/) is a census-designated place (CDP) that roughly corresponds to the hamlet (unincorporated community) by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island. The CDP's population was 36,367 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31 km²), all land.

The name "Commack" comes from the Secatogue native Americans who lived on the South Shore of Long Island between Copiague and Bayport. The Secatogue named their northern lands in the center of the island "Winnecomac", meaning "Pleasant lands." This is what they must have thought when they looked over this area of flat lands with rich soil, and thick oak forests abounding with plants and wildlife. From its earliest days, Commack was known for its fertile soil, abundance of game, and wood.

Today all of Commack is settled and suburbanized and, like most unincorporated areas of Long Island, does not have a true, walkable downtown or "Main Street." The community is served by four major thoroughfares: the Long Island Expressway, the Northern State Parkway, the Sunken Meadow State Parkway and the at-grade Jericho Turnpike. It also includes the historic Long Island Motor Parkway, which itself included the Spur to NY 25 that later became Harned Road.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 36,367 people, 11,697 households, and 10,176 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,014.9 per square mile (1,164.3/km²). There were 11,824 housing units at an average density of 980.2/sq mi (378.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.4% White, 10.6% African American, 3.8% Asian, 6.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.9% of the population.^[2][1]

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.^[1]

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the CDP was $109,431, and the median income for a family was $117,020. Males had a median income of $61,475 versus $39,124 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,840. About 2.0% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.^[3]

Notable sites

The American Basketball Association's New York Nets, later the New Jersey Nets, played its second season (1968–69) at the Long Island Arena in Commack. Also, musician Peter Frampton recorded some tracks on the album Frampton Comes Alive at a concert at the Arena. The Eastern Hockey League's Long Island Ducks also played there. The Arena, demolished in 1996, is now the site of a shopping center that includes Sports Authority and Target stores.

The Commack Fire Department celebrated its centennial in 2006.^[4]

Notable people from Commack

• Bob Costas - television sportscaster and commentator

• Rosie O'Donnell - stand-up comedienne, actress, singer, author and media personality

• Samantha Prahalis - WNBA basketball player

• John S. Fields - author

In the media

On November 14, 2006, radio station WBLI rated the Commack Motor Inn second of the seven wonders of Long Island,^[5][6] just behind the Flanders Duck and ahead of the Montauk Lighthouse. The Commack Inn gained notoriety by its advertisements on late night television and radio, extolling "the perfect romantic getaway", its "plush beds", "mirror ball disco room" and "heart-shaped love tubs". By the 1980s, the Commack Motor Inn had become such an accepted part of Long Island life, that its gift certificates were prizes at social clubs.^[7] In a 1994 interview, actress Rosie O'Donnell recounted "That's where everyone in high school went to have their first sexual experience".^[8]

The song "Wannabe Gangster" by alternative rock band Wheatus mentions going "Back to Commack". Commack is also referenced by deathcore band Emmure in their song "22 Exits Away".

In the American television program "Criminal Minds", Special Agent David Rossi's hometown is Commack. One episode in the fourth season of the same show takes place in Commack (although it was shot somewhere else).

See also

• Commack Fire Department
• Commack School District.

Footnotes

External links

• The Record: a weekly newspaper covering Commack
• Commack History