Ronkonkoma (pronounced ron-KONK-uh-muh) is a census-designated place (CDP) and hamlet (unincorporated community) in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 20,029 at the 2000 census. The Ronkonkoma post office has the ZIP code of 11779, and serves parts of several hamlets and CDPs adjacent to Ronkonkoma also.
Since 1988, Ronkonkoma has been the end of electrification along the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line, leading most service along the line to be referred to as Ronkonkoma Branch service.[1]
Ronkonkoma is also home to the Town of Islip owned and operated Long Island MacArthur Airport (sometimes referred to only as Islip), airport code ISP.
The New York Air Route Traffic Control Center is located in Ronkonkoma, as is CVD Equipment Corporation, a nanotechnology and high-technology engineering company that is doing research on carbon nanotubes in cooperation with the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Geography
Ronkonkoma is located at 40°48′50″N 73°7′42″W / 40.81389°N 73.12833°W / 40.81389; -73.12833 (40.813962, -73.128438)[2]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.5 square miles (22.1 km²).21.2 km² (8.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (4.10%) is water.
The community is adjacent to Lake Ronkonkoma.
Notable residents and natives
Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 20,029 people, 6,550 households, and 5,200 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,450.4 per square mile (946.5/km²). There were 6,660 housing units at an average density of 814.8/sq mi (314.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.85% White, 0.90% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.34% of the population.
There were 6,550 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $87,896, and the median income for a family was $97,441 (as of a 2007 estimate[4]). Males had a median income of $50,594 versus $35,013 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,152. About 2.8% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
References in popular culture
Ronkonkoma is referenced in two songs by singer/songwriter Mike Doughty, "Busting Up a Starbucks" and "Like a Luminous Girl", and the song "5 Alive" by Self on their album Gizmodgery.
Ronkonkoma was referenced by Artie Lange during the March 3rd, 2009 taping of the Late Show with David Letterman. The comic recounted a story of sitting in front of a fan at Yankees games who repeatedly cheers on Derek Jeter by shouting, "Do it for Ronkonkoma!" [5]
200 Cigarettes.[6]
References
External links
