Yaphank is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 5,025.

Yaphank is a community in the south part of the Town of Brookhaven.

History

In the mid 18th century, a man named John Homan built two mills along Carmen's River, which runs directly through the center of the town. These two mills inspired the first name for the town: Millville. In 1846 a post office was opened in the town, but because there were thirteen other towns in New York State at the time, the town was renamed "Yaphank", from the local Native American word "Yamphanke", meaning "bank of a river".

In 1843 the Long Island Railroad built a railroad station in Yaphank (still named Millville at the time), and virtually overnight the small mill town became a major commercial center. By 1875, Yaphank had two grist mills, two lumber mills, two blacksmith shops, a printing office, an upholstery shop, a stagecoach line, two physicians, a shoe shop, two wheelwright shops, a meat market, a dressmaker and a general store.

Yaphank is the home of Camp Upton, which was used as a boot camp in 1917 and is presently the home of Brookhaven National Laboratory. Before the end of World War I, more than 30,000 men were received their basic training there. Perhaps the most notable person to have trained at Camp Upton was the songwriter Irving Berlin. It was there he composed the musical comedy Yip Yip Yaphank, which had a brief run on Broadway.

Geography

Yaphank is located at 40°50'7" North, 72°55'45" West (40.835277, -72.929159).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 36.5 km² (14.1 mi²). 36.2 km² (14.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.78% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 5,025 people, 1,566 households, and 1,130 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 138.8/km² (359.5/mi²). There are 1,650 housing units at an average density of 45.6/km² (118.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 85.11% White, 11.22% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 7.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,566 households out of which 33.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% are married couples living together, 11.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% are non-families. 21.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.14.

In the CDP the population is spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 115.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 118.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP is $70,534, and the median income for a family is $72,348. Males have a median income of $48,807 versus $35,406 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $25,020. 3.8% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Yaphank Website