Orient, New York

Orient is a hamlet located in Suffolk County, New York. USA. As of the 2000 census, the community had a total population of 709.

Orient and Orient Point are used almost interchangeably. However Orient Point refers specifically to the very end of the North Fork of Long Island while Orient is the hamlet immediately next to it.

Orient is in the Town of Southold.

History and Tourism

Orient is the eastern-most town on Long Island's picturesque North Fork. It was originally named Poquatuck, after the name of the local native American tribe that resided along the inland waterways, then Oyster ponds. Legend has it that when Oyster Bay, New York became famous during the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt, the name was changed to Orient to match the name of its most prominent land feature, Orient Point.

Orient's winter population swells to well over 1000 in the summer months. Other than a post office, a gas station, and a few seasonal tourist stands, there is no center of commerce, hence its residents depend on nearby Greenport for every-day necessities. Many make a living at the US Government's Department of Agriculture lab on nearby Plum Island, a 50 minute boat ride from Orient Point across Plum Gut, or at businesses further inland. Truck farming and commercial fishing industry remains as well. Definitely New England in style and flavor, the village of Orient has homes built over the last 3 centuries. Locals joke that a "new house" is anything built since World War II.

The village was originally settled by five families given a land grant by the King of England in the 1600's, and the names of King, Terry, and Latham are still present. Later, it was used as a base of operations by British commanders such as Benedict Arnold and local Tories during the American Revolution to conduct raids on Yankee-held Connecticut.

The Cross Sound Ferry currently operates a ferry service between Orient Point Long Island Sound and New London, Connecticut.

Geography

Orient is located at 41°8'43" North, 72°17'19" West (41.145410, -72.288689)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of 15.9 km² (6.1 mi²). 13.2 km² (5.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 16.83% water.

Demographics

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 709 people, 330 households, and 205 families residing in the hamlet. The population density was 53.8/km² (139.2/mi²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 51.1/km² (132.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the community was 97.32% White, 0.56% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 330 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the community the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 15.7% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 34.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $45,461, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $43,571 versus $31,111 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,382. 4.4% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Other communities in the Town of Southold

External links

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