S M I T H TOW N LIVE LIKE A LOCAL GUIDE
Smithtown
TOWN OF SMITHTOWN
W
elcome to Smithtown and the surrounding areas of St. James and Nissequogue - located on Long Island’s North Shore in Suffolk County. Smithtown has a population of 117,000. The town is approximately 111 square miles, of which 53 square miles is land and 58 square miles is water. There are three Incorporated Villages in Smithtown; Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, and Village of the Branch. The unincorporated hamlets include Commack*, Ft. Salonga*, Hauppauge*, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma*, Nesconset, Smithtown, and St. James. (*some parts of this area are in a different township)
Coordinates: 40°51′’46”″N 73°12’′55”″W County: Suffolk Zip Code: 11725, 11745,11754,
11780, 11787, 11788, 11768
School District: Smithtown Central
Richard Smith LOCAL LEGEND OF HOW SMITHTOWN CAME TO BE - NO BULL! Settled in 1665, Smithtown was originally known as “Smithfield.” The story has it that Richard Smith rescued a Native American Indian Chief’s daughter and as a thank you to Smith, the Chief granted Smith title to all of the lands Smith could encircle in one day on a bull. Smith chose the longest day of the year to ride the bull (summer solstice). The area Smith acquired is what we now know today as Smithtown. There is a statue of his bull, Whisper, on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and St. Johnland Road. This statue, which once stood in front of the Brooklyn Museum, was donated by Charles Cary Rumsey in 1941 and is now often thought to be the town’s mascot. In fact, the Smithtown High School East teams are known as The Smithtown Bulls. The border of Smithtown and Huntington is Bread and Cheese Hollow Rd., where Smith stopped on his ride to have some bread and cheese! Another town border is Fort Salonga, a British fort that was the site of a battle during the American Revolution.
The Area is
Steeped in History The St. James General Store is the oldest functioning general store in the United States. Founded by Ebenezer Smith in 1857 after he returned home from the California Gold Rush. There were not many people living in St. James at the time, and the store served as the center of the community. Long before the days of supermarkets, the St. James General Store supplied the town people with all the necessities of rural life. The St. James General Store also functioned as the community’s post office. The first telephone to arrive in the village of St. James was installed at the St. James General Store. With the village’s only telephone, the employment of mail services and its abundance of grocery items, the St. James General Store played a significant role in the daily lives of the St. James residents. The Suffolk County Parks Department currently owns the St. James General Store, and it still functions as a place to buy various souvenirs, books, and most importantly, candy. It’s definitely worth a visit whenever you have out-of-town guests.
Across from the St. James General Store is the Deepwells Mansion, which dates back to 1845. The property was a working farm of about 50 acres. The home had many owners throughout the years, including former NYC Mayor William Gaynor (1905) who was enthusiastic about raising pigs and did so at the estate. Tradition says that Gaynor named “Deepwells” after the two brick-lined 125-foot wells that are on the property. Suffolk County acquired the house and part of the property in 1989. Deepwells Mansion is an example of Greek Revival Architecture and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C., and is dedicated to the Suffolk County Historic Trust. The mansion hosts concerts, Easter egg hunts, movies, and for the brave - a Halloween haunted house tour.
FOR THE
Foodies Smithtown and St. James are home to many dining venues. The area is attracting many chefs and entrepreneurs in the foodie world. Whether it’s a casual breakfast, a gourmet meal, or an ice cream sundae, you won’t go hungry as the choices are endless. Maureen’s Kitchen has a cult-like following in Smithtown for serving the best breakfast and lunch in town! They make just about any kind of pancakes you can think of from blueberry to chocolate chip to pistachio. BLT, Soul Brew, and Javiers are great breakfast and lunch cafes that you won’t want to miss. Looking for a happy hour with great appetizers and outdoor seating? H20 is the perfect spot. Pietro, Butera’s, La Trattoria, Casa Rustica and Villa Sorrento are just a few Italian eateries in the area. This is only a sampling of the list of great eateries that can keep your palate satisfied for months.
BE ONE
With Nature Just a few of the many options available. Caleb Smith State Park Preserve: There are only two state nature preserves located on Long Island, and Caleb Smith State Park is one of them! Escape from the hustle of busy city life in one of the many varieties of habitats in this beautiful park. On the property is a nature museum which showcases local wildlife like the great blue heron, red fox, flying squirrel, and river otters. There are also many hiking trails that include rare plants like the Indian Pipe and the Pink Lady Slipper.
Blydenburgh County Park: This park offers guests picturesque views of the Nissequogue River and Stump Pond as well as opportunities for bird watching. It is the perfect place for outdoor activities for all levels of adventure enthusiasts! There are rowboat rentals and fishing spots for those looking for a relaxing day on the Stump Pond, as well as advanced hiking and horseback riding trails for adventure seekers. Blydenburgh Park was recently listed on the register of historic places for their 18th-century structures. This historic district is formed of eight buildings in total including the mill complex and the Blydenburgh Farmhouse. This district is an excellent place for a walk, and the surrounding greenery is picturesque. Guided tours of the historic buildings are available.
David Weld Preserve: Trails cross an old field dotted with red cedars, loop around a red maple swamp, pass gigantic tulip trees, climb a 50-foot bluff overlooking the Long Island Sound and eventually lead to a kettle hole, a 60-foot-deep depression formed when a massive block of glacial ice melted in place. There are also 1,800 feet of beachfront and several enormous boulders scattered throughout the woods and along the shore. The Sweet Briar Nature Center is a private non-profit that aims to educate the community about the importance of environmental conservation. Sweetbriar isn’t your average nature center! They have unique opportunities to see nature up close, such as the seasonal butterfly house which has a wide variety of butterfly species. There is also a rainforest room which emphasizes the importance of conserving the World’s limited rainforests. The rainforest room features all the sights, sounds, and smells of a real rainforest! Visit the Sweet Briar Nature Center to learn more about the importance of conserving this World we all share.
FA I R S
& F ES T I VA L S Smithtown has no shortage of celebrations and fun! • S.t James Day • Smithtown Day • St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Beach and Boating Life • Schubert’s Beach • Cordwood Beach • Long Beach Pavilion • Nissequogue River Canoe and Kayaking
HORSE COUNTRY
& V I N E YA R D S Imagine having a vineyard in your hometown? Well if you live in Head of the Harbor or St. James, you do. Harmony Vineyards has a 10,000 square foot mansion on the property that was originally built in 1690 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Call for times of the Vineyards tours and tastings. Whisper Vineyards, located in St. James was originally a family farm dating back to the 1950s, Borella’s Farm Stand. Where potatoes and cabbage once grew in abundance, grapevines can now be found. You can see where your favorite wines are created and get a behindthe-scenes look at how they are made. Strolling through vineyards can be relaxing and exciting at the same time.
F I N D YO U R H O M E I N
Smithtown
Smithtown Average Sale Price as of June 24th $534,485 # Homes Sold YTD June 24th 139 Smithtown and its hamlets are part of several school districts, depending on the home’s location. Smithtown School District has eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. Elementary: Accompsett, Branch Brook, Dogwood, Mills Pond, Mt. Pleasant, Smithtown, St James, and Tacken Middle: Accompsett, Great Hollow, Nessaquake High School: Eastern Campus, Western Campus
# Homes on the Market 123 Highest Sale Price YTD $1,010,000 Lowest Sale Price YTD $190,000
Information obtained from MLSLI
St. James
Nissequogue
Average Sale Price as of June 24th $506,289
Average Sale Price as of June 24th $954,500
# Homes Sold YTD June 24th 38
# Homes Sold YTD June 24th 10
# Homes on the Market 87
# Homes on the Market 34
Highest Sale Price YTD $800,000
Highest Sale Price YTD $2,000,000
Lowest Sale Price YTD $225,000
Lowest Sale Price YTD $465,000
Head of the Harbor
Live Like a Local So, if you are looking for a small-town feel with a strong sense of community, yet close to shopping, beaches and trains, Smithtown and its hamlets and incorporated villages might be the place to call home. From the wineries and parks to the street fairs and waterfronts, Smithtown has it all. And when you want a change of pace, whether it be a trip to NYC or a day on the East End, Smithtown’s location allows you to take advantage of both worlds!
Average Sale Price as of June 24th $888,750 # Homes Sold YTD June 24th 4 # Homes on the Market 16 Highest Sale Price YTD $1,125,000 Lowest Sale Price YTD $675,000
TRAVEL TIME: NYC: LIRR from Smithtown - 1 hour 26 minutes NYC: LIRR from St. James - 1 hour 31 minutes West Hampton: Drive Time – 48 minutes
Information obtained from MLSLI
BABYLON
HICKSVILLE
NORTHPORT
126 W Main Street Babylon, NY 11702
111 Levittown Parkway Hicksville, NY 11801
180 Main Street Northport, NY 11768
Office: 631.422.3100
Office: 516.935.0700
Office: 631.754.3600
COLD SPRING HARBOR
HUNTINGTON
ROCKVILLE CENTRE
157 Main Street Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
157 East Main Street Huntington, NY 11743
75 Seaman Avenue Rockville Centre NY, 11570
Office: 631.692.4800
Office: 631.673.3700
Office: 516.766.7900
COMMACK
LOCUST VALLEY
SAYVILLE
21 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy Commack, NY 11725 Office: 631.499.6400
41 The Plaza Locust Valley, NY 11560
95 Main Street Sayville, NY 11782
Office: 516.759.4400
SMITHTOWN
DIX HILLS
MASSAPEQUA PARK
15 East Deer Park Road Dix Hills, NY 11746
4863 Merrick Road Massapequa Park, NY 11762
Office: 631.673.3900
Office: 516.799.7100
EAST NORTHPORT
MEDFORD
190 Laurel Road East Northport, NY 11731
3080 Route 112 Medford NY 11763
Office: 631.368.6800
Office: 631.512.4520
FLORAL PARK
MERRICK
142 Plainfield Avenue Floral Park, NY 11001
324 Merrick Avenue Merrick, NY 11566
Office: 516.492.3210
Office: 516.546.6300
WOODBURY
GARDEN CITY
MILLER PLACE
7952 Jericho Turnpike Woodbury, NY 11797
730 Franklin Avenue Garden City, NY 11530
275 Route 25A Miller Place, NY 11764
Office: 516.741.4333
Office: 631.642.2300
Signature Premier Properties
7 West Main Street Smithtown, NY 11787 Office: 631.360.2800
SYOSSET 33 Jackson Avenue Syosset, NY 11791 Office: 516.921.1400
WANTAGH 1867 Wantagh Avenue Wantagh, NY 11793
Office: 516.496.0300
MAIN: 877.273.3750 877.273.3750 | signaturepremier.com