Kings Park, New York
Encyclopedia
Kings Park is a census-designated place
(CDP) in the town Smithtown
, Suffolk County
, New York, United States, on Long Island
. The population was 17,282 as of the 2010 census.
It borders Nissequogue
to its east across the river, with Fort Salonga
to its west, Commack
to its southwest and Smithtown
to its east. Kings Park is noted for its schools, numerous parks, and natural beauty. Its tranquility prompted it to be the site of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center
instead of New York City.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (6.21%) is water.
Some information is quoted from the 2010 enumeration, however, other information may be outdated. Please check with www.census.gov (link located at the bottom of the page) for the most updated information. Census disclaimer valid as of 11/16/2011.
As of the census
of 2010, there were 17,282 people and 6,469 households residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2,787.9 per square mile (1,058.4/km²). There were 6,469 housing units at an average density of 946.1/sq mi (365.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.1% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, N/A% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.
There were 6,469 households in 2010, of which 5.0% had persons under the age of 5 years, 23.3% with persons under 18 years, and 17.2% with persons over 65 years of age. The average number of persons per household was 3.00.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $69,819, and the median income for a family was $80,952. Males had a median income of $53,125 versus $36,008 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $34,846. About 2.6% of families and 3.7% of the population and 2.6% were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older.
was built by Kings County (before becoming part of New York City) in 1885 after Dr. Oliver Dewing's successful campaign to develop a hospital for the mentally ill on an 870 acres (3.5 km²) plot of land. The hospital was originally called Kings County Farm, a care center for the poor and mentally ill operated by Brooklyn officials. Kings County Farm is the origin of the name Kings Park.
In 1954 the Center's patient population peaked at 9,303. The Center was a key source of employment for the area during this time period, and was perhaps the most important factor in the hamlet's development.
Increasing costs to run hospital facilities and changing views about integrating the mentally ill into the population at large led to large-scale movement of patient population back into society. As patient totals declined, so did employment at the center. The decrease in state employment caused a demographics shift, as an increasing percentage of the population became employed in New York City. There are numerous studies tying this deinstitutionalization of mentally ill patients to increased homelessness and crime in New York City in the 1970s.
In 1996, the KPPC property closed. The remaining patients were transferred to Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
. The waterfront portion of the former hospital was reopened as the Nissequogue River State Park in 2000. Also, the rail spur was converted to a bike path in 2003. The State of New York has abandoned a deal to sell the property to Cherokee Northeast/Arker Companies for remediation and future redevelopment. The plans have been opposed vehemently by many townspeople, most notably the Kings Park Coalition Against High Density Housing, and has become an important political issue in many local political campaigns. Other development options for the property have included a Long Island Railroad
service facility as well as a college campus.
catcher/second baseman/outfielder Craig Biggio
. Biggio has been named one of the 5 greatest second baseman
of all time by renowned baseball statistician Bill James
. He is also the modern-era record-holder for HBP
s with 273, and the only player in history to be named an All-Star
at both the catcher and second baseman positions.
Kings Park is also the hometown of Walter Henning. Henning won the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics
. He threw the 6kg (13.2lb) Hammer Throw 252'4" to become the first American to win an international championship in the Hammer Throw
since 1956 when Hal Connolly won the Olympic Games
in Melbourne, Australia. Henning also won the 2010 NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 16 lb (7.3 kg) Hammer throw and 35 lb (15.9 kg) Weight Throw
for Louisiana State University
. As a student at St. Anthony's High School (New York) he won seven high school national championships in the Shot Put
, hammer throw and weight throw. In addition, Henning is currently the New York State record holder in the weight throw, hammer throw and shot put. His hammer throw and weight throw records were National High School records at the time. Henning is currently the World Junior (U-20) Record holder in the 35 lb (15.9 kg) Weight Throw. Henning's mother, the former Marybeth McGuire, was a member of the Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps that won the American Legion and VFW National Championships in 1979 as listed below.
Kings Park is also the hometown of John Petrucci
, John Myung
, and Kevin Moore
, founding members of influential progressive metal band Dream Theater
.
Kings Park was home to the Long Island Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 1965–1984. The Kingsmen were the American Legion National Champions in 1978 and 1979 and the VFW National Champions in 1979. The corps also placed 21st in 1979 and 16th in 1980 at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships.
Kings Park is the hometown of former NHL defenseman Jim Pavese.
borders Long Island Sound
and is accessible by the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
. It is a part of the New York State Parks system. In addition to the water, the park boasts 6 miles (9.7 km) of public trails and 27 holes of golf. The park's facilities make it ideally suited for many activities, among them various distance running competitions. The infamous "Cardiac Hill" is well known by local runners.
The Nissequogue River
, 6 miles (9.7 km) in length, empties into Long Island Sound and is readily accessible for all manner of water activities. The scenic river snakes through the recently christened Nissequogue River State Park
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in the town Smithtown
Smithtown, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 115,715 people, 38,487 households, and 31,482 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,159.9 people per square mile . There were 39,357 housing units at an average density of 734.6 per square mile...
, Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, New York, United States, on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. The population was 17,282 as of the 2010 census.
It borders Nissequogue
Nissequogue, New York
Nissequogue is a village in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 1,543.The Village of Nissequogue is in the Town of Smithtown...
to its east across the river, with Fort Salonga
Fort Salonga, New York
Fort Salonga is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 9,634...
to its west, Commack
Commack, New York
Commack is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island...
to its southwest and Smithtown
Smithtown (CDP), New York
Smithtown is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The population was 26,901 at the 2000 census.The community of Smithtown is in the Town of Smithtown.-Geography:...
to its east. Kings Park is noted for its schools, numerous parks, and natural beauty. Its tranquility prompted it to be the site of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center
Kings Park Psychiatric Center
The Kings Park Psychiatric Center, known by Kings Park locals simply as 'The Psych Center', is a former state-run psychiatric hospital located in Kings Park, New York...
instead of New York City.
Geography
Kings Park is located at 40°53′19"N 73°14′33"W (40.888497, −73.242582).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (6.21%) is water.
Demographics
The Census Information is Currently Being Updated.Some information is quoted from the 2010 enumeration, however, other information may be outdated. Please check with www.census.gov (link located at the bottom of the page) for the most updated information. Census disclaimer valid as of 11/16/2011.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 17,282 people and 6,469 households residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,787.9 per square mile (1,058.4/km²). There were 6,469 housing units at an average density of 946.1/sq mi (365.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.1% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, N/A% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.
There were 6,469 households in 2010, of which 5.0% had persons under the age of 5 years, 23.3% with persons under 18 years, and 17.2% with persons over 65 years of age. The average number of persons per household was 3.00.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $69,819, and the median income for a family was $80,952. Males had a median income of $53,125 versus $36,008 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $34,846. About 2.6% of families and 3.7% of the population and 2.6% were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older.
Kings Park Psychiatric Center
The Kings Park Psychiatric CenterKings Park Psychiatric Center
The Kings Park Psychiatric Center, known by Kings Park locals simply as 'The Psych Center', is a former state-run psychiatric hospital located in Kings Park, New York...
was built by Kings County (before becoming part of New York City) in 1885 after Dr. Oliver Dewing's successful campaign to develop a hospital for the mentally ill on an 870 acres (3.5 km²) plot of land. The hospital was originally called Kings County Farm, a care center for the poor and mentally ill operated by Brooklyn officials. Kings County Farm is the origin of the name Kings Park.
In 1954 the Center's patient population peaked at 9,303. The Center was a key source of employment for the area during this time period, and was perhaps the most important factor in the hamlet's development.
Increasing costs to run hospital facilities and changing views about integrating the mentally ill into the population at large led to large-scale movement of patient population back into society. As patient totals declined, so did employment at the center. The decrease in state employment caused a demographics shift, as an increasing percentage of the population became employed in New York City. There are numerous studies tying this deinstitutionalization of mentally ill patients to increased homelessness and crime in New York City in the 1970s.
In 1996, the KPPC property closed. The remaining patients were transferred to Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center
Pilgrim Psychiatric Center, formerly known as Pilgrim State Hospital, is a state-run psychiatric hospital located in Brentwood, New York. At the time it opened, it was the largest hospital of any kind in the world...
. The waterfront portion of the former hospital was reopened as the Nissequogue River State Park in 2000. Also, the rail spur was converted to a bike path in 2003. The State of New York has abandoned a deal to sell the property to Cherokee Northeast/Arker Companies for remediation and future redevelopment. The plans have been opposed vehemently by many townspeople, most notably the Kings Park Coalition Against High Density Housing, and has become an important political issue in many local political campaigns. Other development options for the property have included a Long Island Railroad
Lirr
Lirr or LIRR may refer to:*Long Island Rail Road, a commuter railroad in Long Island, New York, USA*Lapeer Industrial Railroad, in Lapeer, Michigan*Leeds Inner Ring Road, a motorway and A-road circling Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
service facility as well as a college campus.
Claims to fame
Kings Park is the hometown of Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
catcher/second baseman/outfielder Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros . He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He...
. Biggio has been named one of the 5 greatest second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
of all time by renowned baseball statistician Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
. He is also the modern-era record-holder for HBP
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
s with 273, and the only player in history to be named an All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
at both the catcher and second baseman positions.
Kings Park is also the hometown of Walter Henning. Henning won the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2008 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz in Poland at the Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium between 8 and 13 July 2008....
. He threw the 6kg (13.2lb) Hammer Throw 252'4" to become the first American to win an international championship in the Hammer Throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
since 1956 when Hal Connolly won the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Melbourne, Australia. Henning also won the 2010 NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 16 lb (7.3 kg) Hammer throw and 35 lb (15.9 kg) Weight Throw
Weight throw
The weight throw is a track and field event that is held at Scottish Highland games and occasionally at indoor track meets.In the Highland Games, the weight throw consists of two separate events, the light weight and the heavy weight. In both cases, the implement consists of a steel or lead weight ...
for Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. As a student at St. Anthony's High School (New York) he won seven high school national championships in the Shot Put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
, hammer throw and weight throw. In addition, Henning is currently the New York State record holder in the weight throw, hammer throw and shot put. His hammer throw and weight throw records were National High School records at the time. Henning is currently the World Junior (U-20) Record holder in the 35 lb (15.9 kg) Weight Throw. Henning's mother, the former Marybeth McGuire, was a member of the Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps that won the American Legion and VFW National Championships in 1979 as listed below.
Kings Park is also the hometown of John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
, John Myung
John Myung
John Ro Myung is an American bassist, Chapman Stick player and a founding member of the progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency....
, and Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore
For the blues singer, see Keb' Mo'.Kevin Moore is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and has composed film soundtracks...
, founding members of influential progressive metal band Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
.
Kings Park was home to the Long Island Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 1965–1984. The Kingsmen were the American Legion National Champions in 1978 and 1979 and the VFW National Champions in 1979. The corps also placed 21st in 1979 and 16th in 1980 at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships.
Kings Park is the hometown of former NHL defenseman Jim Pavese.
Other landmarks
Sunken Meadow State ParkSunken Meadow State Park
Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park and Governor Alfred E. Smith/Sunken Meadow State Park Beach are located in the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York in the USA on the North Shore of Long Island...
borders Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and is accessible by the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
The Sunken Meadow State Parkway is a long north–south parkway on Long Island in New York. All six miles of the parkway are located in the Suffolk County town of Smithtown. The southern terminus of the route is at the Northern State Parkway, where it continues southward as the Sagtikos...
. It is a part of the New York State Parks system. In addition to the water, the park boasts 6 miles (9.7 km) of public trails and 27 holes of golf. The park's facilities make it ideally suited for many activities, among them various distance running competitions. The infamous "Cardiac Hill" is well known by local runners.
The Nissequogue River
Nissequogue River
The Nissequogue River is an long river flowing from Smithtown, New York into the Long Island Sound.Its discharge of a second is the most of any of the freshwater rivers on Long Island....
, 6 miles (9.7 km) in length, empties into Long Island Sound and is readily accessible for all manner of water activities. The scenic river snakes through the recently christened Nissequogue River State Park
Nissequogue River State Park
The Nissequogue River State Park is located on the banks and bluffs of the Nissequogue River in Kings Park, New York. The park was conceived in 1999, and established on the waterfront portion of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center. The name of the park was originally assigned to what is today...
.
Notable residents
- Marilyn FierroMarilyn FierroMarilyn Fierro is an American eighth-degree black belt in karate.-Biography:Fierro is Jewish, grew up in The Bronx in the 1950s, and later lived in Kings Park, New York....
, martial artist - Bobby GoepfertBobby GoepfertBobby Goepfert is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the DEG Metro Stars in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
(born 1983), professional ice hockey goaltender - John PetrucciJohn PetrucciJohn Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
(born 1967), guitarist and songwriter