Orient, New York
Encyclopedia
Orient is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Suffolk County
, New York
, United States
. The CDP's population was 709 at the 2000 census.
Orient and Orient Point are used almost interchangeably. However Orient Point refers specifically to the physical point at the end of the North Fork
of Long Island
while Orient is the hamlet in which the point is located.
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 and East Marion were originally called Oysterponds because of the abundance of shellfish in the area. What is now Orient was known as Lower Neck, while East Marion was called Upper Neck. The communities separated in 1836 and the name Orient was chosen to reflect that area's easternmost position on the North Fork. East Marion was named for Revolutionary War Gen. Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox. "East" was tacked on to Marion because of an existing Marion upstate.
Orient's winter population swells to well over 1000 in the summer months. Other than a post office, a gas station, a country store, 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 5 minute boat ride from Orient Point across Plum Gut, or at businesses further west. Truck farming and commercial fishing
industry remain as well. Definitely New England in style and flavor, the hamlet of Orient has homes built over the last three centuries. Locals joke that a "new house" is anything built since World War II
.
The hamlet was originally settled by five families given a land grant by the King of England in the 17th century and their surnames, King, Terry, Latham, Tuthill and Vail, still exist in local families. Later, Orient 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
. Among Benedict Arnold's headquarters was a local tavern owned and operated by the Vail family on what is now known as "Village Lane". Many of the hamlet's older structures are included in the Orient Historic District
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976.
The Cross Sound Ferry
currently operates a vehicle/passenger ferry service between Orient Point and New London, Connecticut
. This service has expanded in recent years with Sea Jet
service being provided to the Foxwoods Casino. This has resulted in some tension with locals over congestion on the local roads.
, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (16.83%) is water.
of 2000, there were 709 people, 330 households, and 205 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 139.2 per square mile (53.8/km²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 132.2/sq mi (51.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.32% White, 0.56% African American, 0.99% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races
, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.
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 CDP 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 CDP 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. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
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 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
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The CDP's population was 709 at the 2000 census.
Orient and Orient Point are used almost interchangeably. However Orient Point refers specifically to the physical point at the end of the North Fork
North Fork, Suffolk County, New York
The North Fork is a 30-mile-long peninsula in the northeast part of Suffolk County, New York, roughly parallel with an even longer peninsula known as the South Fork...
of 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...
while Orient is the hamlet in which the point is located.
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 OysterOyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
Ponds. Legend has it that when Oyster Bay, New York
Oyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
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 and East Marion were originally called Oysterponds because of the abundance of shellfish in the area. What is now Orient was known as Lower Neck, while East Marion was called Upper Neck. The communities separated in 1836 and the name Orient was chosen to reflect that area's easternmost position on the North Fork. East Marion was named for Revolutionary War Gen. Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox. "East" was tacked on to Marion because of an existing Marion upstate.
Orient's winter population swells to well over 1000 in the summer months. Other than a post office, a gas station, a country store, and a few seasonal tourist stands, there is no center of commerce, hence its residents depend on nearby Greenport
Greenport, Suffolk County, New York
Greenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
for every-day necessities. Many make a living at the US Government's Department of Agriculture lab on nearby Plum Island
Plum Island (New York)
Plum Island is an island in the Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the United States. The island is in Gardiners Bay, east of Orient Point, off the eastern end of the North Fork coast of Long Island. It is about long and wide at its widest point...
, a 5 minute boat ride from Orient Point across Plum Gut, or at businesses further west. Truck farming and commercial fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
industry remain as well. Definitely New England in style and flavor, the hamlet of Orient has homes built over the last three centuries. Locals joke that a "new house" is anything built since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The hamlet was originally settled by five families given a land grant by the King of England in the 17th century and their surnames, King, Terry, Latham, Tuthill and Vail, still exist in local families. Later, Orient was used as a base of operations by British commanders such as Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
and local Tories during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
to conduct raids on Yankee-held Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Among Benedict Arnold's headquarters was a local tavern owned and operated by the Vail family on what is now known as "Village Lane". Many of the hamlet's older structures are included in the Orient Historic District
Orient Historic District
The Orient Historic District is a national historic district in Orient in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The district has 120 contributing buildings and one contributing structure...
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976.
The Cross Sound Ferry
Cross Sound Ferry
Cross Sound Ferry is a passenger and road vehicle ferry service operating between New London, Connecticut and Orient, Long Island, New York. The service is privately owned and operated by Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc., headquartered in New London...
currently operates a vehicle/passenger ferry service between Orient Point and New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. This service has expanded in recent years with Sea Jet
Sea Jet
The Advanced Electric Ship Demonstrator , Sea Jet, funded by the Office of Naval Research , is a 133-foot vessel located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview, Idaho. Sea Jet was operated on Lake Pend Oreille, where it was used for test and...
service being provided to the Foxwoods Casino. This has resulted in some tension with locals over congestion on the local roads.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (16.83%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2000, there were 709 people, 330 households, and 205 families 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 139.2 per square mile (53.8/km²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 132.2/sq mi (51.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.32% White, 0.56% African American, 0.99% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 330 households out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 CDP 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 CDP 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
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 $29,382. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.