Town of Riverhead

Written By Dino DiPietro

Here’s a detailed history of the Town of Riverhead, NY:

🏹 Pre-Colonial & Colonial Era

  • For around 10,000 years, Algonquian-speaking tribes—including the Shinnecock and Montaukett—inhabited the Peconic River floodplain, drawn by its abundance of fish and wildlife

  • European settlers from Southold established a sawmill in 1659 (Joseph Horton and John Tucker), followed by grist and fulling mills by 1690 along the river

  • A courthouse and jail were built in the hamlet in 1725, and by 1727 Riverhead became the county seat of Suffolk

📜 Founding of the Town (1792)

  • Originally part of Southold, which spanned from Orient Point to Wading River. The “Aquebogue Division” included present-day Riverhead and nearby hamlets

  • On March 13, 1792, due to practical governance concerns (residents having to travel up to 25 miles for meetings), Riverhead separated and became the ninth town in Suffolk

⚔️ 18th & 19th Centuries

  • Riverhead men participated in the Revolutionary War. By the War of 1812, local farmers even confronted British forces along Long Island Sound cliffs

  • Early economy centered on milling, farming, timber, shipbuilding, and cordwood. By the late 1800s, tobacco, potatoes, and vegetables were prominent crops

  • The arrival of the Long Island Rail Road circa 1844 spurred commerce and population growth in the hamlet, transforming it into a key regional hub

🏙️ 20th-Century Growth

  • The town saw increasing industrial and commercial activity, alongside a population surge post–World War II

  • Riverhead remains agriculturally vital, hosting over half of Long Island's farmland (~20,000 acres)

  • The hamlet is known for “Polish Town,” a neighborhood formed by Polish immigrants and home to the celebrated Polish Town Fair

🌆 Historic Preservation & Landmarks

  • Several historic districts across Riverhead reflect its architectural heritage—most notably the Main Street Historic District (added 2012) and Second and Ostrander Historic District (2017)

  • Notable NRHP-listed sites include the Suffolk County Historical Society Building, Riverhead Main Street District, and several farmhouses and homesteads in Riverhead and neighboring hamlets

  • The Town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, empowered by a 2006 ordinance, protects over 45 local landmarks and districts

📊 Demographics & Modern Profile

  • Population (2020): ~35,900

  • Area: ~201 sq mi total, with ~67 sq mi of land and ~134 sq mi of water

  • Median age ~52; racial composition: ~70% White, 6% Black, 1.8% Asian, 19% Hispanic/Latino

  • Median household income: ~$94,200; per capita: $49,000; poverty rate: ~8.6%

Dino DiPietro