East Moriches, New York
Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".
East Moriches | |
|---|---|
Hamlet and census-designated place | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Town | Brookhaven |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,946 |
| • Density | Template:Infobox settlement/densdisp |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
East Moriches () is a hamlet and census-designated place situated within the Town of Brookhaven, located in Suffolk County, New York, close to the southern shoreline of Long Island. According to the 2010 census, the community had a population of 5,249.
The term Moriches originates from Meritces, who was a Native American landowner on The Moriches Neck.
Geography
The total area of the CDP is , consisting of land and water, which accounts for 2.55% of the total area. The population recorded in 2020 was 5,946.
Demographics
Based on data from the 2000 census, East Moriches had 4,555 residents living in 1,510 households, with 1,180 identified as families. The population density was , and there were 1,668 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was largely White at 95.55%, followed by Hispanic or Latino at 5.16%, African American at 1.58%, Asian at 1.45%, with other races comprising smaller proportions.
Household composition included 39.7% with children under the age of 18, married couples represented 67.5%, female householders without husbands accounted for 6.8%, and non-family households made up 21.7%. The average sizes for households and families were 2.90 and 3.27 persons respectively.
The age distribution showed that 26.4% were under 18 years old, and those aged 25 to 44 made up 30.2%. The median age was calculated as 38 years. For every 100 females, there were approximately 97 males.
Median income for a household was $62,005, while median family income reached $71,000. Median earnings for males were $50,991 compared to $30,650 for females; per capita income stood at $24,086. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the total population lived below the poverty line.
Education
East Moriches is home to a newly constructed elementary school alongside a middle school. After completing eighth grade, students typically attend one of three high schools: Westhampton Beach, Center Moriches, or Eastport-South Manor.
Within the school district, students frequently refer to themselves as EMO (East Moriches).
TWA Flight 800
On July 17, 1996, East Moriches became internationally recognized following the explosion of TWA Flight 800 approximately off its coastline as it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard Station located in East Moriches functioned as the primary emergency response center and initial location for recovering and transporting victims' remains. To facilitate operations, a helipad was constructed at the station, which also served as a base for media personnel covering the incident. Memorial parks dedicated to the memory of the 230 passengers and crew lost are situated in Smith Point and Center Moriches. The official cause of the explosion was identified as a short circuit that ignited the center-wing fuel tank; however, alternative explanations continue to be discussed.