# Copiague, New York

Copiague (/ˈkoʊpeɪɡ/ KOH-payg) is a hamlet on Long Island (and census-designated place) in the Town of Babylon, in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 23,429 at the time of the 2020 census.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km$^2$), of which 3.2 square miles (8.3 km$^2$) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km$^2$), or 0.88%, is water.
Copiague is approximately 35 miles (56 km) east of Manhattan and 70 miles (110 km) west of Montauk Point. It is bordered by Amityville to the west, North Amityville to the north, Lindenhurst to the east, and the Great South Bay to the south.
South of Montauk Highway, Copiague is divided into three major peninsulas:
* The southwestern peninsula is known as Amity Harbor and is served by the Amityville Post Office.
* The central peninsula is known as Copiague Harbor and is served by the Copiague Post Office.
* The southeastern peninsula is known as American Venice and is served by the Lindenhurst Post Office.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 23,429 people and 6,942 households, with 3.33 persons per household. The population density was 7,144.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,758.4/km$^2$).
There were 7,919 housing units, of which 82.0% were owner-occupied. 4.8% of housing units were vacant and 28.0% of occupied housing units were occupied by renters.
The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.1% White, 1.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% some other race, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.7% of the population.
There were 7,535 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were headed by married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years.
For the period 2009–2011, it was estimated that 94.9% of the population had lived in the same house 1 year and over. 29.2% of the population were foreign-born, and 34.8% of residents at least 5 years old spoke a language other than English at home.
Between 2009 and 2011, 84.9% of residents at least 25 years old had graduated from high school, and 20.9% of residents at least 25 years old had a bachelor's degree or higher. The mean travel time to work for workers aged 16 and over was 25.1 minutes.
For the period 2009–2011, the median annual income for a household in the CDP was $74,065. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,768. 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line.

## Education

Most of Copiague is served by the Copiague Union Free School District, which also serves parts of North Amityville, a small portion of North Lindenhurst, and a very small portion of East Farmingdale. However, a portion of Copiague, west of Bayview Avenue and north of Dixon Avenue, is in the Amityville Union Free School District.
As of the 2010–2011 school year, the Copiague Union Free School District had 4,720 students.
The district operates six schools:
* Four elementary schools (Grades K–5):
Deauville Gardens East, Deauville Gardens West, Great Neck Road, and Susan E. Wiley
* One middle school (Grades 6–8): Copiague Middle School
* One high school (Grades 9–12): Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School

## Emergency services

Founded in 1928, the Copiague Volunteer Fire Department is the sole provider of fire and rescue services for the hamlet of Copiague. Three fire companies and two emergency squads are dispatched by the Town of Babylon Central Fire Alarm dispatch center out of two fire stations and the Tanner Park Marina. The north station, located on Dixon Ave. houses the Vigilant Engine Company and the Yellowbirds firematic drill team. The south station on Great Neck Rd. houses the Eagle Engine Company, the Hook, Ladder and Rescue Company, the Emergency Medical Services squad, and the Special Operations and Rescue squad.
The department operates four engines, two utility vehicles assigned to each engine company, a 90-foot tower ladder, a heavy rescue truck, three ambulances, an ALS first response vehicle. The Special Operations and Rescue squad operates a fully enclosed and climate controlled 5-ton high water rescue vehicle, three boats ranging from a 19-foot Boston Whaler to a small inflatable, a Special Ops rescue van, a Yamaha side by side, and a double decker boat trailer.

## Notable people

* Don Anding (b. 1991), soccer player
* Jerry Schatz (1925–2016), child actor
* Chris Chetti (b. 1974), professional wrestler
* Kene Holliday, actor
* Donnie McClurkin, gospel singer and minister
* Mike James, NBA player
* John Tartamella, union organizer