Because the community was split between Huntington and Smithtown and because of conflicting deeds resulting from purchases from different Indian sachems, there were many boundary disputes. The resulting dividing line between the two towns also divided the properties of prominent early families with names such as Burr, Wicks, Harned and Whitman, the ancestors of the poet.
Portions still exist.
Commack was once renowned for raising and training race horses. The Burr family track off Burr Road was one of the nation's most famous trotting racetracks in the 19th Century, and Commack was where the celebrated racehorse Lady Suffolk won an impressive string of victories. At the height of activity more than 50 planes were based at the field, which also had 16 wooden barracks and five steel hangars.