Mattituck

History

Mattituck is believed to have derived its name from the Algonquian name for "Great Creek". Mattituck Creek has been dredged and is used extensively by pleasure craft on the Long Island Sound (the Mattituck Inlet is the entrance into Mattituck Creek, and the whole waterway is now popularly referred to as Mattituck Inlet). It is only one of two harbors (the other being Mt. Sinai harbor) on the north side of Long Island on the Sound east of Port Jefferson. The Mattituck Inlet and James Creek (which has also been dredged for boats) on the Peconic Bay come within of each other and would provide a shortcut between the Peconic and Sound through the North Fork if connected via a canal. However, authorities have resisted the connection, fearing an ecological disaster. Still, the inlet is blamed for coastal erosion because it interrupts the longshore drift on the sound. Corchaug Indians, who were the first residents of the area, sold land to Theophilus Eaton, governor of New Haven, Connecticut. The area was eventually settled by English colonists. The meadowlands were held in common by the residents of Southold from its founding in 1640. The town of Southold was established by Charter to the New Haven Colony of Connecticut in 1658. The woodlands were also held in common until 1661, when that land was divided among individual proprietors. Mattituck was occupied by British troops during the Revolutionary War and Governor Tryon visited. Mattituck hosts an annual Strawberry Festival and is located in the heart of over 40 vineyards in the Long Island Wine Region. The festival is usually held on Father's Day weekend every year.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.88%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,956
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,331
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  10,135
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  9,970
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  9,467
• American herring gull, Smithsonian Gull

  Larus smithsonianus Coues, 1862 · Aves
  9,255
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  8,909
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,635

Largest nearby schools

• RIVERHEAD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · RIVERHEAD · 2,001 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• RIVERHEAD MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · RIVERHEAD · 827 students · 12:1 ratio
• HAMPTON BAYS HIGH SCHOOL
  High · HAMPTON BAYS · 769 students · 12:1 ratio
• PULASKI STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Middle · RIVERHEAD · 740 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• HAMPTON BAYS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · HAMPTON BAYS · 682 students · 12:1 ratio
• HAMPTON BAYS MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · HAMPTON BAYS · 597 students · 10.9:1 ratio
• PHILLIPS AVENUE SCHOOL
  Elementary · RIVERHEAD · 578 students · 10.5:1 ratio
• MATTITUCK JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · MATTITUCK · 548 students · 9.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.04 — 2019-04-09
  63 km SSE of Sagaponack, New York
• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.66 — 2014-08-14
  6 km SW of Deep River Center, Connecticut