On 3/28/04 (2:07:56 PM MST), in a posting to NYSUFFOL-L@rootsweb.com, Jane Freese, Catskill, NY (kiskatom@mhonline.net) asks, "Trying to locate my husband's Navy Buddy from late 1950's - early 1960's. Last known to have lived in Medford." For questions such as yours, you may want to contact the Patchogue-Medford Library (the library can suggest which local newspaper might have this information and other possible sources of information): Patchogue-Medford Library 54-60 East Main Street Patchogue, NY 11772 Tel: 631/654-4700 Fax: 631/289-3999 eMail: pmlref@suffolk.lib.ny.us http://pml.suffolk.lib.ny.us/ Medford is a hamlet (unincorporated community) in the central-south part of the Town of Brookhaven, in the middle of Suffolk County. There are 8 villages and 36 hamlets all or partly in the Town of Brookhaven. There are no cities and 10 towns in Suffolk County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Medford in the Town of Brookhaven is bordered on the north by the Hamlets of Coram and Gordon Heights; on the east by the Hamlets of Yaphank and North Bellport; on the south by the Hamlet of East Patchogue; and, on the west by the Hamlets of Holtsville and Farmingville. And, like almost every community in either Nassau or Suffolk Counties, the hamlet and the postal zone that use the same name, have different borders. Thus, places with a "Medford, NY" mailing address may not be in Medford and places in Medford may not have a "Medford, NY" mailing address. For those who have their copy of the 2002 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Hamlet of Medford in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 24 (map) and 25 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan . Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.