This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jUB.2ACI/714.1 Message Board Post: On 5/24/03 (7:38:31 AM MDT), in a posting to the Suffolk County Board that was 'gatewayed' to [email protected], ????? ([email protected]) asked, "I have found my grandfather's family in the 1900 census - the name is Meaney, Edward and Mary, and four children. The top of the page just lists it as the Town of Islip. There is no other identification as to town or address, etc. At least not that I can see. Does anyone know, or know where I can look to find the towns that comprised the Town of Islip in 1900? I have a copy of my ggrandfather's naturalization papers that are dated 1894 - at that time he said he resided in East Patchogue. Any help is appreciated." First, East Patchogue is a hamlet in the southwestern part of the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, 2 communities to the east of the Islip/Brookhaven town line. Second, there are no 'towns' in the Town of Islip. In New York State, towns are sub-divided into villages (incorporated municipalities) and hamlets (unincorporated areas). Currently, there are 4 villages and 22 hamlets all or partly in the Town of Islip. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) These 26 communities are (if a village, year of incorporation): Bayport Bay Shore Baywood Bohemia Brentwood Brightwaters (1916) Central Islip East Islip Fire Island (part) Great River Hauppauge (part) Holbrook (part) Holtsville (part) Islandia (1985) Islip Islip Terrace North Bay Shore North Great River Oakdale Ocean Beach (1921) Ronkonkoma Saltaire (1917) Sayville West Bay Shore West Islip West Sayville part = indicates a village or hamlet that straddles town boundaries. As none of the villages were in existence circa 1900, and assuming that these villages were formed from part of a still-existing hamlet, then there would've been 22 communities -- all hamlets -- in the Town of Islip circa 1900. For those who have their copy of the 2002 or earlier editions 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 Town of Islip and all the villages and hamlets within the Town of Islip, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 20 (map) and 21 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. 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.