Montauk, New York

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Montauk is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the hamlet had a total population of 3,851. It is the eastermost area in Long Island, and thus the easternmost area in New York State. It is also home to the Montauk Lighthouse.

Montauk is in the Town of East Hampton.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Miscellaneous
5 External links

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Geography

Montauk is located at 41°2'18" North, 71°57'2" West (41.038310, -71.950608)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of 51.2 km² (19.8 mi²). 45.3 km² (17.5 mi²) of it is land and 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 11.53% water.

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Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 3,851 people, 1,593 households, and 992 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 85.0/km² (220.1/mi²). There are 4,815 housing units at an average density of 106.3/km² (275.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the hamlet is 87.04% White, 0.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 9.76% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 23.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,593 households out of which 26.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% are married couples living together, 8.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the CDP the population is spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 109.2 males.

The median income for a household in the hamlet is $42,329, and the median income for a family is $50,493. Males have a median income of $40,063 versus $28,299 for females. The per capita income for the hamlet is $23,875. 10.6% of the population and 8.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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History

In 1926, automotive and real estate pioneer and promoter Carl G. Fisher (1874-1939), who is credited with the successful development of Miami Beach, Florida, began working on a "Miami Beach of the north". His project at Montauk was to provide a warm season counterpart to the Florida development near Manhattan. He and four associates purchased 9,000 acres (36 km²) and built a luxurious hotel, office building, marina, and attractions. The project built roads, planted nurseries, laid water pipes and built houses. However, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 cut short the promotional efforts, and the project went into receivership in 1932.

In modern times, Montauk remains a small but popular tourist destination. Near Montauk there is an abandoned military radar facility called Camp Hero.

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Miscellaneous

Montauk plays a prominent role in the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and is the site of the so-called Montauk Project, said to be a sinister secret experiment.

The Memory Motel is in Montauk on Long Island and near The Church Estate, Andy Warhol bought in 1972. According to Arthur Schneider, who owns the Memory Motel, The Rolling Stones stayed at Warhol's estate when they were on tour in 1975-'76. (They were good friends with Warhol, who designed the Sticky Fingers album cover.) The Memory Motel was said to be the only place in the area with a pool table and a piano, and The Stones were purported to come by and hang out at the bar. The song "Memory Motel" was written during this period.

Montauk is much less filled with vacationers as other vacation spots, most notably East Hampton on Long Island, which gave rise to a common joke: "Montauk sucks -- stay in East Hampton," said by Montauk-ers to try to ward off hordes of vacationers.

Montauk is nostalgically praised by singer/songwrighter Billy Joel, who had summered in this posh hamlet for years. The song "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" , from his album Storm Front, tells the story of a journey on his ship, named after his daughter, through Montauk Sound.

Montauk also is the title of a novel by the Swiss writer Max Frisch (1974), and is centered around the narrator's relationship with Lynn, an American journalist, and their cabana bot, Jack Behan. their key-scenes are located there.

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