1956 Map of Central Islip

About this map

Central Islip State Hospital and the nearby Kings Park State Hospital anchor this mid-century landscape of central Suffolk County. The sprawling facilities represent a significant era of institutional land use, surrounded by a rapidly densifying suburban grid. The area is defined by its transit corridors, including the Long Island Railroad and the historic Jericho Turnpike, which facilitate the growth of communities like Brentwood and Smithtown. The map captures a transition from private clubs and estates, such as the Wyandanch Club and Smithtown Aviation Country Club, toward modern residential developments. In the south, the Bayard Cutting Arboretum preserves open space along the Connetquot River, while the northern reaches follow the winding path of the Nissequogue River through The Landing. Local history is preserved in the numerous schools and cemeteries, from St Patricks Cem to the Academy of St Joseph.