Bay Shore

About Bay Shore

Bay Shore is a thriving community in the town of Islip, New York. It's a peaceful community with an enduring reputation as a small-town hamlet with plenty of charm and safe neighborhoods. Bay Shore is located on Long Island's South Shore, just over 40 miles from Manhattan and 79 miles from Montauk.

The History of Bay Shore

Bay Shore is one of Long Island's oldest hamlets, with the first manor in the area constructed in 1697. An English royal patent established the town in 1701 after a school teacher named John Mowbray bought it from Native Americans. Like many coastal towns, it owes its early success to marine-based commerce. Local residents harvested fish and clams from the adjacent waters and grew salt hay. Bay Shore slowly evolved into a vacation destination as wealthy residents of New York City saw the opportunity for rest and relaxation as well as an escape from New York's massive population.

It earned the nickname the Garden Spot of Long Island, and local entrepreneurs responded to the demand by building hotels and other short-term housing. The railroad created even more traffic for Bay Shore, as people from farther away learned of its charms. After World War II, Bay Shore's housing developments grew in response to demand from new residents.

Today, the hamlet offers a thriving downtown district but retains its fishing-village atmosphere.

Living in Bay Shore

Bay Shore has plenty of features that attract potential residents. You won't find a better selection of local amenities, especially for a small town. There are several gyms and fitness centers as well as a host of grocery stores, restaurants, shopping venues, parks and schools. Low crime rates make it a safe place to raise a young family or to live alone.

While many people visit Bay Shore on vacation or while en route to Fire Island, it's becoming an increasingly popular place to live. Recent housing developments have modernized the residential areas of Bay Shore, and new commercial establishments are fueling the local economy.

Although Bay Shore is a small community, it's part of a much larger city. Islip covers 106 square miles and is home to a few hundred thousand people. As a resident of Bay Shore, you can easily take advantage of the amenities in Islip as well.

Bay Shore Schools

The Bay Shore Schools system manages the elementary, middle and high schools in the community. You'll also find a few private school options in the Bay Shore area, mainly faith-based campuses.

Resources for Moving to Bay Shore

As you get ready for your move to Bay Shore, you can use the following information to make the process easier:

• Utilities: Bay Shore's major utility providers are the Long Island Power Authority and the Suffolk County Water Authority.
• Garbage and Recycling: The town of Islip provides curbside garbage and yard waste collection for single-family homes in Bay Shore.
• Transportation: Public transportation options in Bay Shore include the Long Island Rail Road, ferries to Fire Island and Suffolk County Transit buses.

Bay Shore Housing

You'll find many types of real estate in Bay Shore, ranging from townhouses and senior living facilities to sprawling Victorian manors and newly-constructed homes. Home prices in the area are higher than the national average but on par with prices for New York state. There are also plenty of options for renters, including newly-renovated apartment complexes as well as neighborhoods with plentiful amenities.