Melville

Melville, New York, population 15,000, is a hamlet in Suffolk County. A hamlet in the Town of Huntington, it is located along the Nassau/Suffolk border. The exact origin of the hamlet’s name is unclear. Speculation often brings up Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick, as being the inspiration for the name. However, unlike his contemporary, poet Walt Whitman, Melville has no connection to the area.

Parkland is abundant. Arboretum Park has a playground, as well as tennis, basketball and handball courts. In 2010, a memorial garden dedicated to Anne Frank opened. West Hills County Park offers hiking and bridle paths, and a playground. A trail named for Walt Whitman leads hikers to Jayne’s Hill, Long Island’s highest peak.

Route 110, also known as Walt Whitman Road in Melville, is home to Kohls, Marshalls and several other chain retailers. Further up Route 110, in South Huntington, is Walt Whitman Mall, which is anchored by Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Lord & Taylor. Several large companies occupy office space in Melville, including Estee Lauder, Sbarro and Nikon.

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District draws students from Melville and its surrounding areas, including Dix Hills, Deer Park and Wheatley Heights. The district includes 10,000 students in seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. West Hills Middle School is in Melville; the remaining schools are in Dix Hills. Half Hollow Hills is a sought-after district, with high passing rates on state exams at the elementary and middle school level. Regents passing rates are also very high, with passing rates over ninety percent in all subjects. Twenty-six Advanced Placement courses are available, and collaborations with local colleges allow students to begin earning college credit. Half Hollow Hills West High School’s most unique feature is a planetarium, which is visited frequently by students from the elementary and middle schools.

A third of Melville’s housing stock was constructed after 1990. There is a good amount of inventory currently priced between $350,000 and $500,000. Prices at the higher end go as high as $2 million.