Peconic, New York

The community derives its name from Peconic Bay, which in turn derives its name from a Native American word meaning "nut trees". The area was originally called "Hermitage", and the name "Peconic" was adopted later. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was home to the Peconic School, an artist colony initially led by painters Benjamin Rutherfurd Fitz, Edward August Bell, Henry Prellwitz and Edith Mitchill Prellwitz. Albert Einstein was staying in Peconic in 1939 when he signed the famous Einstein–Szilárd letter to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Goldsmith's Inlet was the site of a tidal mill that was improved with a windmill in 1870. ==Geography==

According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.58%, is water. ==Demographics==

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,081 people, 426 households, and 310 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 682 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the community was 94.45% White, 0.93% African American, 1.11% Asian, 2.41% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population. There were 426 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. ==Schools==

• Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District (small western portion of CDP of Peconic) • Southold Union Free School District (eastern part of CDP of Peconic) ==Notable person==

Painter Benjamin Rutherford Fitz was raised in Peconic. He died there in 1891. ==References==