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- Huntington South: The 19th Century
As Huntington South grew, friction began to develop between the North and South. The issue that sparked a cry for division of the Town was a road project in the Village of Huntington. Since the Village was unincorporated, the costs of the controversial project were applied to all the real property in the Town of Huntington, including Huntington South.
The South Side Signal, which began publication in June 1869, in Babylon Village, was the most vocal opponent of the road project. The first printed suggestion of dividing the Town of Huntington appeared in the February 12, 1870 edition of the Signal. Henry Livingston, founder and editor of the Signal, cited the rapid growth of the south shore communities and control of the Town by Huntington Village as the primary reasons for dividing the Town.
As the momentum for division grew, a series of town-wide meetings were held where some individuals endorsed the idea of a three-town division. A referendum was held on January 27, 1872, and, by more than a 2 to 1 margin, the voters supported a two-town division.
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