When it separated from the Town of Huntington in 1872, the Town of Babylon had a population of about 3,000 people. The chart below illustrates the population growth of barrier beach communities and the Town of Babylon over the past century
Decade
| Barrier Beach Population
| Town of Babylon Population
|
|
|---|
Decade | Barrier Beach Population | Town of Babylon Population | Please note: While the boundaries of the Town of Babylon are clearly defined and have remained the same since 1872, the “boundaries” of the hamlets are not clearly defined. In the census, hamlets are referred to as Census Designated Places (CDP), the boundaries of which can change from decade to decade. All Town of Babylon communities on the barrier island are counted as one CDP. |
1940 | 80 | 24,297 |
1960 | 175 | 142,309 |
1980 | not available | 203,483 |
2000 | 333 | 211,703 |
2020 | 417 | 218,223 |
In the Town of Babylon, the largest and fastest increase in population occurred after World War II, commonly referred to as the “Suburban Population Boom.” From 1940 to 1960, the population of the Town of Babylon increased by 485%. The rapid increase of residents brought an increased need for housing, schools, road improvements, stores and commercial developments, and employment. In those short decades, much of the Town of Babylon and its communities changed from rural countryside to suburban neighborhoods.