A five-ton bull at the fork.
Whisper the Bull, about 14 feet tall, stands where Route 25 splits from Route 25A at the head of the Nissequogue River. The Town restored the site in 2019 with a new base, wall, landscaping and lighting.
Town guide · Town of Smithtown
Smithtown, NY
Some towns you drive through. Smithtown is one you come home to.
A local guide by Donna Barilla, Long Island Realtor since 2007. Updated November 2026.Smithtown is the historic center of the Town of Smithtown, with a walkable Main Street, the Nissequogue River nearby, and a train station on the Port Jefferson Branch. It includes the incorporated Village of the Branch.
- Town
- Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County
- ZIP code
- 11787
- Schools
- Smithtown CSD for most of the hamlet; some edges served by neighboring districts
- Rail
- Smithtown station, LIRR Port Jefferson Branch
- With Donna
- 4 closings
Long Island SoundAtlantic Ocean
SmithtownCommackEast SetauketCoram
For saleComing soonUnder contractSold by Donna
The question
What school district is Smithtown, NY in?
The schools
Most of Smithtown is served by the Smithtown Central School District, which also serves Nesconset, St. James and parts of Kings Park. Some properties near the edges are served by neighboring districts such as Hauppauge, Commack or Kings Park, so confirm the district for any specific address.
The question
Does Smithtown have an LIRR station?
The commute
Yes. Smithtown station is on the Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch, just off Main Street (Route 25/25A). Some commuters also drive to Ronkonkoma or Central Islip on the Main Line for more frequent service.
The question
What is the Village of the Branch?
The village
The Village of the Branch is a small incorporated village inside Smithtown, around the historic Main Street area. Homes there are in the village and the Town of Smithtown, which affects local services and taxes.
- TownTown of Smithtown, Suffolk County
- ZIP code11787
The question
Has Donna Barilla sold homes in Smithtown?
Donna's record
Yes. OneKey MLS records show Donna has closed 4 Smithtown transactions on homes listed between $655,000 and $765,000, and her recent Zillow reviews include a 2026 buyer in the Village of the Branch.
- Buyer's agentBirchbrook Drive
- Buyer's agentSteven Place
- Buyer's agentAmherst Lane
- Buyer's agentHarvard Avenue
The story of Smithtown
Founded in 1665. Still riding the legend.
- Legend
The bull ride
Folklore says Richard Smith could keep all the land he could ride around on a bull in a single day, and that he stopped for lunch at a spot still called Bread and Cheese Hollow. Historians call it a myth. The town kept the bull anyway.
- 1665
The real founding
Grand Sachem Wyandanch of the Montaukett gave land to Lion Gardiner for helping return a chief's kidnapped daughter, and Gardiner later passed the rights to Richard Smith. A patent confirming Smith's land was granted on March 3, 1665.
- 1873
The railroad arrives
Smithtown station was built in 1873 for the Smithtown and Port Jefferson Railroad, then rebuilt in 1937 to remove the Main Street grade crossing.
- 1941
Whisper comes home
Sculptor Charles Cary Rumsey's bronze bull was cast in 1923 and stood outside the Brooklyn Museum before going into storage. A Smith descendant raised $1,750 to bring it to Smithtown, and it was unveiled on May 10, 1941.
- 1955
A house on the move
When the Caleb Smith II House, built around 1819 in Commack, faced demolition in 1955, a descendant had it moved next to the Smithtown Library. It now holds the Smithtown Historical Society's exhibits.
- 1963
From gun club to preserve
The Caleb Smith estate became the Wyandanch Club in 1893. New York State acquired it in 1963, and today it is the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve.
Things to do
Weekends in Smithtown.
The Nissequogue River runs right through town, so a lot of Smithtown's best days happen outside, on a trail or in a kayak.
- 01Smithtown
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
A 543-acre state nature preserve for hiking and birding, with a nature museum in a house from about 1751 and reserved fly fishing on the Nissequogue in season.
- 02Smithtown
Blydenburgh County Park
627 acres at the head of the Nissequogue River, with trails, camping, a dog run and the historic New Mill district. Stump Pond drained when its dam failed in the August 2024 storm, and the county is working to rebuild it, so check the county's page for trail and water access before you go.
- 03Smithtown
Paddling the Nissequogue
Launch at Paul T. Given County Park on West Main Street for a tide-timed paddle of about 5.5 miles toward the Sound. A county park vendor rents canoes and kayaks.
- 04Smithtown
Sweetbriar Nature Center
A 54-acre preserve on the river with gardens, woods, fields, wetlands and a wildlife rehabilitation center.
- 05Smithtown
Smithtown Historical Society
Museums in historic houses along Main Street, including the Caleb Smith II House and the Epenetus Smith Tavern, which dates to about 1740.
- 06Kings Park, nearby
Sunken Meadow State Park
Long Island Sound beaches, a boardwalk of about three-quarters of a mile, 27 holes of golf and the north end of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail.
- 07Kings Park, nearby
Nissequogue River State Park
A seasonal canoe and kayak launch and marina, with river trails and bluff views over the Sound.
After dark
Dinner, drinks and a night out.
Main Street is the evening anchor: a live theater, pubs and restaurants within a few blocks, and more up the road in St. James.
- 01Smithtown
Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts
The former Smithtown Theatre movie house, now a live playhouse with musicals and shows on the calendar year-round.
- 02Smithtown
Napper Tandy's
A Main Street pub with live music and seasonal cornhole leagues.
- 03Smithtown
Bull Smith's Tavern
An American tavern on West Main Street.
- 04Smithtown
H2O Seafood & Sushi
Seafood, sushi and contemporary American dishes on West Main Street.
- 05Smithtown
Chop Shop Bar & Grill
An American bar and grill on East Main Street with a happy hour.
- 06St. James, nearby
The Stone Goat
A restaurant and brewery that brews its own beer, with a cocktail bar.
Open and verified as of November 2026. Places change, so check hours before you go.
What makes it special
Only in Smithtown.
A National Register district.
The Village of the Branch Historic District, listed in 1986, protects about 20 acres of Colonial, Federal and Revival-style buildings along Middle Country Road, including the Halliock Inn.
A river through the middle.
The Nissequogue runs from its headwaters at Blydenburgh past the Caleb Smith Preserve and Sweetbriar, out to Kings Park and Long Island Sound.
A train station in town.
Smithtown has its own LIRR station on the Port Jefferson Branch, with a 1989 mural, Nissequogue Passages, by Robert Carioscia.
Quick answers
Smithtown, in a sentence or two.
What is there to do in Smithtown, NY?
Popular spots in and around Smithtown include Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Blydenburgh County Park, Paddling the Nissequogue, Sweetbriar Nature Center and Smithtown Historical Society. A 543-acre state nature preserve for hiking and birding, with a nature museum in a house from about 1751 and reserved fly fishing on the Nissequogue in season.
Where do people go out at night in Smithtown, NY?
Main Street is the evening anchor: a live theater, pubs and restaurants within a few blocks, and more up the road in St. James. Spots include Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, Napper Tandy's, Bull Smith's Tavern, H2O Seafood & Sushi and Chop Shop Bar & Grill. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
What is the history of Smithtown, NY?
Folklore says Richard Smith could keep all the land he could ride around on a bull in a single day, and that he stopped for lunch at a spot still called Bread and Cheese Hollow. Historians call it a myth. The town kept the bull anyway. Grand Sachem Wyandanch of the Montaukett gave land to Lion Gardiner for helping return a chief's kidnapped daughter, and Gardiner later passed the rights to Richard Smith. A patent confirming Smith's land was granted on March 3, 1665.
I'm relocating. What should I know about moving to Smithtown, NY?
Commuting? Smithtown has its own LIRR station on the Port Jefferson Branch. Flying in to tour homes? Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma is the nearest commercial airport. New residents have 30 days to get a New York driver license and register their car. Donna's full relocation checklist is at https://donnabarillasellsli.com/relocation.
Relocating
Coming or going, Donna's got the checklist.
Moving to Smithtown
Commuting? Smithtown has its own LIRR station on the Port Jefferson Branch. Flying in to tour homes? Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma is the nearest commercial airport.
The moving-in checklistLeaving Smithtown
Already moved? Donna handles showings, access and vendors in Smithtown while you're away, and keeps you and your attorney on the same timeline.
The moving-out checklistFree download
Donna gives every client the same facts about every town. Where you live is your call, always. Town guides describe places, history and logistics, never the people who live there, in keeping with the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. NYS Housing & Anti-Discrimination Notice.
Sources for this guide
- NYS Parks: Caleb Smith State Park Preserve
- Suffolk County Parks: Blydenburgh County Park
- Suffolk County: Stump Pond Dam Restoration
- Suffolk County Parks: Paul T. Given County Park
- NYS Parks: Sunken Meadow State Park
- Smithtown Historical Society
- Patch: Whisper the Bull at 80
- Village of the Branch Historic District
- Smithtown station (history)
- Caleb Smith State Park Preserve (history)
- Town
- Town of Smithtown, Suffolk County
- ZIP code
- 11787
- Schools
- Smithtown CSD for most of the hamlet; some edges served by neighboring districts
- Rail
- Smithtown station, LIRR Port Jefferson Branch
Other town guides
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Office: Signature Premier Properties, 750 Route 25A, East Setauket, NY 11733