Once called Queen City of Long Island’s South Shore, Patchogue has a long history with some of its own unique set of crazy facts.

• According to a Patchogue library history, on June 10, 1664, Tobaccus, an Unkechaug Sachem, sold nine necks (peninsulas) of land in what is today’s Patchogue, Blue Point and East Patchogue to Governor John Winthrop, Jr. of Connecticut Colony
• The name Patchogue is derived from the Algonquin language, “Pochaug” meaning “a turning place” or “where two streams separate,” according to the Patchogue library
• In 1911, a New York Times article described the waters of Patchogue as “the beautiful West Lake, Great Patchogue Lake, Place Brook Lake, Canaan Lake, Robinson's Lake, East Lake, and Dunton Lake. These fresh water lakes are surrounded with woodlands, and are especially attractive for canoeing, boating, and fishing”
• Patchogue was also known as “Queen City of Long Island’s South Shore”
• While touring Long Island to thank supporters and members of his secret spy ring in 1790, George Washington stopped in Patchogue for dinner at a place called Hart’s Tavern - read all about it here
• Read more facts about George Washington’s Spy Ring here
• In 1812 there were 75 inhabitants in Patchogue, five houses and two roads (what would become Main Street and Ocean Avenue)
• Early maps show Main Street called “Kings Highway” and Ocean Avenue as simply “The Lane”
• By 1857, maps showed Main Street was called Fulton Street and Ocean Avenue was called Water Street
• Cemeteries of some of the earliest residents were dug up and moved - some multiple times - to make way for expansion in the town
• The first was Ocean Avenue Cemetery, which was moved because as the town expanded, the land became too valuable so in 1859 they were disinterred and moved to a new burial ground called The Old Willow Cemetery
• In 1901, the Old Willow Cemetery land was deemed on land too valuable and the bodies were moved again to Cedar Grove Cemetery or other local cemeteries
• The Old Willow Cemetery land became residential housing with views of the water
• They are known as the “Travelling Dead of Patchogue”
• In the 1880’s a roller skating rink was erected to take advantage of a fad
• The Swezey family opened its first store in Patchogue in 1894
• It stayed in business in the village for over 100 years, closing in 2003
• At it height the Swezey chain had 291,000 square feet of retail space and 600 employees
• Patchogue was the turnaround point for 100-mile bicycle races known as “Century Runs” that started in Brooklyn taking place from the late 1800's to around the 1920's
• In 1847, a County newspaper called “The Suffolk Conservative” started publication in Patchogue; In December it changed its name to “The Suffolk Locomotive”
• In 1851, The Brooklyn Eagle reported on the grisly accidental beheading of a worker at John Roe's Cotton Factory in Patchogue while oiling the cogs of a water wheel
• In 1856, a Mr. Jennings, of Patchogue, was nominated for the 1st Congressional District by the Know-Nothing Party
• Patchogue was a manufacturing center on Long Island in 19th Century 
• Patchogue industry included lace, twine, lumber, crinoline, wrapping paper, blankets, award-winning yachts
• Click here to read crazy facts about the Patchogue Lace Mill
• The Patchogue River was dredged in 1875 and again in 1897 to become the only deepwater port on Long Island’s South Shore
• The Patchogue Theatre venue opened in 1923 as Ward & Glynne’s Theater
• Admission was 40 cents for adults and half that for children
• Patchogue residents Dee Smith and Kate Wrede became the first gay couple to be wed in New York state after a marriage equality bill went into law
• In 1998, Mark Burford and Pete Cotter launched Blue Point Brewing Company in Patchogue at an old ice factory on River Avenue
• The two friends met at Mr. Fadeley’s Pub in downtown Patchogue
• Blue Point Brewing Company was the first microbrewery in Suffolk County
• In 2019, downtown Patchogue was recognized by the American Planning Association as one of four "Great Neighborhoods"
• English rocker Billy Idol and American rapper Biz Markie both lived in Patchogue