East Farmingdale

Farmland spread far and wide across the plains of East Farmingdale until the mid-1900s, when the fields were altered from growing produce to manufacturing. Farmingdale State College was established here in 1912, and was well known for training excellent farmers. The Fulton Truck Company was founded in 1916, and built its reputation on producing trucks that could carry a full-ton load. Long Island National Cemetery was established in 1936 as a place of honor for World War I veterans.

On June 30, 1899, beginning at Maywood, Charles "Mile-A-Minute" Murphy claimed world-wide fame for racing his bicycle – one mile in less than one minute – behind a Long Island Rail Road train. His feat is credited with introducing streamlining to overcome air resistance, which is at the heart of aviation.

The airfield for Fairchild Airplane Manufacturing Company, established in 1926, became Republic Airport. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, formed in 1929, and Republic Aviation Corporation (1938), became leaders in aviation manufacturing during World War II, producing such famous planes as the F-84 Thunderjet, the F-105 Thunderchief, and the P-47 Thunderbolt.