The sprawling hamlet of Yaphank, located just west of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, is a rural community made up of a historic district and recreational areas. It's also home to several Suffolk County facilities, including Cornell Cooperative Extension's Suffolk County Farm and Education Center and the Police Museum at Suffolk Police Headquarters.

Most of the community's historic sites, some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are located on Main and East Main Street north of the Long Island Expressway, which bisects the hamlet. This stretch includes historic homes, a cemetery that dates to 1870 and two churches built in the early 1850s. "For almost two miles, you can step back in time," said Helen Kalbach, president of the Yaphank Historical Society, noting other structures are south of the LIE.

The 1,356-acre South Haven County Park offers a variety of activities, including hiking and horse trails, picnic areas and campgrounds. Carmans River, which flows through the park, is popular for canoeing and fishing. The Long Island Live Steamers, which attracts train hobbyists, is located here as well. And the 24-acre Brookhaven Country Day Camp provides programs for children ages 3 to 15 (www.brookhavendaycamp.com).

The area also contains some light industry, as well as a few eateries, delis and gas stations and a bank. Residents often travel to the nearby communities of Medford and Shirley to shop.

For now, tranquil neighborhoods feature a variety of house styles and sizes, including capes, ranches, Colonials and contemporaries that sit on spacious properties. Newer developments display larger postmodern homes. Prices range from about $275,000 to more than $600,000, said John W. Liberti, a broker and sales manager of Coldwell Banker John Liberti Real Estate in Shirley. To learn more about the community: www.yaphank.org.

-Lisa Doll Bruno (3/3/2006)