1640Government
The Reckouakie tribe (the Reckonhacky chieftaincy) had left their original land in present-day Rockaway and its surroundings in Queens County to Dutch Governor Kieft in 1640 bec...
1645Disaster
The Reckonhacky / Rockaway were party to a peace treaty dated May 24, 1645, following the devastation of Indian communities by Dutch soldiers.
1849History
The hamlet was named "Rockville Centre" in 1849, after local Methodist preacher and community leader Mordecai "Rock" Smith.
1873History
Carew (1873–1951), politician who served in the U.S.
1893Government
It was incorporated as a village in 1893.
1909History
Ray Heatherton (1909–1997), actor.
1912Culture
(1912–1973)
Mel Gussow (1933–2005), theater critic for The New York Times.
1913History
House of Representatives from 1913–1929.
1923Sports
Sy Berger (1923–2014), baseball card designer with Topps
Tommy Bianco (born 1952), third baseman who played for the Milwaukee Brewers.
1928History
Bob Richardson (1928–2005), photographer.
1929History
Anne Meara (1929–2015), actress and comedian, mother of actor Ben Stiller.
1930Military
Healey (1930–2005), US Army major general
Joey Heatherton (1944–), actress and entertainer.
1932Education
Frank Layden (1932–), Niagara University coach, president and coach of NBA's Utah Jazz.
1933Education
(1933–2022), former United States Comptroller of the Currency
Jim Hayes (1948–2009), all-time Boston University basketball scoring average leader.
1935Culture
Martin Feldstein (1935–2019) Chief of Economic Advisors to Ronald Reagan.
1938History
John Byner (born 1938), impressionist, comedian and actor.
1941Education
Art Heyman (1941–2012), basketball player, All-American at Duke University.
1942History
Brendan Malone (1942–), assistant coach for Detroit Pistons, former head coach of Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
1943Infrastructure
Pete Axthelm (1943–1991), sportswriter, columnist and TV commentator.
1948Education
Brian Mahoney (born 1948), New York Nets player [ABA]; head coach at Manhattan College and St.
1949History
Elliott Murphy (born 1949), singer-songwriter.
1950History
On February 17, 1950, two LIRR trains collided near Rockville Centre station, killing 32 and injuring more than 80.
1951Infrastructure
Billy Idol, musician
Dean Kamen (1951–), Segway Human Transporter inventor.
1954Sports
David Wong Louie (1954–2018), novelist and short-story writer.
1956History
Kevin Kelton (1956–), TV writer-producer, wrote for Saturday Night Live.
1959History
Joseph Fins (1959–), physician and medical ethicist.
1961Sports
Jay Wright (1961–), head coach of Villanova Wildcats basketball team.
1962History
Gilbert King (1962–), author, Pulitzer Prize winner.
1963History
Ted Demme (1963–2002), film director and producer.
1965History
Dave Attell (born 1965), comedian.
1966History
Matt Reeves (1966–), film director.
1967History
Brian Cashman (born 1967), general manager of the New York Yankees.
1968Civil Rights
visited Rockville Centre in 1968, where he addressed a large audience at South Side Junior High School on March 26, 1968.
1970History
Bethenny Frankel (1970–), entrepreneur.
1971History
== Notable people ==
Notable current and former residents of Rockville Centre include:
Kevin Anderson (born 1971), soccer player and coach
Eddie Arcaro (1916–1997), jockey who ...
1974History
Billy Koch (1974-), former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.
1979History
Daryl Palumbo (1979–), of the bands GlassJaw and Head Automatica.
1980History
Tommy Rainone (1980–), welterweight boxer.
1981History
Amy Schumer (1981–), comedian.
1989History
The Rockville Centre Post Office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
1992Military
Crystal Dunn (born 1992), association football forward, U.S.
1995History
representative for New York
Doris Kearns Goodwin, author, historian, TV news analyst, 1995 Pulitzer Prize winner for history.
1996History
Noah Rubin (1996–), tennis player.
1997History
== In popular culture ==
Doris Kearns Goodwin's formative years in Rockville Centre is the subject of her 1997 memoir Wait Till Next Year.
2000History
== Demographics ==
=== 2000 census ===
At the time of the census of 2000, there were 24,568 people living in the village, 9,201 households and 6,468 families.
2004History
There were 9,419 housing units at an average density of 2,874.0 per square mile (1,109.7/km2); as of 2004.
2007History
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the village was $99,299, and the median income for a family was $128,579.
2008Education
Schools, #42 in 2008, #44 in 2007, #32 in 2006, #45 in 2005 and #65 in 2003.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
At the time of the census of 2010, there were 24,111 people living in the village, 9,201 households and 6,468 families.
2012Education
In 2012, South Side High School was ranked #22 by U.S.