[2] Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the Secatogue tribe of Algonquin native-American people lived in the area now known as Central Islip.

In 1842, the Long Island Rail Road's eastward expansion reached the area, and the Suffolk County Station was opened up.

In the mid-1990s, Central Islip began a resurgence, with new housing developments, commercial properties, and government complexes.

In 2000, the baseball stadium for Independent league team Long Island Ducks opened up.

[4] Housing developments in Central Islip include: According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 km2), all land.

[9] The only remaining Catholic school, Our Lady of Providence, was closed after the 2021-21 academic year and consolidated with another Suffolk County parish school to form Our Lady of Guadalupe at nearby Deer Park.

Central Islip Station is located along the Ronkonkoma Branch of the Long Island Rail Road.

There are many bus stops going through Central Islip along the 4, 6, 17, 52A and weekday-only 52B routes on Suffolk County Transit.