Hempstead (village), New York

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Hempstead is a village in Nassau County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 56,554.

The Incorporated Village of Hempstead is an incorporated village in the Town of Hempstead. It is sometimes referred to "Hempstead Village" to distinguish it from the Town of Hempstead. Hempstead is one of the few black majority neighborhoods on Long Island. It is also home to a large Salvadoran population.

Hempstead is the un-official home of the New York Jets. Every summer, the Jets hold their training camp at Hofstra University in Hempstead, although the area itself is actually more a of a melting pot of Hempstead and Uniondale, the adjacent area.

Contents

[edit] History

In the Fall of 1643, Reverend Robert Fordham and John Carman crossed the Long Island Sound by row boat to negotiate with the local Indians for a tract of land upon which to establish a new community. Representatives of the Massapequak Mericoke, Matinecock and Rockaway tribes met with the two men at a site slightly west of the current Denton Green in Hempstead Village. The Indians sold approximately 64,000 acres, the present day Towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead, for items worth less than $100 in today's market.

It has been suggested that the new settlement was called Hempstead as a reminder of the English town of Hemel Hempstead where most of the original settlers were born. Other suggestions regarding the origins of the name include one referencing a law during colonial times, requiring all farmers in the area to alternate one year, growing their cash crop, and the other year, growing hemp to replenish the soil. This method of soil regeneration was known as cover cropping. In 1664, the new settlement adopted the Duke's Laws, an austere set of laws that became the basis upon which the laws of many colonies were to be founded. For a time, Hempstead became known as "Old Blue," as a result of the "Blue Laws".

As the years passed, the population of Hempstead increased, as did its importance and prestige. In 1703, St. George's Church received a silver communion service from England's Queen Anne. George Washington and other prominent leaders of the Revolution often stayed in Hempstead. In the 1800s Hempstead became increasingly important as a trading center for all of Long Island. In 1853 it became the first self-governing incorporated village. Many prominent families such as the Vanderbilts and the Belmonts built large homes here. Hempstead became a large center of Long Island society.

During the American Revolution, Hempstead was a hotbed of British sympathizers or Tories, as they were known. The British attempted to occupy Hempstead after the Battle of Long Island and used St. George's as a headquarters as well as a place to worship. Judge Thomas Jones (historian) faulted a lax peace treaty for forcing the evacuation of the loyalists.

During the Spanish-American War, Camp Black was established in Hempstead as a training facility and a point of embarkation for troops.

The opening of Roosevelt Field Mall, an explosion of suburban growth and the closure of Mitchel Air Force Base; along with changing demographics, all led to the economy of the village being altered sharply.

[edit] Geography

Hempstead is located at 40°42′17″N, 73°37′2″W (40.704962, -73.617363)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 9.5 km² (3.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 56,554 people, 15,188 households, and 11,178 families residing in the village. The population density was 5,933.6/km² (15,366.1/mi²). There were 15,579 housing units at an average density of 1,634.5/km² (4,232.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 25.67% White, 52.48% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 15.22% from other races, and 4.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.81% of the population.

There were 15,188 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 27.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.41 and the average family size was 3.76.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 16.3% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,234 and the median income for a family was $46,675. Males had a median income of $29,493 versus $27,507 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,735. About 14.4% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Hempstead consists of several areas or neighborhoods that occasionally don't get along and have been known to be one of the main sources of crime. Originally, there were only two sides of town, "The Heights", (Hempstead Heights) and "The Hillside". Over the years, several new regions, or "turfs" have been established, including "Terrace" (also known as TA or Terrace Ave.), "Parkside", "Trackside" and "Midway". A concerted effort to align all the communities has brought, at best, mixed results. Parkside and The Heights have been at odds since the mid-nineties.

Among other things, The Hempstead Schools were known for their lack of school buses, which led to and helps sustain the high dropout rate. An ongoing problem regarding the Board of Education has led to charges of corruption and political cronyism, and has led to indictments for assorted larcenies. Less than 30% of students who enter 9th grade in Hempstead will graduate. Students who live on Hempstead Heights walk approximately a half an hour to school, which is in the middle of Parkside.

Hempstead was also one of the first Long Island towns that had to deal with the Salvadoran gang, MS-13 or "La Mara Salvatrucha". The on going intra-violence this gang has exhibited has led to the formation of their arch-rivals, "SWP" or "Salvadoreans with Pride".

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] External links

Town of Hempstead, New York
Hempstead Town Hall on Front Street in Hempstead Village.

County

 Nassau County, New York

Villages

Atlantic Beach · Bellerose · Cedarhurst · East Rockaway · Floral Park · Freeport · Garden City · Hempstead · Hewlett Bay Park · Hewlett Harbor · Hewlett Neck · Island Park · Lawrence · Lynbrook · Malverne · Mineola · New Hyde Park · Rockville Centre · South Floral Park · Stewart Manor · Valley Stream · Woodsburgh

Hamlets

Baldwin · Baldwin Harbor · Barnum Island · Bay Park · Bellerose Terrace · Bellmore · East Atlantic Beach · East Garden City · East Meadow · Elmont · Franklin Square · Garden City South · Harbor Isle · Hewlett · Inwood · Lakeview · Levittown · Lido Beach · Malverne Park Oaks · Merrick · North Bellmore · North Lynbrook · North Merrick · North Valley Stream · Oceanside · Point Lookout · Roosevelt · Salisbury (South Westbury) · Seaford · South Hempstead · South Valley Stream · Uniondale · Wantagh · West Hempstead · Woodmere
Website TOH.li
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