Lawrence, Nassau County, New York

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Not to be confused with Lawrence, St. Lawrence County, New York.

Lawrence is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 6,522.

The Village of Lawrence is within the Town of Hempstead. Lawrence is one of the Five Towns, which consists of the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, the hamlets (unincorporated areas) of Woodmere and Inwood, and "The Hewletts", which is made up of the hamlet of Hewlett together with the villages of Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor and Hewlett Neck.

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[edit] Back Lawrence/Old Lawrence

Old Lawrence or Back Lawrence is a part of the Village of Lawrence, comprised of many enormous mansions, beachside luxury villas and former plantations with very large property (and corresponding prices), some dating back to the time of the American Revolution. Huge golf courses, vast wetlands and nature preserves with historic battlefields enrich this beautiful area making it one of the most exclusive areas in all of Long Island.

Old Lawrence is commonly referred to by historians as the "First Hamptons." During the second half of the 19th century, it was a main vacation spot for the rich families of the highest social scale until the 1890s. At that time, it became more like a modern village with schools, public facilities, better roads and a large town area that expanded into what is now today.

Lawrence, or most notably Old Lawrence, was formerly home to a large dominant upper class of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant families that lived there since the time of the American Revolution. While many blue-blood families still reside there, it has since become home to a large community of upper class Modern Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative Jewish families who have established a number of growing synagogues, particularly since the 1980s.

The Orthodox Jewish communities are close to the more Haredi nearby center of Far Rockaway which has more yeshivas for the children and younger members as well as a variety of kosher restaurants and communal organizations. Central Avenue in Lawrence (and its continuation in Cedarhurst) has a large and growing number of kosher restaurants and other business catering to the Orthodox community.

[edit] Geography

Lawrence is located at 40°36′34″N, 73°43′36″W (40.609566, -73.726543)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 12.1 km² (4.7 mi²). 10.0 km² (3.8 mi²) of it is land and 2.2 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (17.91%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 6,522 people, 2,113 households, and 1,629 families residing in the village. The population density was 654.1/km² (1,694.6/mi²). There were 2,287 housing units at an average density of 229.4/km² (594.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.19% White, 1.13% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.

There were 2,113 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the village the population was spread out with 32.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $104,845, and the median income for a family was $129,779. Males had a median income of $99,841 versus $41,094 for females. The per capita income for the village was $51,602. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

The Village of Lawrence is governed by an elected Mayor and Board of Trustees. The present Mayor is Dr. Jack Levenbrown. The Board of Trustees consists of 5 members including the Mayor. In addition to their elected duties, each Trustee is assigned an area of Village Government to oversee and act as liaison to the Village Board.

Members of the Board of Trustees are as follows:

  • C. Simon Felder - Deputy Mayor & Police Commissioner
  • Martin Oliner - Fire Commissioner & Commissioner of Streets & Highways
  • Joel A. Mael - Finance Commissioner & WPCF
  • Edward I. Klar - Recreation Commissioner & Sanitation Commissioner

[edit] Education

The Lawrence Public Schools, School District 15, serve the communities of Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, Inwood, Lawrence, and sections of Woodmere and North Woodmere.

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, is a K-12 Modern Orthodox school where students study Jewish and secular subjects in a dual curriculum. The Pre-School, Kindergarten and Elementary schools are located on one campus on Frost Lane and Washington Avenue.

[edit] Transportation

The Lawrence station provides Long Island Rail Road service on the Far Rockaway Branch to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Town of Hempstead, New York
County Nassau County, New York Hempstead Town Hall on Front Street in Hempstead Village
Villages
Hamlets
Website:   toh.li
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