East Hills, New York

East Hills, New York
Village
Village of East Hills
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 40°47′39″N 73°37′37″W / 40.79417°N 73.62694°W / 40.79417; -73.62694Coordinates: 40°47′39″N 73°37′37″W / 40.79417°N 73.62694°W / 40.79417; -73.62694
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau
Government
• Mayor	Michael R. Koblenz
Area
• Total	2.3 sq mi (5.9 km2)
• Land	2.3 sq mi (5.9 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	187 ft (57 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	6,955
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	11548, 11576, 11577
Area code(s)	516
FIPS code	36-22260
GNIS feature ID	0949124
Website	www.villageofeasthills.org

East Hills is a village in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. It is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Village of Roslyn. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 6,955.

The Village of East Hills is mostly in the Town of North Hempstead, with a small portion in the Town of Oyster Bay.

History

The land purchase

The village of East Hills, New York, was incorporated on June 24, 1931, and held its first election on July 8 that same year. But even before it was incorporated, East Hills has been a part of the recorded history of the United States since 1643. In that year, the Rev. Robert Fordham and John Carman sailed across Long Island Sound from Stamford, Connecticut and purchased what we now know as the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead from the Rockoway, Mericock, Marsappeaque and Matinecock Indians.

Settlers came the following year and named the area Hempstead, in honor of their home city, Hemel Hempstead in England. The area fell in relative obscurity for about a century after that.^[1]

Landmarks

East Hills cannot boast that George Washington ever slept here, but his diary does refer to an Oyster Bay visit, and of his breakfast at what we now know as the George Washington Manor on Old Northern Boulevard in Roslyn. We also know that President Washington inspected the paper mill in Roslyn park, and it certainly doesn't take much imagination to have the Father of Our Country riding, or walking, the 100 yards to what was to become East Hills.

Perhaps the one thing in East Hills which has been in existence longer than any other man-made object is Harbor Hill Road in East Hills. "A path alongside Harboure Hill" is mentioned in records dating back to 1661.

For many years, much of what now is East Hills was the home of a few wealthy families. The neighborhood now known as Fairfield Park was once a polo field. The Country Estates neighborhood was the home of the Clarence Mackay family for 30 years and known as Harbor Hill, starting in 1898. The Prince of Wales, who later abdicated the throne of the England to marry Mrs. Simpson, was entertained at the Mackay estate in 1924. And Charles A. Lindberg rested at the Mackay estate after his return to the United States following his historic solo flight to France in 1927. Three remaining buildings from the Harbor Hill estate were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991:^[2] Mackay Estate Dairyman's Cottage, Mackay Estate Gate Lodge, and Mackay Estate Water Tower.

Government

On June 24, 1931, representatives of the 269 people living in the village-to-be met in the home of Robert H. Willets, whose family lived in the area for eight generations. The Willets family then lived in the house where Stephen Taber, one of the great names in Roslyn's early history, resided in 1839. The house still stands at 50 Andover Road, off the Long Island Expressway's South Service Road near the entrance to the Norgate neighborhood. The name "East Hills" was adopted at the suggestion of H. Stewart McKnight, who was then the Nassau County Attorney.

Two weeks after the incorporation, an election was held in barns on the Mackay estate, and Mr. Willets was elected Mayor. John Mackay, Ellen A. Hennessy, Stephen Willets and Catherine Hechler were elected Trustees. Charles Hechler, Mrs. Heckler's husband, was designated Village Clerk.

Robert Willets served as Mayor until he retired in 1945. William W. Murray, Jr. succeeded him, until his resignation (due to ill health) in 1952. Raymond E. Dolar subsequently served as Mayor until 1966, when he relocated to Florida. William R. Fleischer succeeded him and became East Hills' fourth Mayor in 1967.

The village then and now

When East Hills was incorporated in 1931, the land area of East Hills was 98% farm and estate holdings, with 65 homes occupying the remaining 2%. Today, the percentage is reversed; with 98% of the land area occupied by homes, and less than 2% remains undeveloped. There are about 2,300 homes today in East Hills, and the population is approaching 7,200 people.

That, in brief, is the story of East Hills—beginning with holdings by Indian tribes, to vast acreages for the wealthy few, to gracious living for many today.

Geography

U.S. Census Map

East Hills is located at 40°47′39″N 73°37′37″W / 40.79417°N 73.62694°W / 40.79417; -73.62694 (40.794052, -73.627051).^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.

The portions of the village on Harbor Hill, in Clarence Mackay's former estate, are among the highest areas in Nassau County.

Park

On Labor Day 2006, The Park at East Hills opened. It has a pool, nature walks, senior facilities, and tennis and basketball courts. The construction of the park was financed through the sale of bonds; carrying and operating costs are paid through taxes.

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 6,842 people, 2,245 households, and 2,029 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,991.5 people per square mile (1,153.6/km²). There were 2,275 housing units at an average density of 994.7 per square mile (383.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 92.94% White, 0.8% African American, 0.01% Native American, 4.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 2,245 households out of which 46.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 84.4% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.6% were non-families. 8.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the village the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $149,726, and the median income for a family was $159,316. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,115 for females. The per capita income for the village was $59,297. About 1.5% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In the 2008 presidential election Democrat Barack Obama won East Hills over Republican John McCain 54%-46%.

East Hills, a part of the Town of North Hempstead, is represented on the Town Board by one of its former trustees, resident Peter J. Zuckerman. Zuckerman was sworn into office by East Hills Mayor, Michael Koblenz.

References

External links

• East Hills official website