East Meadow, New York

History

In 1655, two surveyors for Hempstead Town reported that the "east meadow" would be suitable for grazing. The area quickly became a grazing area for cattle and later, in the 18th century, for sheep. The sheep of the East Meadow, NY area provided the country with more than 50% of the United States' wool needs during that time.

During the American Revolutionary War, East Meadow was occupied by British forces when they discovered the vast amounts of livestock herded there, and remained under their control until the end of the war. Two large farms existed in what is now East Meadow: the Barnum farm (Barnum Woods), and the Carman farm. It is rumored that President George Washington spent a night on the Barnum estate during a trip across Long Island in 1790. A toll booth was operated near the Carman homestead on the Hempstead Turnpike.

Another early settlement was located near what is now the intersection of East Meadow Avenue (formerly called Newbridge Avenue; not to be confused with nearby Newbridge Road) and Prospect Avenue.

The community was home to many Gilded Era estates. The old Hoeffner homestead is now the site of Veterans Memorial park, and East Meadow's Post Office. The Barnum estate was rented by the Hoeffner family in 1914. Part of the old Barnum farm is now the site of Barnum Woods Elementary School, and the main road that passes by the school, Merrick Avenue, was originally called Barnum Avenue. The Oliver and Alva Belmont (formerly Alva Vanderbilt) estate of Brookholt once stretched across several hundred acres on both sides of Front Street to the west of Merrick Avenue.

Carman Avenue is home to East Meadow High School, the Nassau County Correctional Facility, and the Nassau University Medical Center, the tallest building in Nassau County.

On March 11, 2004, President George W. Bush made a visit to East Meadow for the groundbreaking of a new memorial for the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Geography

East Meadow is located within the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County on Long Island in New York State in the United States. It is located at 40°42′49″N 73°33′21″W (40.713739, −73.555823).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16 km²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.

East Meadow is generally flat, and the elevation ranges from 32 feet (9.8 m) near its southwestern edge, to 82 feet (25 m) along Hempstead Turnpike to the north.

Almost no actual meadow remains in East Meadow or the Hempstead Plain, due to the boom of post-World War II development and later, unchecked suburban sprawl.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 38,131 people and 12,062 households residing in the CDP. (759.6/km²).

The racial makeup of the CDP was according to the 2010 census, 5.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 11.6% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, 1.9% from two or more races, 12.2% Hispanic or Latino. Non Hispanic whites were 69.8% of the population. The ancestries of residents of East Meadow are Italian (28.5%), Irish (17.5%), German (11.8%), Polish (8.8%), Russian (5.8%), United States (5.0%).

Of the 12,186 households, 35.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.34.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $67,185, and the median income for a family was $74,691 (these figures had risen to $86,582 and $97,057 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,325, versus $35,422 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,076. About 2.3% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Getty Oil is based in East Meadow. Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines have their United States headquarters in East Meadow.

Snapple was previously headquartered in East Meadow, prior to moving their corporate office. The office space is now currently occupied by the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island.

Education

East Meadow's nine public schools are operated by the East Meadow Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead School District #3. The district was originally organized in 1812 and then formally organized as Town of Hempstead Common School District #3 in 1814 under the name "Brushy Plains," and at one time was the third largest school district in New York State. The first school building was on Front Street (where the East Meadow Public Library building stands today). Four successive schoolhouses stood at the corner of Newbridge Avenue (now East Meadow Avenue) and Front Street between 1814 and 1950.

Closed schools

Houses of worship

Landmarks

The most prominent features are the town's water tower and hospital, the Nassau University Medical Center which dominates the "skyline." The Nassau County Jail, East Meadow Public Library, Mitchel Manor military housing complex, and Eisenhower Park, which includes the attraction Safety Town, are also located in East Meadow.