Elmont, New York

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 170.24.128.57 (talk) at 15:49, 21 July 2016 (→‎Closest elementary schools). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Elmont, Nassau County, Long Island
Census-designated place
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyNassau
Area
 • Total3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)
 • Land3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
39 ft (12 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total33,198
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
11003
Area code516
FIPS code36-24273
GNIS feature ID0949582
Arched windows of the Belmont grandstand and tote board in 1999 photo
Covert Avenue School

Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) located in northwestern Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City. It is a suburban bedroom community located on Long Island. The population was 33,198 at the 2010 census.

Elmont is famous for Belmont Park which hosts the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the prestigious Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing.

History

In 1650, Christopher and Thomas Foster purchased a large plot of land. Their land was controlled by Dutch settlers from the Holy Roman Empire, under the Habsburg Dynasty-House of Lorraine (1524). The Fosters intended to raise cattle and sheep on their newly settled land, the Hempstead Plains of Long Island. They named this place "Foster's Meadow"--a name which would remain for the next 200 years of the village's history.

By the mid-17th century, descendents of Sephardi Jews were settling on the Hempstead Plains to farm. Control of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam shifted to England in 1664. This marked the first gradual cultural shift in Foster's Meadow with the establishment of a community of predominantly English Protestant farmers and their families. In 1683, Long Island was divided into three counties: Kings, Queens, and Suffolk, with Foster's Meadow part of Queens County. During 1790 George Washington passed through the town while touring to the East on Long Island. The current boundaries of Elmont were decided upon in 1898; at this point, Nassau County was erected, leading to conflict over land, and monies owed as a result of Elmont's boundary shift from Queens.

During the mid-19th century, Foster's Meadow experienced its second cultural shift. There was an influx of Roman Catholic and Ashkenazi Jewish farmers from Brooklyn, and Germans and Italians from Middle Village. The Catholic population of Foster's Meadow grew during this time. The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was built in 1852. This Roman Catholic Church was re-dedicated Saint Boniface Parish (in honor of the Patron Saint of Germany) in 1857. Rev. Peter Hartraub was essentially its founding pastor. Hartraub appointed the first resident pastor of Foster's Meadow in 1858, built a new rectory, and in 1887 a new school with four classrooms on the first floor and an auditorium on the second. The Dominican Sisters were invited to teach in the school, and they built a convent on parish land donated to them.

The community was politically reshuffled in 1882. Foster's Meadow was renamed Elmont, and was subdivided into districts with unique names and boundaries (including Alden Manor and Locustwood). In 1902, a syndicate headed by August Belmont II and former Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney sought land on Long Island to build the most elaborate racetrack in America, one modeled after the great race courses of Europe. They found their location on the border of Queens County and Nassau County, and built Belmont Park. This development was arguably the most significant milestone in the development of modern-day Elmont. Originally known as Foster's Meadow, the 650 acres of land included a turreted Tudor-Gothic mansion owned by William de Forest Manice, which was to serve as the track's Turf and Field Club until 1956.

With the opening of Belmont Park in 1905, Elmont reached a turning point in its history. The farms were sold and subdivided for houses. Most of the new homes were owned by workers at Belmont Park. Many businesses were formed on Hempstead Turnpike to support the blooming suburban location. By 1915, the racetrack was opened to the public, attracting both visitors and migrant workers to the area. Housing developments and businesses grew in the area surrounding the racetrack to meet the needs of these workers; this process of development continued in successive waves, transforming Elmont from farmland to suburbia.

Belmont Park hosted the first air race ever in the United States of America. In 1910, the Wright brothers staged a race from Elmont to the Statue of Liberty and back; it drew 150,000 spectators to Belmont Park. In 1918 the United States Postal Service delivered their first inter-city Air Mail Service between New York and Washington, D.C., and Belmont Park was the delivery terminal for New York. Belmont Park was the site of "War Relief Day" in 1940 to benefit the American Red Cross, and in 1943 hosted "Back the Attack" Day, during which fans had to buy a war bond to gain admission to the track. Total receipts that day were between $25 and $30 million.

After the war, Elmont gained much new housing in several suburban tracts. Many of their homes were constructed in variations of the Cape Cod style, with a brick-veneer ground story over a basement, especially toward Dutch Broadway. Toward Hempstead Turnpike and nearer Belmont Park, developers favored smaller shingled homes.

Education

Long Island and Nassau County specifically are consistently ranked nationally for providing outstanding education.

Elmont is served mainly by the nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Elmont Memorial High School which is part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District.

Only a small section of Elmont is zoned to Sewanhaka High School. Most students who attend live in the villages of Floral Park and Stewart Manor, New York.

Elmont Memorial High School, former lacrosse powerhouse, recently was recognized as having the largest percentage of African-American high school students receive a "3" or higher on Advanced Placement tests nationally. In 2004, it had a graduation rate of 100 percent which was a first for the Sewanhaka Central High School District.

Elmont Memorial is also known for having its award winning Model United Nations club. Elmont's Model UN team is known for beating thousands of high schools in the conferences that they attend.<http://bestdelegate.com/north-americas-best-high-school-model-un-teams-2011-2012-spring-rankings-top-50/> Their slogan, Elmont is UNique, has been proven many times since 1978. Model UN is known for being in many affluent neighborhoods with students from affluent backgrounds such as Chelsea Clinton and Ryan Seacrest.<http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/30145/publications-english/EJ_20120822_ModelUN_DGW_English.pdf>

Sewanhaka High School is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best high schools in the state of New York and the nation.<http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-york/districts/sewanhaka-central-high-school-district/sewanhaka-high-school-14066> Some students can also attend the other high schools in the district for special programs.

The Elmont Union Free School District provides outstanding primary school education for Elmont residents. In 2005, the Elmont Union Free School District was recognized by the New York State Comptroller as one of 5 out of 52 districts cited as "well managed."

Closest elementary schools

  • Dutch Broadway School (Grades K-6, Students: 997)
  • Clara H. Carlson School (Grades K-6, Students: 885)
  • Gotham Avenue School (Grades K-6, Students: 814)
  • Covert Avenue School (Grades K-6, Students: 1000)
  • Alden Terrace School (Grades K-6, Students: 550)
  • Stewart Manor School (Grades K-6, Students: 344)

Closest high schools

Closest colleges and universities

Transportation

Elmont is located on the border of Queens County of New York City and Nassau County.

Closest airports include:

The MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides race-day-only passenger service to Belmont Park from Jamaica and Penn Station. Elmont is near the Floral Park, New Hyde Park and Valley Stream stations of the LIRR which provide regular commuter service to NYC.

The Nassau Inter-County Express system serves Elmont with routes n1 (Elmont Road/Central Ave.), and n6 on Hempstead Turnpike (near Belmont Park Racetrack) for connections to the LIRR & NYC subways and buses.

Elmont is located at the junction of the Cross Island Parkway, Belt Parkway, and Southern State Parkway, providing quick access to the Long Island Parkway system. Elmont is about 7 miles (11 km) from the Long Island Expressway and 10 miles (16 km) from the Throgs Neck Bridge for travel upstate.

Geography

U.S. Census Map

Elmont is located on the south shore of Long Island.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), all land.

Elmont is on the Queens (NYC)/Nassau County border, earning it the name "The Gateway to Long Island."

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census[1] the population was 33,198. The makeup of the population was 47.2% White, 41.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 10.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 10.4% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.8% of the population.

2000 census

Residential area in December.

At the 2000 census,[2] there were 32,657 people, 12,902 households and 10,842 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 9,589.9 per square mile (3,697.6/km2). There were 10,151 housing units at an average density of 2,980.9/sq mi (1,149.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 45.6% White, 34.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 9.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.3% of the population.

There were 10,902 households of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.68.

26.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

According to the 2009–2011 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, the median household income in the CDP was $85,564 and the median family income was $94,432. The per capita income was $22,111. About 5.4% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over. According to the survey, 28.4% of families made $100,000 to $149,000 and 11% made $200,000 or more which shows the hamlet has some affluence in certain sections.

Houses of worship

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

History of Belmont Park 1905 - 1968

Early Long Island: a colonial study by Martha Bockée Flint

Native American Indian Archaeology of Long Island

Long Island Indians and The Early Settlers

United States Jewish History

The Thirteen Colonies Jewish History

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elmont,_New_York&oldid=730886013"