The territory comprising what is now the Village of East Williston was formerly farmland.[2][3] Most of the farmland was owned by the Willis family in the 1800s. To avoid being confused with the Willis areas of upstate New York, this area was known as East Williston. The original borders of the area known as East Williston stretched west towards Queens to Herricks Road, north to I.U. Willets Road, south to the Village of Mineola, and east to Bacon Road in Old Westbury.[2][3]
The construction and opening of the Long Island Rail Road through the area – along with the community's train station – in 1865 stimulated manufacturing in East Williston.[2] The industries that grew as a result of the new train station included brick making, windmill making and carriage making. Henry M. Willis designed and built the popular East Williston Runabout Roadcart. This carriage had two wheels and two seats. Its soft suspension allowed comfortable travel over the rough roads of the time.[4] There was also a feature which allowed the body to be locked to the axle, allowing the carriage to be used on the racetrack. Over 1,000 East Williston Runabout Roadcarts were built by Oakley and Griffin (who purchased the business from Willis in 1889).[3]
In the 1930s, the village's Wheatley Ridge housing development was constructed over what had previously been an estate owned by humorist and entertainer Will Rogers.[5][6][7] The development was planned and built by Newell & Daniel – a major real estate development firm active at the time on Long Island.[5][6][7][8]
Although originally called Williston, the name of the area was changed to East Williston in 1879, when locals requested the United States Postal Service to open a local post office.[2] Since there was already a community with a post office in Upstate New York using the name, locals added the word "East" to their community's name; the name East Williston was in use for both this village and what is now the adjacent village of Williston Park.[2]
In 1926, this eastern half of East Williston incorporated as a village.[2] Its western half, Williston Park, incorporated separately that same year; the two halves became separate villages due to each having very different, distinct characteristics.[2]
Like its western neighbor, Williston Park, the Village of East Williston is named for Samuel Willis – a settler who came to the area in the late 17th century.[2]
As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 2,503 people, 833 households, and 717 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,447.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,717.2/km2). There were 846 housing units at an average density of 1,503.2 per square mile (580.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.25% White, 0.36% African American, 0.04% Native American, 3.36% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 833 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.4% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $109,111, and the median income for a family was $118,611. Males had a median income of $90,952 versus $44,861 for females. The per capita income for the village was $50,484. About 1.4% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Village government
As of August 2024, the Mayor of East Williston is Bonnie L.S. Parente, the Deputy Mayor is Anthony Gallo, and the Village Trustees are Raffaela Dunne, Anthony Gallo, James L. Iannone, and Rushi Vaidya.[26]
Representation in higher government
Town representation
East Williston is located in the Town of North Hempstead's 3rd council district, which as of August 2024 is represented on the North Hempstead Town Council by Dennis J. Walsh (R–Mineola).[27]
Nassau County representation
East Williston is located in Nassau County's 9th Legislative district, which as of August 2024 is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Scott Strauss (R–Mineola).[13][28]
The Village of East Williston, in its entirety, is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the East Williston Union Free School District.[13] Accordingly, all children who reside within the village and attend public schools go to that district's schools.[13]
Additionally, the East Williston UFSD's North Side School is located within the village.[13]
Library
The Village of East Williston has its own public library, known the East Williston Public Library.[13] This library is located at Village Hall.[13]
1 2 3 "DEVELOPERS BUY WESTBURY ESTATE: Twenty-three Acres Formerly Owned by Will Rogers Taken by Builders". The New York Times. June 7, 1936. p.170 – via ProQuest.
↑ Staff. "John Caemmerer, Chairman Of State Senate Transit Panel", The New York Times, February 8, 1982. Accessed November 29, 2017. "Mr. Caemmerer, who was born in Brooklyn, grew up in suburban East Williston. It was there, the burly Mr. Caemmerer once said, that he came to appreciate mass-transit needs as a student commuting to Xavier High School in Manhattan."
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