Hicksville, New York

Hicksville, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
Broadway in Hicksville, one of the hamlet's main thoroughfares, June 2019
Motto:  "The community with time for you"
Location in Nassau County (right) and in New York state (left)
Hicksville, New York Location of Hicksville in New York state
Coordinates: 40°45′48″N73°31′24″W / 40.76333°N 73.52333°W / 40.76333; -73.52333
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau County, New York
Town	Oyster Bay
Named for	Valentine Hicks
Area [1]
• Total	6.81 sq mi (17.63 km2)
• Land	6.79 sq mi (17.59 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	148 ft (45 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,869
• Density	6,458.92/sq mi (2,493.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	11801
Area code	516
FIPS code	36-34374
GNIS feature ID	0952707
Website	www.hicksvillechamber.com

Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York. The population of the CDP was 43,869 at the 2020 census.

History

Valentine Hicks, son-in-law of abolitionist and Quaker preacher Elias Hicks, and eventual president of the Long Island Rail Road, bought land in the village in 1834 and turned it into a station stop on the LIRR in 1837. ^[2] The station became a depot for produce, particularly cucumbers for a Heinz Company plant. After a blight destroyed the cucumber crops, the farmers grew potatoes. It turned into a bustling New York City suburb in the building boom following World War II. ^{[3] [4]} The hamlet was named for Valentine Hicks. ^[2]

Failed incorporation attempt

In 1953, Hicksville attempted to incorporate itself as the Incorporated Village of Hicksville. ^[5] Many residents felt that by incorporating as a village, the community would be run more effectively than by the Town of Oyster Bay. A petition had been signed with 6,242 signatures from residents in favor of the plan. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

However, these plans were unsuccessful, and Hicksville remains an unincorporated area of the Town of Oyster Bay to this day, as of 2023. ^{[8] [9]}

Geography

U.S. Census map of Hicksville

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.8 square miles (18 km²), of which 6.8 square miles (18 km²) is land and 0.15% is water. ^[10]

Climate

The climate is borderline between hot-summer humid continental (Dfa) and humid subtropical (Cfa) and the local hardiness zone is 7a. ^[11] Average monthly temperatures in the village center range from 31.9 °F in January to 74.7 °F in July. ^[12]

Economy

Broadway Mall in 2016

Metalab Equipment Company, a division of Norbute Corp, made laboratory furniture and cabinetry. ^[13] Alsy Manufacturing manufactured electric lamps and lampshades from 1975 through 1991. ^[13]

The Rubber Company of America (RUCO) built a manufacturing site in 1945. RUCO Polymer Corp. (Hooker Chemical Company) manufactured plastics, latex, and esters. Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) owned and operated this site from 1966 to 1982. The site was purchased by Sybron Corporation, then in 2000, the Bayer Corporation (Bayer MaterialScience) purchased the Hooker Ruco facility and in 2002 decided to close the facility. The facility was a freight customer of the Long Island Rail Road and New York and Atlantic Railway, served by a spur track off the Main Line next to the grade crossing at New South Road. ^[14] The site was used for the production of polyester from 1982 until 2002. The LIRR removed the switch during track work sometime after the closure and demolition of the buildings on the property. The property remains fenced-off and vacant currently. ^[15]

The presence of a major LIRR hub means that Hicksville developed as a major bedroom community of New York City. The LIRR has a team yard on West John Street, just east of Charlotte Avenue, served by the New York and Atlantic Railway, for off-line freight customers receiving or shipping cargo by rail to anywhere in the North American rail network.

Hicksville's North Broadway, positioned in the center of Nassau County, developed into a significant retail center. North Broadway was home to the Mid-Island Shopping Plaza (now known as Broadway Mall), a 156,000-square-foot Sears department store and auto center (which closed in 2018) ^[16] and various other restaurants and retail stores. ^[17]

Hicksville is home to a number of South Asian grocery stores, clothing shops and restaurants, due to its large proportion of immigrants from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. ^{[18] [19]}

Business with headquarters in Hicksville

• Sam Ash Music ^[20]

Demographics

Asian culture in Hicksville

A South Asian shopping center

Shri Asa'Mai Hindu temple

A South Asian market

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 43,869 people, and 13,409 households residing in the CDP. The population density was 6,458.9 people per square mile.

The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.2% White, 32.8% Asian, 3.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 6.9% from two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.6% of the population.

For the period 2017–2021, the median annual income for a household in the CDP was $123,230. The per capita income for the CDP was $46,504. About 4.1% of people were below the poverty line. ^[21]

Asian population growth

By 1996 there were around four to five restaurants in Hicksville serving South Asian cuisine, and this started the ascent of a "Little India" there. ^[22]

Between 2010 and 2020, Asian populations in Hicksville grew faster than the population as a whole. ^[19] During this period, Hicksville's Asian population grew from 8,139 to 14,178, comprising 32.3% of the town's population. ^[19] By 2020, Hicksville had become "a hub" of Indian-American life, with multiple South Asian grocery stores, clothing shops, and restaurants, serving the religious, economic, financial, and cultural needs of its many South Asian residents. ^[19]

Education

Schools and Library

East Street Elementary School

Middle School

Hicksville High School

Hicksville Public Library

School districts

Hicksville is primarily located within the boundaries of the Hicksville Union Free School District. ^{[9] [23]} However, a small part of the hamlet's southeastern corner is located within the boundaries of the Bethpage Union Free School District while a small portion of the hamlet's northeastern corner is located within the boundaries of the Syosset Central School District. ^{[9] [23]} As such, children who reside within Hicksville and attend public schools go to school in one of these three districts depending on where they live within the hamlet. ^{[9] [23]} In 2023, Hicksville High School was ranked in the top 30% of New York schools by the National Center for Education Statistics. ^[24]

Library districts

Hicksville is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Hicksville Library District, the Bethpage Library District, and the Syosset Library District. ^[9] The boundaries of these three districts within the hamlet roughly correspond to those of the three school districts. ^[9]

Transportation

Road

Four state-owned roads pass through the hamlet: New York State Route 106, New York State Route 107, the Northern State Parkway, and the Wantagh State Parkway. ^[9] Additionally, the Northern State Parkway forms portions of the hamlet's northern border. ^[9]

Other major roads within the hamlet include Jerusalem Avenue, Old Country Road, Plainview Road, and South Oyster Bay Road. ^[9]

Rail

The Hicksville LIRR station, looking down the middle track

Hicksville is a major hub on the Long Island Rail Road, where the Ronkonkoma Branch meets with the Port Jefferson Branch to form the Main Line. ^[9]

Bus

The area is also a hub for the following routes operated by Nassau Inter-County Express: ^[25]

• n20H: Great Neck – Hicksville via Northern Blvd
• n22/n22X: Hicksville – Jamaica via Prospect Avenue/Hillside Avenue
• n24: Hicksville – Jamaica via Old Country Road/Jericho Turnpike
• n48: Hicksville – Hempstead via Carman Road
• n49: Hicksville – Hempstead via Newbridge Road
• n78: Hicksville – Plainview via Old Country Road
• n79: Hicksville – Huntington, New York Walt Whitman Mall and Shops via Old Country Road
• n80: Hicksville – Sunrise Mall via Hicksville Road

Public safety

The Hicksville Fire Department's headquarters in 2019

Hicksville's fire protection is provided by the Hicksville Fire Department. ^[9] Its police protection comes from the Nassau County Police Department's 2nd and 8th precincts, as well as the MTA Police and Nassau County Auxiliary Police. ^[9]

Notable people

• Lorraine Bracco, actress; best known for her roles in Goodfellas and The Sopranos ^[26]
• Theresa Caputo, purported medium; star of Long Island Medium ^[27]
• Michael Collins, former professional soccer player ^[28]
• Denny Dias, former guitarist for Steely Dan ^[29]
• Larry Eisenhauer, professional football player ^[30]
• Frank Gerwer, professional skateboarder ^[31]
• Billy Joel, singer and musician ^[32]
• Maura Johnston, writer and academic ^[33]
• Mitch Kupchak, professional basketball executive and former player ^[34]
• The Lemon Twigs, indie rock band ^[35]
• Dennis Michael Lynch, businessman and filmmaker ^[36]
• Don Murphy, film producer ^[37]
• Tim Parker, professional soccer player ^[38]
• Dave Pietramala, defensive coordinator for University of North Carolina men's lacrosse team ^[39]
• Al Pitrelli, Megadeth and Trans-Siberian Orchestra guitarist ^[40]

• Steve Rosenthal, labor and political strategist ^[41]
• Al Sarrantonio, science fiction author^{[ citation needed ]}
• Gary D. Schmidt, author ^[42]
• Robert Shulman, serial killer ^[43]
• Rob Walker, politician and legislator ^[44]

See also

• Heitz Place Courthouse

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. Winsche, Richard (October 1, 1999). The History of Nassau County Community Place-Names. Interlaken, New York: Empire State Books. ISBN   978-1557871541.
3. Hicksville: Bound Together by Railroad Ties – Newsday – Retrieved November 14, 2007
4. Ron Ziel and George H. Foster, Steel Rails to the Sunrise, ©1965
5. "Set Hearing On Hicksville Village Plea". Newsday . August 19, 1953 – via ProQuest.
6. "HICKSVILLE IS SPLIT IN HOME-RULE MOVE; 6,240 Taxpayers Petition for Referendum on Incorporation to Sever Township Ties". The New York Times. September 20, 1953. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 12, 2021.
7. "Hicksville Pushes Home Rule". Newsday . June 27, 1951 – via ProQuest.
8. "Court Backs Nix by Board On Annex Vote". Newsday . December 19, 1953 – via ProQuest.
9. "Long Island Index: Interactive Map". Long Island Index Maps. Long Island Index.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. "Interactive Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012.
12. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
13. "Record of Decision – DEC" (PDF). March 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
14. "Hooker Chemical/Ruco Polymer EPA REGION 2" (PDF). June 1986. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
15. "Record of Decision RUCO Polymer Corp. (Hooker Chemical)" (PDF). December 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
16. Winzelberg, David (June 5, 2018). "Theater signs lease at Hicksville Sears project". LIBN. Long Island Business News. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
17. "Long Island malls at the crossroads: Some will adapt — and some will not survive". Newsday. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
18. Gianotti, Peter (July 10, 2019). "The best Indian restaurants on Long Island". Newsday. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
19. Phillips, Ted (September 8, 2021). "Asians outpace other residents in Jericho and Hicksville, census shows". Newsday. Retrieved June 17, 2023. In Hicksville, where South Asian grocery stores, clothing shops and restaurants dot the streetscape, the Asian population grew to 14,178 in 2020 from 8,139 a decade earlier, according to census data. Asians are the second largest group, comprising 32.3% of the population compared with 43.5% for whites.
20. Sam Ash. (2023). About Us. Sam Ash. https://www.samash.com/help-center/about-us
21. "United States Census Bureau: QuickFacts, Hicksville CDP, New York".
22. Scholem, Richard Jay (February 18, 1996). "Variety of Indian Restaurants Make Debuts". The New York Times . Retrieved July 29, 2022.
23. "Composite School District Boundaries Shapefiles". NCES. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
24. "Hicksville High School". Public School Review. 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
25. "Nassau Inter-County Express - Maps and Schedules". nicebus.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
26. Witchel, Alex (September 27, 1990). "A Mafia Wife Makes Lorraine Bracco a Princess". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 29, 2012.
27. Theresa Caputo. "Theresa Caputo - Homepage". theresacaputo.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
28. Yannis, Alex (February 10, 1987). "Players; Soccer Star Part of a Lost Generation". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
29. Perry, Charles (August 15, 1974). "Steely Dan Comes Up Swinging: Number Five With a Dildo". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
30. "Former Boston Patriots DE Larry Eisenhauer passes away". patriots.com. January 29, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
31. "FRANK GERWER STRAIGHT TO FLOPPY DISK (2017)". nyskateboarding.com. NY Skateboarding. February 9, 2017. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
32. Ahrens, Frank (April 22, 1998). "Billy Joel, Bard of the 'Burbs'". Washington Post. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
33. Maura Johnston. "Maura Johnston - Homepage". maura.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
34. National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. "MITCH KUPCHAK". polishsportshof.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
35. Gaworecki, Mike (November 1, 2016). "MEET THE LEMON TWIGS, "THE NEXT BILLY JOEL OF HICKSVILLE"". Brooklyn Magazine . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024.
36. Deignan, Tom (November 17, 2013). "The hypocritical Irish American right-wing anti-immigration reform "Lynch" mob". IrishCentral. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024.
37. Don Murphy (2008). "Human Stuff: Secret Biography". DonMurphy.net. Angry Films (Don Murphy). Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
38. "Tim Parker". whitecapsfc.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
39. Mills, Keith (March 8, 2007). "Petro's Life Lessons". pressboxonline.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010.
40. Joy, Aaron - Drivin' Sideways , p. 51, at Google Books.
41. Gerhart, Ann (July 6, 2004). "Ground War". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on March 7, 2024.
42. Schmidt, Gary (May 22, 2023). "The Hicksville Public Library: Guest Post by Gary D. Schmidt". mackincommunity.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
43. McQuiston, John (January 5, 2000). "An Inmate On Death Row Pleads Guilty In More Killings". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
44. "Deputy County Executives". nassaucountyny.gov. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.

External links

• Hicksville Chamber of Commerce