Uniondale, New York

Uniondale, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
A Uniondale welcome sign in 2021
Nickname(s):  Nassau Hub
Motto:  A global community for a global economy [1]
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
Uniondale, New York Location on Long Island Show map of Long Island Uniondale, New York Location within the state of New York Show map of New York
Coordinates: 40°42′11″N73°35′28″W / 40.70306°N 73.59111°W / 40.70306; -73.59111
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau
Town	Hempstead
Area [2]
• Total	5.71 sq mi (14.79 km2)
• Land	5.71 sq mi (14.79 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	32,473
• Density	5,686.04/sq mi (2,195.30/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	11553, 11555, 11556
Area codes	516, 363
FIPS code	36-76089
GNIS feature ID	0968229
Website	uniondalechamber.com

Uniondale is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in central Nassau County, New York, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead, within the New York metropolitan area. The population was 32,473 at the time of the 2020 United States census.

The CDP is home to Nassau Community College, Hofstra University's north campus and a portion of its southern campus, ^[3] as well as the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

History

In the early 1970s, several Uniondale residents attempted to incorporate their hamlet as a village, citing dissatisfaction with the way their community was being represented on the board of the committee for redeveloping Mitchel Field, regarding matters like policies and the plans. ^[4] Their incorporation plans were unsuccessful, and Uniondale remains an unincorporated hamlet governed by the Town of Hempstead. ^[3]

Until 2015, the area of Uniondale north of the Hempstead Turnpike was a separate census-designated place called East Garden City. ^[5]

Geography

U.S. Census map of Uniondale

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), all land. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

The Uniondale CDP gained territory between the 2010 census and the 2020 census, due to the hamlet and former CDP of East Garden City being absorbed by the CDP of Uniondale. ^{[6] [9] [10]}

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Uniondale has a Humid subtropical climate (type Cfa) with cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers. ^{[11] [12]} Precipitation is uniform throughout the year, with slight spring and fall peaks. ^{[11] [12]}

Climate data for Uniondale, New York, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	71 (22)	73 (23)	85 (29)	94 (34)	97 (36)	103 (39)	105 (41)	104 (40)	100 (38)	90 (32)	83 (28)	76 (24)	105 (41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	39 (4)	43 (6)	50 (10)	61 (16)	70 (21)	80 (27)	85 (29)	83 (28)	76 (24)	65 (18)	55 (13)	45 (7)	63 (17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26 (−3)	28 (−2)	34 (1)	42 (6)	51 (11)	61 (16)	66 (19)	65 (18)	58 (14)	48 (9)	40 (4)	31 (−1)	46 (8)
Record low °F (°C)	−10 (−23)	−7 (−22)	3 (−16)	13 (−11)	32 (0)	43 (6)	50 (10)	48 (9)	38 (3)	27 (−3)	10 (−12)	−1 (−18)	−10 (−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.62 (92)	3.17 (81)	4.35 (110)	4.15 (105)	3.90 (99)	3.85 (98)	4.40 (112)	3.72 (94)	3.91 (99)	4.08 (104)	3.73 (95)	3.82 (97)	46.7 (1,186)
Source: The Weather Channel [13]

Plant zone

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Garden City is located within hardiness zone 7b. ^{[14] [15]}

Economy

Lufthansa United States has its headquarters in Uniondale, moving to the hamlet from adjacent East Meadow in 2019. ^[16]

At one point, Swiss International Air Lines operated its United States office at 776 RexCorp Plaza in the EAB Plaza in Uniondale. The airline moved its offices from 41 Pinelawn Road in Melville, New York, around 2002. ^{[17] [18]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	23,011		—
2010	24,759		7.6%
2020	32,473		31.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [19]

2020 census

Uniondale CDP, New York – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010 [20]	Pop 2020 [21]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	2,497	5,644	10.09%	17.38%
Black or African American alone (NH)	11,581	11,543	46.77%	35.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	60	76	0.24%	0.23%
Asian alone (NH)	499	1,119	2.02%	3.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13	12	0.05%	0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	122	288	0.49%	0.89%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	371	857	1.50%	2.64%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	9,616	12,934	38.84%	39.83%
Total	24,759	32,473	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[22] of 2000, there were 23,011 people, 6,026 households, and 4,826 families living in the CDP. The population density was 8,676.5 inhabitants per square mile (3,350.0/km²). There were 6,201 housing units at an average density of 2,338.1 per square mile (902.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 26.97% White, 55.53% Black, 0.35% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.95% from other races, and 5.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.86% of the population.

Of the 6,026 households 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. Of all households 16.0% were one person and 8.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.66 and the average family size was 3.95. ^[22]

The age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males. ^[22]

The median household income was $61,410 and the median family income was $67,264. Males had a median income of $32,417 versus $31,169 for females. The per capita income was $19,069. About 6.0% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[22]

Sports

The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2021

Uniondale was formerly the home of the NHL's New York Islanders, ^[23] who played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum from 1972 until 2015, and again from 2018 until 2021. The 2014–15 NHL season was originally their final year at the Coliseum before the team moved to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City. Beginning in 2018, home games were split between Barclays and the Coliseum, and beginning in 2020, the Coliseum once again became the sole home arena for the Islanders until UBS Arena opened in 2021.

Notable people

• Richard Blais, chef, reality show contestant, restaurateur and author.
• Joenal Castma, soccer player and coach who represented the Haiti national team ^[24]
• Gary Dell'Abate, also known as Baba Booey, is longtime producer of The Howard Stern Show. He grew up in Uniondale.
• Edward Goljan, pathologist, professor, and USMLE/COMLEX Board Review Teacher, grew up in Uniondale.
• Sheryl Lee Ralph, Broadway and film actor and singer.
• John Moschitta Jr., an American spokesperson and singer best known for his rapid speech delivery; appeared in over 100 commercials as "The Micro Machines Man", as well as in ads for FedEx.
• Aljamain Sterling, mixed martial artist, former UFC Bantamweight Champion; born and raised in Uniondale.
• Busta Rhymes, rapper, graduated from Uniondale High School ^[25]

In popular culture

Uniondale has been the filming location for – or otherwise been the setting for scenes in – various films. Some of the scenes in The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) were set at Roosevelt Field, located within the East Garden City section of the CDP. ^{[26] [27] [28]} Additionally, scenes for The Godfather (1972) were filmed on the present campus of Nassau Community Colleges, on the Mitchel Air Force Base's former runways. ^{[29] [30]}

See also

• List of Census-designated places in New York
• Nassau Community College
• Hofstra University
• Uniondale High School

References

1. "Uniondale Chamber of Commerce".
2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
3. "Long Island Zoning Atlas". Long Island Index. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
4. "Meeting to Vote On Village Status". Newsday . March 24, 1970.
5. Cassese, Sid (October 15, 2015). "Transition from East Garden City to Uniondale continues – slowly". Newsday.
6. "Uniondale CDP, New York". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Uniondale CDP, New York". www.census.gov. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
9. "Residents: Speed up hamlet's name change". Newsday. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
10. Bolger, Timothy (June 6, 2015). "Uniondale's Battle To Wipe 'East Garden City' Off The Map". LI Press. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
11. "Interactive United States Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Map". plantmaps.com. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
12. "World Map of Köppen–Geiger Climate Classification". January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
13. "Monthly Averages for Mineola, NY (11501)". weatherco.com. The Weather Channel. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
14. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
15. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: New York". planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. USDA. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
16. Madore, James T. (March 5, 2019). "Lufthansa moves Americas headquarters, seeks tax breaks". Newsday . Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
17. "Contact Us SWISS USA." Swiss International Air Lines . Retrieved on January 20, 2009.
18. Anastasi, Nick. "SwissAir USA HQ heads to market.(Swiss International Airlines moves to Uniondale)." Long Island Business News . June 7, 2002. Retrieved on January 25, 2009.
19. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
20. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Uniondale CDP, New York". United States Census Bureau .
21. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Uniondale CDP, New York". United States Census Bureau .
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
23. "Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (faq page)". Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
24. "Joenal Castma joins Riverhounds Academy staff". Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC . March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
25. "Notable Long Islanders". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. September 17, 2018. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020. Rapper Busta Rhymes ... graduated from Uniondale High School in 1991.
26. Film: The Spirit of St. Louis, directed by Billy Wilder, released April 20, 1957.
27. Waller, George (May 20, 1962). "Lindbergh, the Little Plane, the Big Atlantic". The New York Times . Retrieved September 18, 2025.
28. Phillips, Gene D., Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder (Screen Classics). Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, 2009, pp. 180-183.
29. Coppola, Francis Ford (March 24, 1972), The Godfather (Crime, Drama), Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Paramount Pictures, Albert S. Ruddy Productions, Alfran Productions, retrieved September 18, 2025
30. "The New York Filming Locations of The Godfather, Then and Now – Page 2 – Scouting NY". January 27, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2025.

External links

• Uniondale Chamber of Commerce