West Hempstead, New York

"West Hempstead" redirects here. For the area in London, see West Hampstead.

West Hempstead, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
A welcome sign at an entrance to West Hempstead on September 18, 2021
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
West Hempstead, New York Location on Long Island Show map of Long Island West Hempstead, New York Location within the state of New York Show map of New York
Coordinates: 40°41′47″N73°39′9″W / 40.69639°N 73.65250°W / 40.69639; -73.65250
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau
Town	Town of Hempstead
Named for	Its location west of the Village of Hempstead
Area [1]
• Total	2.73 sq mi (7.07 km2)
• Land	2.66 sq mi (6.88 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation	66 ft (20 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,835
• Density	7,462.38/sq mi (2,881.44/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	11552
Area codes	516, 363
FIPS code	36-80225 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0969246 [3]

West Hempstead is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 19,835 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[2] It is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead and is represented by Councilman Edward Ambrosino.

History

West Hempstead first appeared on maps as the name of a Long Island Railroad station in 1893. ^[4] There are three railroad stations within its borders: West Hempstead, Hempstead Gardens, and Lakeview. The line continues to Valley Stream where it joins the Babylon Branch. Halls Pond Park, the main park within West Hempstead, was dedicated by Nassau County in 1961. The smaller Echo Park contains a public indoor pool. Its name is derived from the community's first four little league teams: Eagles, Cardinals, Hawks, and Orioles. In 1956, the West Hempstead Public Library was founded and chartered by the State in 1967. ^[5] Its present 28,000 square-foot facility was completed in 2007. ^[6]

In 2001, residents of West Hempstead held a nonbinding referendum on renaming the community. The vote followed a two-year effort by the West Hempstead Civic Association and the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce to give the community a unique name, distancing itself from the neighboring crime ridden Hempstead. ^[7] By a 94-vote margin, West Hempstead retained its name over the proposed Mayfair Gardens. ^[8]

West Hempstead is easily accessed from the Southern State Parkway at Exit 17N.

The West Hempstead Union Free School District currently operates 5 schools; 1 kindergarten, 2 elementary, 1 middle school and 1 high school.

West Hempstead's name reflects upon the fact that it is located immediately west of the Village of Hempstead. ^[9]

Geography

U.S. Census map of West Hempstead

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (3.64%) is water. ^[10]

West Hempstead lies on a gently sloping terrain between the Hempstead Plains and the Atlantic Ocean. Pine Stream runs through the center of West Hempstead, feeding into Halls Pond. ^[11] The community is bordered on the east by Hempstead Lake State Park and on the south by the Southern State Parkway.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	19,835		—
U.S. Decennial Census [12]

2010 Census

As of the 2010 2010 Census, there were 4,867 families residing in the West Hempstead Census Designated Place (CDP) and the population density was 7,039.1 inhabitants per square mile (2,717.8/km²). There were 6,110 housing units at an average density of 2,298.3 per square mile (887.4/km²).

There were 6,024 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.47.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $97,627 and the median income for a family was $102,481. Males had a median income of $52,391 versus $39,871 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,732. About 2.4% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

2017 ACS

As of the American Community Survey of 2013–2017, there were 19,841 people in 6,148 households. The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.8% White, 12.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 9.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 11.3% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.3% of the population.

In the 2017 ACS, the CDP population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18 and 14.8% age 65 or older. The median age was 40.3 years.

The CDP is 5.1% people under age 5, 5.8% people age 5–9 years old, 7.9% people age 10–14 years old, 7.3% people age 15–19 years old, 7.0% people age 20–24 years old, 11.8% people age 25–34 years old, 11.1% people age 35–44 years old, 16.5% people age 45–54 years old, 7.2% people age 55–59 years old, 5.6% people age 60–64 years old, 8.1% people age 65–74 years old, 4.1% people age 75–84 years old, and 2.6% people age 85 or older.

In 2017, the West Hempstead CDP population had an approximately even number of males (9,922) and females (9,919). However, there is nuance to this data: for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females age 65 or over, there were only 65.7 males.

West Hempstead, along with adjoining Franklin Square has a sizable Orthodox Jewish population that counts seven synagogues ^[13] and the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County elementary school among its local institutions.

Notable people

• Nathan Englander, American short story writer and novelist, was born and raised in West Hempstead. ^[14]
• Kalomoira, popular Greek singer, was born in West Hempstead. ^[15]
• Lucien Laurin, award-winning horse trainer and Belmont Stakes champion, lived in West Hempstead.
• Don McPherson, former NFL player ^[16]
• Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist and journalist, was the headmaster of the West Hempstead-based District 17 Schoolhouse. ^[17]
• Orville Wright, Inventor of powered flight, lived in West Hempstead in the early 1930s. ^[18]

Local activities

• West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club ^[19]
• The New York Equestrian Center, Horse Riding & Boarding ^[20]
• Hempstead Lake State Park
• West Hempstead Community Support Association ^[21]
• West Hempstead Lions Club
• West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce
• West Hempstead Kiwanis Club
• Boy Scout Troop 240
• Cub Scout Pack 240

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
2. "U.S. Census QuickFacts West Hempstead". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 24, 2022.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. Woliver, Robbie "West Hempstead Asks: What's in a Name?" New York Times June 25, 2000
5. New York Heritage Digital Collections "West Hempstead Public Library"
6. KG+D Architects "West Hempstead Public Library"
7. Wolver, Robbie "West Hempstead Asks: What's in a Name?" New York Times June 25, 2000
8. Woliver, Robbie "IN BRIEF; West Hempstead Votes To Keep Its Name" New York Times June 17, 2001
9. Winsche, Richard (October 1, 1999). The History of Nassau County Community Place-Names. Interlaken, New York: Empire State Books. ISBN   978-1557871541.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. Kadinsky, Sergey "Pine Stream, West Hempstead" Hidden Waters Blog February 22, 2017
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
13. GoDaven West Hempstead minyan search June 21, 2017
14. Nathan Englander - From the Author
15. "Long Island's Kalomira Sarantis Competing in Antenna's Fame Story". April 19, 2004.
16. "Don McPherson". Albany.com. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
17. Jacob (August 20, 2009). "Old School District 17 Schoolhouse". West Hempstead Now and Then. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
18. "West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce". www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
19. "West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club - Powered bySportsSignUp Play".
20. "New York Equestrian Center". New York Equestrian Center.
21. "West Hempstead Community Support Association". whcsa.

External links

• West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce official website