Hempstead

Hempstead is the name given to both the Nassau County township, population 759,000 and one of its incorporated villages. The Town’s administrative offices are located in the village of Hempstead, which has a population of 55,000. Incorporated in 1853, Hempstead is New York’s oldest and most populous village. While its population is predominantly African-American, Hispanics comprise a large part as well.

The village of Hempstead has experienced challenges in recent years. Improving public safety and dealing with crime are ongoing concerns, as is the local economy . During the 1960s, Hempstead was a popular shopping destination, home to Abraham & Strauss, Time Square Store and other popular shops. The growth and popularity of Roosevelt Field and Green Acres drew shoppers away from Hempstead. The eventual closure of Hempstead’s big stores contributed to the blight which the village is still trying to rectify. However, an ambitious plan to develop new housing and retail in a pedestrian-oriented setting has met with great enthusiasm. Redevelopment is focused on the village’s central business district, and community input is sought through a website, RenewHempstead.com.

Hempstead Town’s offices, including the Town Clerk and Town Hall, are located in the village, along with Nassau County’s District Court. The African-American Museum, located on North Franklin Street, celebrates the contributions of African Americans through exhibits and educational programs, with a focus on Long Island. There are six parks; Kennedy Park has three pools and a gym and weight room. As part of the Town of Hempstead, residents can participate in programs and use its many parks, which include Lido Beach, Point Lookout Beach, and Lido West Beach.

Hempstead’s school district contends with a 62% poverty rate and a high number of students learning English. At the middle school level, one-fourth of students are not meeting standards. Though it was recently cited by the state as needing to improve both its high school graduation rate and English Language Arts instruction, the district has made small inroads to improvement. During the last school year, more graduating seniors earned Regents diplomas, and scores rose on both Integrated Algebra and U.S. History and Government Regents exams. Several Advanced Placement courses are available, which allow students to begin earning college credit. Instruction will also be improved through new Common Core curriculum standards, which are being implemented statewide with the goal of improving student outcomes.

Homebuyers will find bargains, but may have to weigh issues of resale, as well as costs of private schools, which many residents choose. Renters outnumber homeowners, an unusual trend for Nassau County. Hempstead has been hit hard by the subprime loan crisis, with a larger percentage of foreclosures when compared to surrounding areas. However, there are many beautiful and well-maintained Tudors and colonials, priced lower than they would be in other towns. Many legal multi-family homes are available, at a wide range of prices. Several co-op complexes offer another well-priced alternative for homebuyers.

Hempstead is a 191-square mile suburb on Long Island so densely packed that it has more residents than the city of Buffalo. It contains 22 villages, 37 hamlets, and the population is nearly 760,000. It is on Long Island’s South Shore, borders Queens, and has nearly 3 miles of shoreline, including the famous Jones Beach.

A suburb this large defies generalization, especially since there is such a broad spectrum of income levels. However, if you’re looking for a low-key, slow-paced place with privacy, you won’t find it here. Hempstead runs the gamut from burned-out areas rife with gunfire and drug dealing to places where they build 10,000-square foot, $4 million look-at-me’s on less than ¾ of an acre. Wherever you go you’ll be looking at your neighbor’s window, so the anti-social should just keep going.

But the beaches are great, if crowded, and the Town runs four marinas. Bay Constables enforce the boating and conservation laws, and provide help for those who need it. There are quite a few golf courses. There are 1,400 acres of parkland in more than 90 parks, 23 pools, and the Department of Parks and Recreation provides all kinds of sports, classes, entertainment and cultural activities, and sponsors events like the Seaside Spectacular Car Show, the Festival By The Seat, and the Town of Hempstead Triathlon.

The Town is so large that it provides the kinds of services for its residents normally only found in cities. It provides interest-free loans to senior citizens, and grants for people with handicaps. The Housing Authority helps the elderly and those with limited income find residences, and the Department of Occupational Resources provides assistance to both businesses and jobseekers.

There is a successful clamming industry here, monitored both by marine biologists and law enforcement officials. People can dig for clams but only with a special permit and within certain boundaries.

The Hempstead Animal Shelter receives 6,000 calls per year, and has one of highest adoption rates in the nation.

History buffs may (or may not) appreciate that Roosevelt Field, a shopping mall in Garden City, was once an airstrip used by Amelia Earhart and Wiley Post. It was from here that Charles Lindbergh took off in the Spirit of St. Louis, bound for France, on his historic 1927 trans-Atlantic flight.

Again, the schools run the gamut. The Hempstead High School, located within the Village of Hempstead, is unranked by US News and World Report. Its college readiness index is 13%, but 56% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Garden City High School, on the other hand, was rated 26th within NY and 138th in the nation by US News; its college readiness index is 67.2%, but the number of economically disadvantaged students is 1%. The median household income for Garden City is $165,000, while the Village of Hempstead’s is $45,234.

Hofstra, Long Island’s largest private college, is located on 240 acres in Hempstead.

The Village of Hempstead, especially around Terrace Avenue, has long been known as a dangerous area of gangs, drugs, etc. Two years ago its violent crime index was twice the national average. However, they are working on it … last year 25 members of a notorious street gang were indicted, and this summer a high-tech gunfire detection system was installed in the Village, allowing police to locate shots within seconds. The Village of Hempstead is currently negotiating with a developer for $2-billion downtown revitalization plan, which, naturally, would transform the area as so many have been done before.

It takes about 50 minutes to get to Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road from the Hempstead Station.

Although this overview may be helpful, those considering moving to the Hempstead area really need to investigate its individual villages and hamlets.

Hempstead Village and Town Of Hempstead first of all are completely different. Hempstead Village is one town located near Roosvelt Field, Nassau Coliseum and Hofstra University. The Town Of Hempstead incorporates many gorgeous suburban tasteful towns such as Garden City, Franklin Square, Floral Park, Wantagh Etc. basically the town of hempstead goes from Valley Stream to Massapequa. Hempstead Village is getting a lot better. Crime has decreased. Schools are improving and people are happy together. Hempstead Village is a wonderfully diverse town with a great Spanish vibe. Hempstead Village on Fulton Ave almost feels like your in a section of manhattan. Taxes are high around here. Hempstead Village will be a very desirable hip young vibed community in the next decade :)