Elmont, New York | |
|---|---|
 Elmont Memorial High School in 2010 | |
 Location inNassau County and the state of New York | |
  Location on Long Island Show map of Long Island Location within the state of New York Show map of New York | |
| Coordinates:40°42′06″N73°42′09″W / 40.70167°N 73.70250°W /40.70167; -73.70250 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Nassau |
| Town | Hempstead |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.42 sq mi (8.86 km2) |
| • Land | 3.41 sq mi (8.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.012 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 35,265 |
| • Density | 10,342.7/sq mi (3,993.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 11003 |
| Area codes | 516, 363 |
| FIPS code | 36-24273 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0949582 |
Elmont is an unincorporatedhamlet andcensus-designated place (CDP) located in northwesternHempstead inNassau County, New York, United States, along its border with the borough ofQueens in the City of New York. The population was 35,265 at the time of the 2020 census.
The hamlet is famous forBelmont Park which hosts theBelmont Stakes, the third leg of the prestigiousTriple Crown of thoroughbred racing. Elmont is also home toUBS Arena, home of theNHL'sNew York Islanders.
Elmont has tried incorporating itself as a village multiple times, but has been unable to successfully do so.
In 1650, Christopher and Thomas Foster purchased a large plot of land. The Fosters' land was controlled byDutch settlers. The Fosters intended to raisecattle andsheep on their newly settled land, theHempstead Plains ofLong Island. They named this place "Foster's Meadow"—a name which would remain for the next 200 years of the village's history.
By the mid-17th century, descendants ofSephardic Jews were settling on theHempstead Plains foragriculture. Control of the Dutch colony ofNew Amsterdam shifted toEngland in 1664. This marked the first gradual cultural shift in Foster's Meadow with the establishment of a community of predominantlyEnglishProtestantfarmers, and their families. In 1683,Long Island was divided into three counties, Kings, Queens, andSuffolk County. Under this new structure, Foster's Meadow was originally part ofQueens County. During 1790George Washington passed through the town while touring to the east onLong Island. The current boundaries of Elmont were decided upon in 1898; at this point,Nassau County was created, leading to conflict over land, and monies owed as a result of Elmont's boundary shift from Queens.
It was during the mid-19th century that Foster's Meadow experienced its second cultural shift. There was an influx ofRoman Catholic andAshkenazi Jewishfarmers from Brooklyn andMiddle Village to the west. These ethnic groups were largely ofGerman andItalian descent, practicing bothRoman Catholicism andJudaism.
The population of Catholics residing in Foster's Meadow, accordingly, grew. The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was built in 1852, during theWittelsbach Dynasty. TheRoman Catholic Church was re-dedicated asSaint BonifaceRoman CatholicParish, in honor of thePatron Saint ofGermany, in 1857. The Parish provided a focal point for the gradual development of a Catholic population base. Rev. Peter Hartraub was the founding pastor, and was appointed the first resident pastor of Foster's Meadow in 1858. Rev. Peter Hartraub built a new rectory and, in 1887, a new school with four classrooms on the first floor and an auditorium on the second. TheDominican Sisters were invited to teach in theCatholic School, and they built aconvent on parish land donated to them.
The community underwent its next political reshuffling in 1882, being subdivided into districts with unique names and boundaries (includingAlden Manor andLocustwood); it was at this time that Foster's Meadow was renamed Elmont. In 1902, a syndicate headed byAugust Belmont Jr. and formerSecretary of the NavyWilliam C. Whitney sought land on Long Island to build the most elaborate racetrack in America, one modeled after the great race courses of Europe. They found what they were looking for on the border of Queens County and Nassau County.Belmont Racetrack, was arguably the most significant milestone in the development of modern-day Elmont. Originally known as Foster's Meadow, the 650 acres of land includedOaklands, a turreted Tudor-Gothic mansion owned byWilliam de Forest Manice, which was to serve as the track's Turf and Field Club until 1956.
With the opening ofBelmont Park in 1905, Elmont reached a turning point in its history. The farms were sold, and subdivided for houses. Most of the new homes were owned by people, who worked at Belmont Racetrack. Many businesses were formed onHempstead Turnpike, to support the blooming suburban location. By 1915, the Racetrack was opened to the public, attracting both visitors and migrant workers to the area. Housing developments, and businesses grew in the area surrounding the racetrack to meet the needs of these workers; this process of development to meet the workers' needs continued in successive waves, ultimately representing a shift in Elmont from rural farmland to suburbia.
In 1910,Belmont Racetrack hosted the firstair race ever in theUnited States of America.Wilbur and Orville Wright staged an international aerial competition at Belmont Park that drew 150 000 spectators. The race ran from Belmont Park to theStatue of Liberty, and back to Belmont Park.
In 1918, theUnited States Postal Service delivered their first inter-cityAir Mail Service betweenNew York City andWashington, D.C.Belmont Park was designated as the delivery terminal for New York.
Belmont Park was the site of "War Relief Day" in 1940 to benefit theAmerican Red Cross and in 1943 hosted "Back the Attack" Day, wherein fans had to buy a war bond to gain admission to the track. Total receipts that day were between $25 million and $30 million.
After theSecond World War, Elmont hosted widespread development of attractive suburban tract homes. Many of these homes were constructed with a brick-veneer ground story in variations of theCape Cod style, particularly around Dutch Broadway. OnHempstead Turnpike, older smaller shingled homes cluster nearBelmont Park.
In 2017, New York State's Development Corporation (Empire State Development) issued a Request for Proposals for a part of the Belmont Park Property to redevelop land on the property that would enhance the Park and surrounding communities. The two bidders for the site wereNew York City FC and theNew York Islanders.[2] On December 19, 2017, various news reports surfaced, indicating that the state of New York had selected the Islanders' bid. On December 20, 2017, a news conference was held confirming those reports and a deal had been secured. Speakers included NHL CommissionerGary Bettman. The result was construction ofUBS Arena to become the new home arena for the Islanders. The arena opened in fall 2021.Belmont Park Village, an open-air luxuryoutlet center modeled afterBicester Village inOxfordshire, England, was included as part of the redevelopment project and opened in October 2024.[3][4]
Elmont has made many attempts over the years to incorporate itself as a village.[5] It first attempted incorporating in 1931 but was unable to do so. The same thing happened in 1940, and again in 1949. By the time the latter two attempts were made, the Nassau County charter had been amended, so as to mandate that any new village incorporated within the county after 1938 adhere to Nassau County's zoning laws.[5]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), all land.[6][7]
Elmont is on the border between Nassau County and the New York City borough of Queens, earning it the nickname "The Gateway to Long Island."[citation needed]
Elmont is located within theHook Creek Watershed, which – in turn – is located within the largerLong Island Sound/Atlantic Ocean Watershed.[8][9][10][11]
Elmont has ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 32.3 °F in January to 75.3 °F in July.[12][13][14] Precipitation is uniform throughout the year, with slight spring and fall peaks.[13][14]
Additionally, according to theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Elmont is located withinhardiness zone 7b.[15][16]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32,657 | — | |
| 2010 | 33,198 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 35,265 | 6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] 2010[18] 2020[19] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2020[19] | % 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,494 | 4,282 | 19.56% | 12.14% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 14,587 | 15,460 | 43.94% | 43.84% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 98 | 102 | 0.30% | 0.29% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,609 | 5,290 | 10.87% | 15.00% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 8 | 15 | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 450 | 784 | 1.36% | 2.22% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 716 | 1,308 | 2.16% | 3.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,236 | 8,024 | 21.80% | 22.75% |
| Total | 33,198 | 35,265 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Elmont is the second most diverse suburb in New York State.[20] At the 2010 census the population was 33,198. The makeup of the population was 28.5%White, 45.5%African American, 0.5%Native American, 10.9%Asian, 0.0%Pacific Islander, 10.4% fromother races, and 4.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 21.8% of the population.[6]
At the 2000census,[21] there were 32,657 people, 12,902 households and 10,842 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 9,589.9 inhabitants per square mile (3,702.7/km2). There were 10,151 housing units at an average density of 2,980.9 per square mile (1,150.9/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 45.6%White, 34.7%African American, 0.1%Native American, 9.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.69% fromother races, and 1.45% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 14.3% of the population.
There were 10,902 households, of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% weremarried couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.68.
26.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
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In 1984, a bilingual education coordinator for the Elmont elementary school district stated that the majority of the people in Elmont wereItalian American.[22]
Most of Elmont CDP is inElmont Union Free School District (elementary) andSewanhaka Central High School District (secondary). A portion of the CDP is inValley Stream Union Free School District 13 (elementary) andValley Stream Central High School District (secondary).[23]
The following public schools are located within Elmont:[23]
As of 1998[update], the areas of Elmont within the Sewanhaka Central High School District were assigned to attend Sewanhaka High School for grades seven through twelve.[24]
St. Boniface Roman Catholic School (of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre) was in Elmont. It wasLong Island's first Roman Catholic school.[24] The school was predominatelyGerman American on its founding and was heavily White American until the 1950s; after that point, more ethnic minorities became prominent in the student body. It closed in June 2004.[25] In the 1980s, a St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School existed.[22]
TheLong Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides race-day-only passenger service to Belmont Park from Jamaica and Penn Station. Elmont is near theFloral Park,New Hyde Park andValley Stream stations of the LIRR'sMain Line, which provide regular commuter service to NYC. TheElmont–UBS Arena station opened for eastbound trains in November 2021 and thence for westbound trains in October 2022.[26][27][28][29] The Elmont–UBS Arena station includes a commuter lot with parking restricted to Elmont residents.[30]
TheNassau Inter-County Express bus system serves Elmont with then1 (Elmont Road/Central Ave.), andn6 on Hempstead Turnpike (near Belmont Park Racetrack) bus routes, offering connections to the LIRR, theNew York City Subway, andMTA Regional Bus Operations.[31]
Elmont is located at the junction of theCross Island Parkway andSouthern State Parkway, providing quick access to the Long Island parkway system. Elmont is about 7 miles (11 km) from theLong Island Expressway and 10 miles (16 km) from theThrogs Neck Bridge for travel upstate.
Of the five junior-senior high school buildings [...] Elmont students attend Sewanhaka.
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