North Hempstead, New York

North Hempstead is a town located in Nassau County on Long Island in New York. As of the 2020 census, North Hempstead had a population of 240,869 making it the 3rd most populous town in New York. The town government website can be found at https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/ with their address at 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY 11030 and phone number (516) 869-6311.

History of North Hempstead

North Hempstead was first settled in the mid 1600’s by English settlers. The town was officially formed in 1784 as part of Queens County, which was later split to form Nassau County in 1899. Some key moments in North Hempstead’s history include:

1653 – Settlement established in the area named Hastings after English hometown of some of the settlers
1683 – Settlement renamed to Hempstead
1776 – Battle of Long Island fought partly in area during Revolutionary War
1870 – Port Washington branch of Long Island Railroad opened to provide rail service
1875 – Incorporation of the Village of Great Neck
1931 – Opening of King Kullen Grocery Store, America’s first supermarket, in Great Neck

Learn more about the history of North Hempstead at the Wikipedia page.

Population and Demographics

As of the 2020 US Census, North Hempstead had a population of 240,869 making it the 70th largest incorporated place in New York. It is the 3rd most populous town in New York after Hempstead (772,296) and Brookhaven (486,040). The racial makeup of North Hempstead is 62.8% White, 7.3% Black, 5.8% Asian, and 19.5% Hispanic/Latino.
The median household income in North Hempstead is $125,736, significantly higher than the national median of $64,994. The town has a mix of dense suburban areas, semi-rural neighborhoods, beach resorts, and historic harbor villages. The most populous hamlets within North Hempstead are:

New Cassel – 22,542
Westbury – 15,146
Great Neck – 10,264
Manhasset – 8,324
Port Washington – 6,356

Economy and Major Employers

North Hempstead has a diverse economy with major industries including retail, healthcare, education, technology, finance, and manufacturing. According to the North Hempstead data profile, the largest industries by number of employees are:

Health Care – 16,349
Retail Trade – 11,535
Professional Services – 10,263
Educational Services – 7,820
Accommodation & Food Services – 5,672

Some of the major employers located in North Hempstead are:

Northwell Health – 9,675 employees
New York Institute of Technology – 1,850 employees
Mercy Medical Center – 1,823 employees
Cohen Children’s Medical Center – 1,550 employees
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty – 1,021 employees

North Hempstead has a median household income of $125,736 compared to New York state median of $68,486. The town has a skilled workforce with 52.8% holding a bachelors degree or higher compared to 36.2% of New Yorkers. This educated workforce helps attract major employers.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in North Hempstead include:

Nassau County Museum of Art – Art museum in Roslyn Harbor featuring American art. Address: 1 Museum Dr, Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576. Phone: (516) 484-9337. Website: https://nassaumuseum.org/
Old Westbury Gardens – Historic mansion and gardens. Address: 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, NY 11568. Phone: (516) 333-0048. Website: https://www.oldwestburygardens.org/
Christopher Morley Park – Large recreational park with sports fields, trails, and harbor access. 500 Searingtown Rd, Roslyn, NY 11576. Phone: (516) 571-8010.
North Hempstead Beach Park – Public beach park on Long Island Sound. 175 West Shore Rd, Port Washington, NY 11050. Phone: (516) 767-3454.
Sands Point Preserve – Former estate turned museum, gardens, and park. Address: 127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050. Phone: (516) 571-7901. Website: https://sandspointpreserve.org/

The town of North Hempstead has over 30 parks that provide recreational facilities to residents and visitors. The town’s parks offer sports fields, playgrounds, beaches, trails, and nature preserves.

Public Transportation

Public transportation in North Hempstead is provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Options include:

Long Island Rail Road – Rail service on the Port Washington Branch. Stations in North Hempstead include Great Neck, Manhasset, Plandome, Port Washington.
MTA Bus – Bus routes providing service throughout Nassau County and connections to New York City.
Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) – Bus system providing local bus routes within Nassau County.

The town is easily accessible from New York City, located just 20 miles east of Manhattan. The Long Island Expressway (I-495) runs east-west through the town providing access from NYC and Long Island.

Education

North Hempstead is served by multiple school districts. These include:

In addition, North Hempstead is home to Hofstra University in Hempstead. The private university has an enrollment of over 11,000 students.

Local Resources

As the town of North Hempstead is quite large, individual hamlets and villages often have their own community resources and services. Here are some local resources for residents and visitors:

Public Libraries – North Hempstead has 8 independent public library systems. Find locations and websites here.
Hospitals – Northwell Health operates 4 hospitals in the town – North Shore University Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Glen Cove Hospital, and Syosset Hospital.
Places of Worship – North Hempstead has over 150 churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship serving a diverse religious community.
Local Media – News sources include the Great Neck Record newspaper, Port Washington News, and the Manhasset Press.
Community Centers – Public community and recreational centers are located throughout the town.

Residents can find contact information for local services and get involved in community events through websites and social media pages of their individual hamlets.

Demographics Map

This map shows the population density across North Hempstead based on census tract data. The most densely populated areas are in Great Neck, New Cassel, Westbury, and Manhasset. The harbor villages of Sands Point, Port Washington, and Kings Point have lower density. The northern parts of the town have a more suburban density.

GPS Coordinates of Landmarks

Nassau County Museum of Art – 40.7994° N, 73.6784° W
North Hempstead Beach Park – 40.8187° N, 73.6979° W
Old Westbury Gardens – 40.7993° N, 73.5871° W