Atlantic Beach, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atlantic Beach, New York
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| Incorporated Village of Atlantic Beach | |
Atlantic Beach in 2010
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Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
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 Atlantic Beach, New York
Location in Long Island
Atlantic Beach, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Nassau |
| Town | Hempstead |
| Incorporated | 1962 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2) |
| • Land | 0.44 sq mi (1.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,707 |
| • Density | 3,888.38/sq mi (1,500.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–5:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–4:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
11509
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| Area codes | 516, 363 |
| FIPS code | 36-02968 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0942673 |
Atlantic Beach is a small village located on the western part of Long Beach Barrier Island in Nassau County, New York. It's part of the Town of Hempstead. In 2020, about 1,707 people lived here.
Atlantic Beach is on one of the outer barrier islands. It shares this island with other places like Long Beach and Lido Beach. It's a suburb of New York City and is close to Far Rockaway, Queens. To the north, it's bordered by Reynolds Channel and East Rockaway Inlet.
Atlantic Beach is famous for being home to the oldest beach club in the United States, the Lawrence Beach Club. During summer, the population grows a lot as many people come to enjoy the beaches. Residents can get special passes to access the nine beach entrances. Many people think of it as a classic "Old New York" beach spot.
Contents
Exploring Atlantic Beach's Past
How Atlantic Beach Began
The idea for Atlantic Beach started in 1922. A famous builder named Robert Moses wanted to create a large parkway and beach area here. His plans included a bridge and facilities for thousands of beachgoers. However, his ideas were too expensive and never fully happened.
Building the Village
In 1923, a developer named Stephen P. Pettit bought land in Atlantic Beach. He dreamed of building a place that could compete with the nearby City of Long Beach. Sadly, he passed away soon after buying the land.
In 1926, a real estate expert named William Austin and his partner Charles N. Talbot Jr. bought the land. They continued Pettit's work, preparing the land and adding important services like gas, electricity, and sewers by 1927. They started building homes, with the first 45 houses designed in various styles.
William Austin also finished the plan to build the Atlantic Beach Bridge connecting Far Rockaway and Atlantic Beach. This bridge opened in 1927. A long boardwalk was also built along the ocean, making it a great place for walks.
Early Fun and Famous Visitors
The Castles Beach Club opened in 1928, featuring one of the biggest pools on the South Shore of Long Island. The Atlantic Beach Club, later known as the Atlantic Beach Hotel and Cabana Club, opened in 1930. These clubs made Atlantic Beach a popular resort. The United States Olympic Diving team even practiced at the Atlantic Beach Hotel.
The community became a popular spot for wealthy families because of its resort feel and beach clubs. Atlantic Beach was sometimes called the "Palm Beach of New York." In the 1960s, even the Kennedys visited the village.
Atlantic Beach During World War II
During World War II, Atlantic Beach became important for national defense. A tall concrete lookout tower was built to watch for enemy ships. The bridge and its access roads were marked as emergency military routes. Homeowners also helped by patrolling the beaches for any signs of danger.
Beach clubs supported the war effort by following "dim-out" rules to hide lights from the ocean. They also offered bus services and bike racks. Some even allowed guests to stay overnight, which is not allowed today.
A new Atlantic Beach Bridge was built and opened in 1952. In 1953, the boardwalk was rebuilt, making it a bit shorter and narrower than before.
Becoming an Official Village
Before 1962, Atlantic Beach was managed by a property owners' association. The residents decided they wanted more control over their community. They fought to become an official village. This would allow them to manage their own beaches and local rules.
In June 1962, the first village elections were held. Fred Lager became the first mayor and served for 28 years. Atlantic Beach is the only village in Nassau County to have become incorporated after a special change to the county's rules in the 1930s. The Atlantic Beach Village Office opened in November 1962.
Recent Times in Atlantic Beach
The new Atlantic Beach Village Hall opened in 1971.
In the 1980s, many celebrities and summer residents started moving to the Hamptons. However, some wealthier residents from Long Beach began moving to Atlantic Beach.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to Atlantic Beach.
Today, many younger buyers, including people from Manhattan, are choosing Atlantic Beach homes. They find it a more convenient option than the longer commute to the Hamptons. While only a few homes are directly on the ocean, many face Reynolds Channel or are close to the water. There are also many homes available for summer rentals.
In 2014, George Pappas became the mayor, taking over from Stephen Mahler, who had served for 18 years.
Atlantic Beach still has many beach clubs. There's also a senior living community called the Nautilus. A new development called Pebble Cove offers townhouses with security and a swimming pool.
Protecting the Village's Character
Residents of Atlantic Beach have often resisted new developments that don't fit the village's quiet, residential feel. They have opposed attempts by beach club owners to buy more land for expansion. They also opposed the construction of an Eruv, which is a boundary that allows Orthodox Jews to carry items on the Sabbath. Residents were concerned about changes to the community's character. However, as of 2020, an eruv is now fully operational in Atlantic Beach.
Geography and Nature
Getting Around Atlantic Beach
The streets in Atlantic Beach are named after counties in New York State and are in alphabetical order from A to Z, except for X and Z. Three main roads cross these blocks: Bay Boulevard, Park Street, and Ocean Boulevard.
Atlantic Beach is connected to the rest of Long Island by the Atlantic Beach Bridge. This bridge is the only toll bridge in Nassau County. While the toll can be debated, Atlantic Beach residents support it because it helps control traffic coming into the village. The bridge often opens to let boats pass through.
Local Wildlife
- Atlantic Beach has an artificial reef in the ocean nearby.
- The village is home to Piping Plovers, which are a rare and endangered type of bird.
Who Lives in Atlantic Beach?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 1,640 | — | |
| 1980 | 1,775 | 8.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,933 | 8.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,986 | 2.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,891 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,707 | −9.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 1,707 people living in Atlantic Beach. The village had 567 households. Most residents (96.61%) were White. About 3.09% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The average age of residents was 53.5 years old.
In 2018, the average household income in the village was $139,250. This means that Atlantic Beach is a community with a relatively high income level.
Fun and Games in Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach residents can use a large tennis center with 10 courts. This center is managed by a private company.
There's also a 22-foot-wide boardwalk along the beach, perfect for walking and enjoying the ocean views. You can find a few playgrounds scattered around the village for younger kids to enjoy.
Village Services
The Atlantic Beach Fire District is in charge of fire and emergency ambulance services. However, Atlantic Beach doesn't have its own fire department. Instead, the Long Beach Fire Department provides these services. The Atlantic Beach Rescue Unit started helping with emergency ambulance calls in 1975.
Police protection for the village is provided by the 4th Precinct of the Nassau County Police Department.
The Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District handles the sewage services for the village and nearby areas.
Learning in Atlantic Beach
Children in Atlantic Beach attend schools that are part of the Lawrence Public Schools district.
Famous People from Atlantic Beach
- Ethel Barrymore, a famous American actress.
- Various members of the Kennedy Family.
- Guy Lombardo, a Canadian-American musician.
- Bruce Blakeman, a local politician who became the Nassau County Executive.
- Jon Heyman, a sports journalist.
- Jax, a singer-songwriter who appeared on American Idol.
- Peter Lorre, a Hungarian-American actor.
- David McCallum, an actor.
- Nancy Shevell McCartney, the wife of Beatle Paul McCartney, who lived in Atlantic Beach.
- Ira Rennert, a businessman and CEO of Renco Group.
- Leonard N. Stern, a philanthropist.
- Max Stern, who founded Hartz Mountain Corporation.
- Henry Swieca, a billionaire and co-founder of Highbridge Capital Management.
- The Vanderbilt family, a well-known family in shipping and railroads.
- James "Jimmy" Walker, a former NYC Mayor.
See also
In Spanish: Atlantic Beach (Nueva York) para niños
