Baldwin (hamlet), New York Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Baldwin, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
The Sunrise National Bank Building in Baldwin
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
Baldwin (hamlet), New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau
Town	Hempstead
Elevation	23 ft (7.0104 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	24,033
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	11510
Area code(s)	516
GNIS feature ID	942888

Baldwin is a small community called a hamlet in Nassau County, New York. It's located on Long Island within the Town of Hempstead. In 2020, about 33,919 people lived here.

History of Baldwin

The first people to live in this area were Native Americans called the Meroke, or Merrick. They were part of the Lenape people and lived along Milburn Creek.

Early English Settlers

In 1643, English settlers started calling this area Hick's Neck. This name came from two early settlers of Hempstead, John Spragg and John Hicks. They helped expand Hempstead village southwards.

In 1686, John Pine built a grist mill on Milburn Creek. This mill helped attract more English settlers to the area. These settlers worked in fishing, farming, and raising sheep. The area grew into a successful farming community between the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

The first churches were built in 1810 and 1872. The first school opened its doors in 1813.

How Baldwin Got Its Name

Around the early 1800s, Hick's Neck began to be called Milburn. The name Milburn was first officially used in 1839.

In 1855, the village was officially named Baldwinsville. It was named after Thomas Baldwin (1795–1872). He was a very important merchant in Milburn at that time. Thomas Baldwin owned a general store, a hotel, and a sawmill.

In 1867, the South Side Rail Road started running, and a train station was built in Baldwinsville.

In 1871, the U.S. Postal Service changed the village's name from Baldwinsville to Baldwins. This was to avoid confusion with another village called Baldwinsville in upstate New York. By 1892, the village was officially named Baldwin by local government.

Growth and Development

After Hempstead separated from Queens County in 1899, many people moved to Baldwin. It was known for its great boating, swimming, and fishing.

By 1939, Baldwin became the largest unincorporated village in New York State. This was ten years after Sunrise Highway opened. However, by 1960, Levittown became larger.

In the 1990 US Census, the area south of Atlantic Avenue became its own hamlet called Baldwin Harbor. Even so, Baldwin Harbor still shares Baldwin's ZIP code, school district, and library system.

Aviation History

In May 1910, an important event in American aviation happened in Baldwin. Brothers Arthur and Albert Heinrich designed, built, and successfully flew the first all-American monoplane here. This project took place where Plaza Elementary School is now located. Their plane had unique controls that allowed the pilot to fly with just one hand.

Geography and Climate

Baldwin is located in the southwestern part of Nassau County. It sits on the South Shore of Long Island.

Area and Water

According to the United States Census Bureau, Baldwin covers about 3.0 square miles (7.8 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.34%, is water.

Local Climate

Baldwin has a climate that is a mix of a hot-summer humid continental climate and a humid subtropical climate. In January, the average temperature is about 31.9°F (-0.05°C). In July, it averages around 74.8°F (23.78°C). The local hardiness zone for plants is 7b.

Population and Parks

Population Over Time

Baldwin has grown a lot over the years.

In 1882, there were 1,200 people.
By 1920, the population grew to 5,000.
In 1980, it reached 31,630 people.

Parks and Recreation Areas

Baldwin has several public parks where people can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. These include:

Coes Neck Park
Lofts Pond Park
Milburn Pond Park
Silver Lake Park (which is also partly in Oceanside)

Education in Baldwin

Public Schools

Most of Baldwin is served by the Baldwin Union Free School District. However, some smaller parts of the hamlet are served by other school districts, including:

Oceanside UFSD
Rockville Centre UFSD
Roosevelt UFSD
Uniondale UFSD

Children living in Baldwin attend schools in one of these districts, depending on their exact location. The schools in the Baldwin Union Free School District are:

Lenox Elementary
Plaza Elementary
Meadow Elementary
Brookside Elementary
Steele Elementary
Baldwin Middle School
Baldwin High School

Private Schools

Baldwin was also home to a Catholic school called St. Christopher's. This school closed on July 24, 2021.

Library Services

Baldwin is part of several library districts. These include the Baldwin, Freeport, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, and Uniondale Library Districts. The library district boundaries usually match the school district boundaries within the hamlet.

Infrastructure and Services

Transportation Options

Train Service

The Baldwin Long Island Railroad station is located in the hamlet. It is on the LIRR's Babylon Branch, making it easy for residents to travel by train.

Main Roads

Several important roads pass through Baldwin, helping people get around. These include:

Merrick Road (also known as Nassau County Route 27)
Sunrise Highway (also known as New York State Route 27)

Utilities for Homes and Businesses

Natural Gas

National Grid USA provides natural gas to homes and businesses in Baldwin that are connected to gas lines.

Electricity

PSEG Long Island supplies electricity to all homes and businesses throughout Baldwin.

Notable People from Baldwin

Many interesting and talented people have connections to Baldwin. Here are a few:

Bob Beckwith: An FDNY veteran who stood with President George W. Bush after 9/11.
Mandy Cohen: A doctor and former Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Taylor Dayne: A famous singer with many hit songs.
Jonathan Demme: An Oscar-winning director, known for Silence of the Lambs.
Scott Israel: A former sheriff of Broward County, Florida.
Melanie Martinez: A singer/songwriter known for her albums Cry Baby and K-12.
Busta Rhymes: A well-known rap artist.
Scott Rudin: A successful film and theater producer who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
Bob Sheppard: The long-time announcer for the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
Moneta Sleet Jr.: A civil rights era photographer and the first African-American man to win the Pulitzer Prize in photojournalism.
Dee Snider: The lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister.
Susan Sullivan: An actress known for her roles in Falcon Crest and Dharma & Greg.
Chris Weidman: A professional mixed martial artist and former UFC Middleweight Champion.

Medal of Honor Recipients

Two soldiers from Baldwin were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery:

First Lieutenant Bernard J. Ray: He bravely sacrificed his life to protect his men during a battle in the Hurtgen Forest on November 17, 1944.
Specialist Five John J. Kedenburg: While serving in Vietnam, he helped his team escape an enemy attack. He then gave up his own chance to be rescued so that one of his Vietnamese comrades could be saved.

Images for kids

Mandy Cohen
Scott Israel
Busta Rhymes
Susan Sullivan
U.S. Census map

Baldwin (hamlet), New York facts for kids