Hicksville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hicksville, New York
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Broadway in Hicksville, one of the hamlet's main thoroughfares, June 2019
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| Motto(s):
"The community with time for you"
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Location in Nassau County (right) and in New York state (left)
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 Hicksville, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County |  Nassau County, New York |
| Town | Oyster Bay |
| Named for | Valentine Hicks |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.81 sq mi (17.63 km2) |
| • Land | 6.79 sq mi (17.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 148 ft (45 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,869 |
| • Density | 6,458.92/sq mi (2,493.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
11801
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| Area code(s) | 516 |
| FIPS code | 36-34374 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0952707 |
Hicksville is a community called a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County. It is located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in New York. In 2020, about 43,869 people lived here.
Contents
History
How Hicksville Got Its Name
Hicksville is named after Valentine Hicks. He was the son-in-law of Elias Hicks, a famous Quaker preacher who worked to end slavery. Valentine Hicks later became the president of the Long Island Rail Road. In 1834, he bought land in the area. By 1837, he helped make it a train stop on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
From Farms to Suburb
The train station became a busy place for shipping farm products, especially cucumbers. These cucumbers were sent to a Heinz Company factory. Later, a plant disease ruined the cucumber crops, so farmers started growing potatoes instead. After World War II, many new homes were built. Hicksville then grew into a busy suburb of New York City.
Why Hicksville Isn't a Village
In 1953, people in Hicksville tried to make it an official village. They thought that if it became a village, the community would be managed better than by the Town of Oyster Bay. Over 6,000 residents signed a petition to support this idea. However, these plans did not work out. Hicksville is still an unincorporated area, meaning it's not an official village, and it's managed by the Town of Oyster Bay.
Geography
Hicksville covers about 6.8 square miles (17.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Hicksville's Weather
The weather in Hicksville is a mix of hot-summer humid continental and humid subtropical. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters. The average temperature in January is about 31.9°F (-0.05°C), and in July, it's about 74.7°F (23.7°C).
Economy
Local Businesses and Factories
Over the years, several companies have had operations in Hicksville. Metalab Equipment Company used to make furniture for laboratories. Alsy Manufacturing produced electric lamps and lampshades from 1975 to 1991.
The Rubber Company of America (RUCO) built a factory here in 1945. Later, this site was owned by other companies like Occidental Chemical Corporation and Bayer Corporation. They made plastics and other materials. The factory closed in 2002, and the buildings were taken down. The land is now empty and fenced off.
A Commuter Town
Because Hicksville has a major Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station, it became a "bedroom community." This means many people who live in Hicksville travel by train to work in New York City. The LIRR also has a yard where freight trains can drop off or pick up goods for local businesses.
Shopping and Culture
North Broadway in Hicksville is a big shopping area. It used to have the Mid-Island Shopping Plaza, which is now called Broadway Mall. There were also many other stores and restaurants.
Hicksville is also home to many businesses that cater to its large population of immigrants from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. You can find South Asian grocery stores, clothing shops, and restaurants here.
Companies with Headquarters in Hicksville
- Sam Ash Music is a well-known music store chain that has its main office in Hicksville.
Demographics
In 2020, Hicksville had a population of 43,869 people living in 13,409 households. This means there were about 6,458.9 people per square mile.
The population is made up of different groups: about 47.2% White, 32.8% Asian, 3.4% African American, and 0.2% Native American. About 13.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
From 2017 to 2021, the average yearly income for a household in Hicksville was $123,230. The average income per person was $46,504. About 4.1% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Growth of the Asian Population
By 1996, Hicksville started to become known for its "Little India" area, with several restaurants serving South Asian cuisine.
Between 2010 and 2020, the number of Asian residents in Hicksville grew a lot. It went from 8,139 to 14,178 people, making up 32.3% of the town's population. By 2020, Hicksville had become a central place for Indian-Americans. It offers many South Asian grocery stores, clothing shops, and restaurants that serve the cultural and economic needs of its residents.
Education
School Districts
Most of Hicksville is part of the Hicksville Union Free School District. However, small parts of the community are in the Bethpage Union Free School District and the Syosset Central School District. This means that children living in Hicksville go to one of these three school districts, depending on where their home is. In 2023, Hicksville High School was ranked among the top 30% of schools in New York State.
Library Districts
Just like with schools, Hicksville is served by three different library districts: the Hicksville Library District, the Bethpage Library District, and the Syosset Library District. The areas covered by these libraries are similar to the school district boundaries.
Transportation
Roads in Hicksville
Four main state roads pass through Hicksville: New York State Route 106, New York State Route 107, the Northern State Parkway, and the Wantagh State Parkway. The Northern State Parkway also forms part of Hicksville's northern border. Other important local roads include Jerusalem Avenue, Old Country Road, Plainview Road, and South Oyster Bay Road.
Train Travel
Hicksville is a major station for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). It's where the Ronkonkoma Branch and the Port Jefferson Branch lines meet to form the Main Line. This makes it a very important stop for train commuters.
Bus Services
Hicksville is also a central point for several bus routes run by Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE). These buses help people travel to many nearby towns and areas:
- n20H: Travels between Great Neck and Hicksville.
- n22/n22X: Connects Hicksville to Jamaica.
- n24: Goes from Hicksville to Jamaica.
- n48: Travels between Hicksville and Hempstead.
- n49: Connects Hicksville to Hempstead.
- n78: Goes from Hicksville to Plainview.
- n79: Travels between Hicksville and the Huntington, New York Walt Whitman Mall and Shops.
- n80: Connects Hicksville to Sunrise Mall.
Public safety
The Hicksville Fire Department provides fire protection for the community. Police services are handled by the Nassau County Police Department from its 2nd and 8th precincts. The MTA Police and Nassau County Auxiliary Police also help keep the area safe.
Notable people
Many interesting people have connections to Hicksville:
- Lorraine Bracco, an actress known for Goodfellas and The Sopranos
- Theresa Caputo, a TV personality from Long Island Medium
- Michael Collins, a former professional soccer player
- Denny Dias, a former guitarist for the band Steely Dan
- Larry Eisenhauer, a professional football player
- Frank Gerwer, a professional skateboarder
- Billy Joel, a famous singer and musician
- Maura Johnston, a writer and academic
- Mitch Kupchak, a professional basketball executive and former player
- The Lemon Twigs, an indie rock band
- Dennis Michael Lynch, a businessman and filmmaker
- Don Murphy, a film producer
- Tim Parker, a professional soccer player
- Dave Pietramala, a college lacrosse coach
- Al Pitrelli, a guitarist for Megadeth and Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- Steve Rosenthal, a labor and political strategist
- Al Sarrantonio, a science fiction author
- Gary D. Schmidt, an author
- Rob Walker, a politician
See also
In Spanish: Hicksville (Nueva York) para niños
