Jericho, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jericho, New York
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The Milleridge Inn, a local landmark
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Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
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 Jericho, New York
Location in Long Island
Jericho, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Nassau |
| Town | Oyster Bay |
| Named for | Biblical city of Jericho |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.96 sq mi (10.26 km2) |
| • Land | 3.96 sq mi (10.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 197 ft (60 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,808 |
| • Density | 3,737.51/sq mi (1,443.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
11753, 11853, 11590
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| Area codes | 516, 363 |
| FIPS code | 36-38539 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0954000 |
Jericho is a small community called a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). It is located in the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County. Jericho is on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York. It is about 29 miles (47 km) east of Midtown Manhattan. In 2020, about 14,808 people lived here.
Jericho is served by two school districts: the Jericho Union Free and the Syosset Central School District. Their borders are a bit different from the hamlet's actual boundaries. Also, the Jericho Post Office covers areas that are slightly different from both the hamlet and the school districts. For example, some parts of Jericho use a Westbury ZIP code, and some parts of Syosset use the Jericho ZIP code.
Contents
History of Jericho
Jericho is located in the Town of Oyster Bay. In 1648, this area was part of the Robert Williams Plantation. The first English families who settled in Jericho were Quakers, or became Quakers soon after arriving. Quakers are members of the Society of Friends, a religious group. Many of them came here to escape unfair treatment in England and other New England Colonies. They wanted to live peacefully as farmers.
In 1692, the area's name was changed from Lusum to Jericho. This new name came from a town in the Middle East mentioned in the Bible. It was part of the Promised Land.
Quakers and the Revolutionary War
Elias Hicks married Jemima Seaman in 1771 and moved to her family's farm in Jericho. He became a well-known Quaker preacher. During the Revolutionary War, British soldiers stayed in the homes of local residents. Quakers faced challenges because they were against all forms of war.
After the war, Jericho became peaceful again, and farms and businesses grew. A Friends Meeting house, where Quakers worship, was built in 1788. It is still used today. A Quaker school was built in 1793. The Charity Society of Jericho and Westbury was founded in 1794. With Elias Hicks' help, slavery was ended in the area by 1817.
Growth and Development
A post office opened in Jericho in 1802. A cider mill was built in the mid-1800s. The first public elementary school, called Cedar Swamp School, opened in 1905. The Jericho Water District was started in 1923 to improve water services.
As more people moved to Jericho, new schools were built. The Robert Seaman School opened in 1953. The George A. Jackson Elementary School opened in 1957. The Robert Williams School opened in 1961 but is now closed. The Cantiague School opened in 1963. A Volunteer Fire Department was also started in 1938.
When the Village of Muttontown was formed, the cider mill ended up inside its borders. Many villages on the "Gold Coast" wanted to stay free of businesses. So, they often do not have their own post offices. This is why the Jericho Post Office serves this part of Muttontown. This can make people think the cider mill is in Jericho, even though it's not.
After World War II, in the 1950s, Phebe Underhill Seaman sold a large part of her land. This land was used to build new suburban homes. A water tower was put up in 1952. In 1958, the New York Department of Transportation changed "Old Jericho." They widened Broadway (Routes 106/107) and added a cloverleaf exit for Jericho Turnpike. New schools, a high school, a shopping center, a new post office, a new fire department, and a public library were also added.
Jericho is also home to the New York Community Bank Theatre. This theater first opened in 1956 as the Westbury Music Fair. The main entrance to SUNY Old Westbury is also located in Jericho.
In 2014, a car dealership used a parking lot at Cantiague Park to store cars illegally. The Jericho Gardens Civic Association brought this issue to Nassau County's attention. The county then took action against the dealership.
Underground Railroad History
The building now known as One North was built in 1789. It was the home of Valentine Hicks, a well-known Quaker and abolitionist. Abolitionists were people who worked to end slavery. Valentine Hicks' father-in-law, Elias Hicks, believed that all people should be free.
Valentine Hicks was also a "station master" for the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe places and routes. It helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Valentine Hicks' home was an important "way station." It had a hidden panel behind an upstairs linen closet. This panel hid a staircase that led to the attic. Hicks would hide people seeking freedom in the attic until it was safe for them to continue their journey.
The Town of Oyster Bay recognized this site as a historic landmark in 2012. In 2015, there was concern about keeping this historic site safe. Part of the Maine Maid Inn was torn down without permission from the Oyster Bay landmark commission. This upset many people who wanted to protect the historic building.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Jericho covers about 4.1 square miles (10.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
There is another community named Jericho in New York. It is in the very northeast corner of the state. This other Jericho is in the Town of Altona, in Clinton County. It is mainly located along Rand Hill Road.
Climate
Jericho has a climate that is a mix of two types: humid subtropical climate and humid continental climate. This means that summers are usually hot and humid. They often have thunderstorms. Winters are usually cool with both snow and rain. Spring and fall generally have mild weather.
The average monthly temperatures in Jericho change throughout the year. In January, the average temperature is about 30.9°F (-0.6°C). In July, it is about 74.7°F (23.7°C).
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 13,045 | — | |
| 2020 | 14,808 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 13,045 people living in Jericho. They lived in 4,545 homes, with 3,813 of these being families. The population density was about 3,214 people per square mile (1,241 people per square kilometer).
Jericho, like many places in northern Nassau County, has historically had a large Jewish population. In the 2010s, many people of East Asian background moved to Jericho. They were drawn by the excellent public school district and the good quality of life.
By 2020, the mix of people in Jericho had changed quite a bit. About 48.1% of the population was White, and 46.5% was Asian. About 1% was African American, and 3% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 2.5% of the population. In 2020, nearly 70% of students in the Jericho Union Free School District were Asian. This was up from 33% in 2010.
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In 2000, about 38.6% of homes had children under 18 living there. About 74.8% were married couples. The average home had 2.81 people, and the average family had 3.08 people.
The age groups in Jericho in 2000 were:
- 25.3% were under 18 years old.
- 4.6% were from 18 to 24 years old.
- 25.4% were from 25 to 44 years old.
- 28.4% were from 45 to 64 years old.
- 16.4% were 65 years or older.
The average age was 42 years.
The average income for a household in 2000 was $171,743. The average income for a family was $239,626. The income per person was $76,646. About 2.7% of families and 4.7% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 4.8% of those under 18 and 5.2% of those 65 or older.
Economy
Several companies have offices or headquarters in Jericho. Aer Lingus, which is the main airline of Ireland, has its U.S. office here. Nathan's Famous, a well-known hot dog company, has its main office in Jericho.
Publishers Clearing House, a company known for its sweepstakes, moved its headquarters to Jericho in 2017. Nationwide TFS, a company that helps people with personal payments for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, was started in Jericho in 2011. Many stores and businesses are located along Cantiague Rock Road in the Jericho Gardens area.
As of 2024, the average price for a home in Jericho was about $1,083,413. This is much higher than the average for New York state, which was $453,138. The average asking price for a home was $1,276,833. Jericho homes are often very expensive for their size. This is because many homebuyers want to live in homes that are part of the highly-rated Jericho Union Free School District. Homes in this school district can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more than similar homes just outside its boundaries.
Notable People
- Tyler Alvarez, actor
- Madison Beer, singer
- David Carol, photographer
- Harry Chapin, singer, songwriter, and storyteller (passed away in Jericho)
- Jordan Cila (born 1982), a soccer player for Major League Soccer
- Adam Fox (born 1998), a professional ice hockey player and Norris Trophy winner for the New York Rangers
- Stephanie Klein, writer
- Donny Lia, racing driver
- Matt Litwin, musician and founder of the band Bulletproof Messenger
- PH-1 (born 1989), rapper
- Natalie Portman, actress
- Miroslav Šatan, retired professional hockey player
- Jay Sekulow, attorney and advisor
- Adrienne Shelly, actress
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos
- Allan Steele, actor and writer
See also
In Spanish: Jericho (Nueva York) para niños
