Point Lookout, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Point Lookout, New York
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Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
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 Point Lookout, New York
Location in Long Island
Point Lookout, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New York |
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| County | Nassau | |
| Town | Hempstead | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.38 sq mi (0.97 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) | |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,527 | |
| • Density | 5,634.69/sq mi (2,175.16/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
11569
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| Area codes | 516, 363 | |
| FIPS code | 36-58849 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0960827 | |
Point Lookout is a small community in New York, located on a narrow strip of land. It's known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a small village that isn't officially a town or city, but the government still counts its population.
Point Lookout is part of the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York. In 2020, about 1,527 people lived there. Most of the area has homes, with a few small shops along Lido Boulevard. The community is almost completely surrounded by water, making it a popular spot for summer homes. Locals often call it "PLO."
Contents
Geography of Point Lookout
Point Lookout is found at the eastern end of Long Beach Barrier Island. It's right next to Lido Beach and not far from the city of Long Beach to its west. The total area of Point Lookout is about 0.7 square kilometers (0.27 square miles), and it's all land.
Long Beach Barrier Island
Long Beach Barrier Island is a long, thin island between Reynolds Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. It was formed by glaciers long ago. This island has many different natural features like bays, sand dunes, ponds, and marshy areas. These features create a special environment that supports a wide variety of plants and animals. Jones Inlet separates Long Beach Barrier Island from Jones Beach Island.
Population Information
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,527 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, Point Lookout had a population of 1,527 people. Back in 2000, there were 1,472 people living there. The community is mostly made up of White residents, with smaller numbers of other racial groups. Most households are families, and many people aged 65 or older live alone. The average age of residents in 2000 was 43 years old.
History of Point Lookout
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The first people known to live in the Point Lookout area were Native Americans from the Merrick (Meroke) tribe, who were part of the Algonquin people. Later, in the 1640s, Dutch settlers arrived, followed by the English in the 1660s.
Early Development
The barrier island where Point Lookout sits has existed for thousands of years. People started mentioning Point Lookout in the mid-1800s as a place for whalers and a dangerous spot for ships. Because of a terrible shipwreck in 1837, a U.S. Life Saving Station was built at Point Lookout in 1872. This station helped rescue people from shipwrecks.
In the past, there were hotels and seasonal bungalows (small houses) built in Point Lookout. A seasonal railroad even connected Point Lookout to Long Beach. However, many of these buildings were destroyed over time by big winter storms or fires. During the summer, ferries brought many visitors from Freeport to enjoy Point Lookout's beaches.
Senator Reynolds' Vision
In 1906, Senator William Reynolds from Brooklyn led a group that bought the entire barrier island. In 1918, a nearby community called Nassau By the Sea was almost completely destroyed by fire. In the 1920s, Senator Reynolds started a company called Point Lookout Inc. This company built concrete streets and divided the community into small plots of land. These plots were sold to families for about $2,500 each, which helped create the Point Lookout community we know today. Many bungalows that survived the fire in Nassau By the Sea, or were moved from other marsh islands, were brought to Point Lookout. You can still see some of these older bungalows around the community.
Places of Worship
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church is located at 75 Parkside Drive, Point Lookout, NY 11561.
- Point Lookout Community Church is located at 60 Freeport Avenue, Point Lookout, NY 11569.
Fire Department
Point Lookout has its own fire department, the Point Lookout-Lido Fire Department, which was started in 1931. It is located at 102 Lido Boulevard in Point Lookout, NY 11569.
Postal Services
The Point Lookout post office is at 110 Lido Boulevard in Point Lookout, NY 11569-9700. It's important to know that there are no mail delivery services directly to homes in Point Lookout.
Famous People from Point Lookout
Many well-known people have lived in Point Lookout over the years, including:
- Charles Atlas, a famous bodybuilder.
- Chris Burke, an actor known for his role as "Corky" in the TV show Life Goes On.
- Harry Chapin, a singer-songwriter who wrote songs about the area.
- Marlene Dietrich, a famous actress and singer.
- Sidney Hillman, a labor leader.
- Burl Ives, a well-known folk singer and actor.
- Balaram Stack, a professional surfer.
- Oscar Wilde, a famous writer, visited Point Lookout in 1882.
- Kevin Cahill, a doctor and humanitarian.
See also
In Spanish: Point Lookout (Nueva York) para niños
