kids encyclopedia robot

Roslyn Heights, New York facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Roslyn Heights, New York
A Welcome sign to Roslyn Heights on Mineola Avenue, as seen on September 27, 2020.
A Welcome sign to Roslyn Heights on Mineola Avenue, as seen on September 27, 2020.
Nickname(s): 
"The Heights"
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
Roslyn Heights, New York is located in Long Island
Roslyn Heights, New York
Roslyn Heights, New York
Location in Long Island
Roslyn Heights, New York is located in New York
Roslyn Heights, New York
Roslyn Heights, New York
Location in New York
Country  United States
State  New York
County Nassau
Town North Hempstead
Area
 • Total 1.48 sq mi (3.82 km2)
 • Land 1.48 sq mi (3.82 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
174 ft (53 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,747
 • Density 4,571.14/sq mi (1,765.50/km2)
Demonym(s) Roslynian
Roslynite
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
11507, 11577
Area codes 516, 363
FIPS code 36-63814
GNIS feature ID 0962934

Roslyn Heights is a community in Nassau County, New York. It is located on the North Shore of Long Island. Roslyn Heights is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a small community that is not officially a town or village, but it has its own boundaries for counting people.

Roslyn Heights is part of the larger Greater Roslyn area. In 2020, about 6,747 people lived here.

Exploring the History of Roslyn Heights

Roslyn Heights has an interesting past, with important changes happening over the years.

How the Railroad Changed Roslyn Heights

In the 1860s, Roslyn Heights saw a big boost in its economy. This happened after the Long Island Rail Road's Oyster Bay Branch was built through the area. The railroad made it easier for people and goods to travel, helping the community grow.

Early Development and Names

Around 1892, a group of lawyers, bankers, and developers started a company. They wanted to build up the northwestern part of the hamlet. They called this new development "Roslyn Highlands." However, this plan didn't fully succeed.

Eventually, the western part of their proposed area was developed as Roslyn Highlands. The eastern part became known as Roslyn Heights. By the late 1920s, the entire area was simply called Roslyn Heights.

The Roslyn Heights Post Office

The Roslyn Heights Post Office first opened its doors on July 18, 1913. It later moved to its current spot at 66 Mineola Avenue in 1967. A special ceremony was held on July 30, 1967, to celebrate the new location.

Roslyn Heights Post Office, Roslyn Heights, Long Island, New York October 15, 2021
The Roslyn Heights Post Office in October 2021.

Attempts to Become a Village

In the 1950s and 1960s, the area south of the Northern State Parkway called Roslyn Country Club tried to become its own village. They wanted to have more control over their local rules. They also weren't happy with plans to make Roslyn Road wider. However, these attempts were not successful. Roslyn Heights remains a hamlet, governed by the Town of North Hempstead.

Modernizing Roslyn Plaza

During the 20th century, a big project called "urban renewal" took place. This happened in the northeastern part of the hamlet, near the Roslyn Long Island Rail Road station. This area was known as Roslyn Plaza. The project began in the early 1970s, and the final part started in 1983. The Town of North Hempstead led this effort to update and improve the area.

The Original Name of the Area

Historically, like many other parts of the Greater Roslyn area, Roslyn Heights was once known as Hempstead Harbor. This name was changed to Roslyn in the 1840s.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Roslyn Heights

The name "Roslyn" is shared with nearby places like Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, and Roslyn Harbor. This name came from Roslin, Scotland. The landscape in Roslyn reminded early officials of the Scottish town.

The "Heights" part of the name comes from the section that was first developed as Roslyn Heights. When the Post Office opened in 1913, it chose to use the name Roslyn Heights, making it the official name for the whole area.

Geography and Size

Roslyn Heights covers an area of about 1.5 square miles (3.82 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Population and People

Roslyn Heights has grown over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
2000 6,295
2010 6,577 4.5%
2020 6,747 2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 6,295 people living in Roslyn Heights. About 79% of the people were White, 6.45% African American, and 10% Asian. Around 6.45% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (39.1%) had children under 18. The average household had about 2.89 people. The median age was 40 years old.

Parks and Fun Places

Roslyn Heights has several parks and places for recreation:

  • Clark Botanic Garden
  • Donald Street Park
  • East Park
  • Gayle Community Center
  • North Park
  • Shepherd Lane Playground
  • Wheatley Hills Golf Club
Donald Street Park, Roslyn Heights, Long Island, New York October 14, 2021
Donald Street Park on October 14, 2021.

Education in Roslyn Heights

Students in Roslyn Heights attend different school districts depending on where they live.

School Districts Serving Roslyn Heights

Most of Roslyn Heights is part of the Roslyn Union Free School District. This district includes the Heights School, one of its elementary schools.

Heights School, Roslyn Heights, Long Island, New York October 14, 2021 A
The Heights School serves as one of the Roslyn Union Free School District's three elementary schools.

However, smaller parts of the hamlet are served by other districts:

  • East Williston Union Free School District
  • Herricks Union Free School District
  • Mineola School District

Library Services

Roslyn Heights is also divided between two library districts:

  • The Bryant Library serves areas within the Roslyn Union Free School District.
  • The Shelter Rock Library District serves areas within the East Williston and Herricks Union Free School Districts.

Getting Around: Transportation and Infrastructure

Roslyn Heights has several ways to get around and important services for its residents.

Roads and Highways

Two major highways pass through Roslyn Heights:

Other important roads include Lincoln Avenue, Mineola/Willis Avenue, I.U. Willets Road, Roslyn Road, and Warner Avenue. The southern edge of the hamlet touches New York State Route 25B.

Train Services

The Oyster Bay Branch of the Long Island Rail Road serves Roslyn Heights. Two train stations are located in or near the hamlet:

  • Roslyn (in the center of the hamlet, south of Lincoln Avenue)
  • Albertson (on the border with Albertson, north of I.U. Willets Road)
Roslyn LIRR sta house jeh
The Roslyn LIRR station's station house in 2011.

Bus Routes

As of 2021, two Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus routes serve Roslyn Heights:

Warner Avenue, Roslyn Heights, Long Island, New York October 15, 2021
An n23 bus on Warner Avenue in Roslyn Heights.

Utilities and Services

  • Natural Gas: National Grid USA provides natural gas to homes and businesses.
  • Electricity: PSEG Long Island supplies electricity to all parts of Roslyn Heights.
  • Sewage: Parts of Roslyn Heights have a sewer system connected to the Nassau County Sewage District. Other areas use cesspools and septic systems.
  • Water: Different parts of Roslyn Heights get their water from different districts. The northern part is served by the Roslyn Water District. The area between the Northern State Parkway and the Wheatley Hills Golf Club is served by the Albertson Water District. A small part of the Wheatley Hills Golf Club within Roslyn Heights gets water from the Village of East Williston.

Famous People from Roslyn Heights

Many notable people have connections to Roslyn Heights:

  • Gary Ackerman – A former U.S. Congressman.
  • Eric Asimov – A reporter for The New York Times.
  • Rick Berman – A Hollywood producer and writer.
  • Hazel Nell Dukes – A civil rights activist.
  • John Giorno – An artist and poet.
  • Rick Hoffman – An actor.
  • Salman Khan – An actor and producer.
  • Kenneth G. Langone – A billionaire businessman who co-founded Home Depot.
  • Shep Messing – An Olympic soccer goalkeeper.
  • John Pierpont Morgan – A famous banker and financier.
  • Chris Miller – An author and co-writer of Animal House.
  • Mike Pollock – A voice actor.
  • Darren Rovell – A sports business analyst.
  • Van Toffler – A former president of MTV.
  • Fred Wilpon – A former owner of the New York Mets.
  • Jeff Wilpon – A former Chief Operating Officer of the New York Mets.
  • Richard Zimler – A novelist.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Roslyn Heights para niños

kids search engine
Roslyn Heights, New York Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.