West Hempstead, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Hempstead, New York
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A welcome sign at an entrance to West Hempstead on September 18, 2021
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Location in Nassau County and the state of New York
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 West Hempstead, New York
Location in Long Island
West Hempstead, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| County | Nassau |
| Town | Town of Hempstead |
| Named for | Its location west of the Village of Hempstead |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.73 sq mi (7.07 km2) |
| • Land | 2.66 sq mi (6.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,835 |
| • Density | 7,462.38/sq mi (2,881.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
11552
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| Area codes | 516, 363 |
| FIPS code | 36-80225 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0969246 |
West Hempstead is a community in Nassau County, New York. It is located on Long Island and is part of the Town of Hempstead. In 2020, about 19,835 people lived there. West Hempstead is an area that is not officially a city or town, but it is recognized for census purposes.
Contents
West Hempstead's Story
West Hempstead first appeared on maps in 1893 as the name of a train station. Today, there are three train stations in the area: West Hempstead, Hempstead Gardens, and Lakeview. These stations are part of the Long Island Railroad system.
The community has a main park called Halls Pond Park, which opened in 1961. There is also a smaller park called Echo Park, which has a public indoor swimming pool. The name "Echo Park" comes from the first four local little league teams: Eagles, Cardinals, Hawks, and Orioles.
The West Hempstead Public Library started in 1956. Its current building, which is very large at 28,000 square feet, was finished in 2007.
In 2001, people living in West Hempstead voted on whether to change the community's name. Local groups wanted a new name to make West Hempstead unique. They also wanted to distance it from the nearby Village of Hempstead. After a close vote, West Hempstead kept its original name instead of changing to "Mayfair Gardens."
You can easily get to West Hempstead from the Southern State Parkway by taking Exit 17N.
The West Hempstead Union Free School District runs five schools. These include one kindergarten, two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
West Hempstead got its name because it is located just west of the Village of Hempstead.
Where is West Hempstead?
West Hempstead covers about 2.8 square miles (7.07 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The land in West Hempstead gently slopes between the Hempstead Plains and the Atlantic Ocean. A stream called Pine Stream flows through the middle of the community. This stream feeds into Halls Pond. To the east, West Hempstead is next to Hempstead Lake State Park. The Southern State Parkway forms its southern border.
People of West Hempstead
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 19,835 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were about 4,867 families living in West Hempstead. The population density was about 7,039 people per square mile.
Many households in West Hempstead have children under 18. Most families are married couples living together. The average household size was about 3 people.
The average income for a family in West Hempstead was around $102,481 in 2010. A small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.
According to a survey from 2013-2017, West Hempstead had 19,841 people. The community is diverse, with people from many different backgrounds. About 70.8% of the people were White, 12.8% were African American, and 9.5% were Asian. About 20.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2017, about 23.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 14.8% were 65 years or older. The average age of people in West Hempstead was 40.3 years.
West Hempstead, along with nearby Franklin Square, has a large Orthodox Jewish community. This community has seven synagogues and the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County elementary school.
Famous People from West Hempstead
- Nathan Englander – A writer of short stories and novels, born and raised here.
- Kalomoira – A popular Greek singer, born in West Hempstead.
- Lucien Laurin – An award-winning horse trainer.
- Don McPherson – A former player in the NFL (National Football League).
- Walt Whitman – A famous American poet and journalist. He was a headmaster at a school in West Hempstead.
- Orville Wright – One of the inventors of powered flight. He lived in West Hempstead in the early 1930s.
- Heinrich Guggenheimer – A well-known mathematician and Hebrew scholar.
Things to Do in West Hempstead
- West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club
- The New York Equestrian Center (for horse riding and boarding)
- Hempstead Lake State Park
- West Hempstead Community Support Association
- West Hempstead Lions Club
- West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce
- West Hempstead Kiwanis Club
- Boy Scout Troop 240
- Cub Scout Pack 240
See also
In Spanish: West Hempstead para niños
