Mineola, Long Island

Mineola is a village and the county seat of Nassau County, on Long Island, New York, United States. The population was 20,800 at the time of the 2020 census. The village's name is derived from an Algonquin Chief, Miniolagamika, which means "pleasant village".

The Incorporated Village of Mineola is located primarily in the Town of North Hempstead, with the exception being a small portion of its southern edge within the Town of Hempstead. especially see page 5 Old Country Road runs along the village's southern border.

The area serviced by the Mineola Post Office extends farther south into the adjacent village of Garden City, where the Old Nassau County Courthouse is located. Offices of many Nassau County agencies are in both Mineola and Garden City.

History

The central, flat, grassy part of Long Island was originally known as the Hempstead Plains. In the 19th century, various communities were started in this area. One of those communities was called "Hempstead Branch," which would ultimately be known as "Mineola" later on.

Long Island was part of Henry Hudson's original claim in the name of the Dutch East India Company dating as far back as 1609. In the 18th century, the Dutch and English settlers worked to clear farmland to start their life on the Hempstead Plains. It was in 1858 when this land was named after an Algonquin Indian Chief, Miniolagamika meaning, "Pleasant Village". The name was later shortened and altered to "Mineola".

From about 1787 until the 1870s, the area was the county seat for Queens County, in a section then known as Clowesville, just outside the present village boundaries.
The western portion of Queens became a borough of New York City in 1898, and in 1899, Nassau County was formed from the part of Queens that did not consolidate. Voters selected Mineola (in the Town of North Hempstead) to be the county seat for the new county of Nassau in November 1898(before Mineola incorporated as a village in 1906 and set its boundaries), winning out over Hicksville and Hempstead. The Garden City Company (founded in 1893 by the heirs of Alexander Turney Stewart) donated four acres of land for the county buildings just south of the Mineola train station and the present day Village of Mineola, in the Town of Hempstead.

Mineola officially became the County Seat of Nassau County on July 13, 1900, as Governor Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Nassau County Court House. A celebration was held to commemorate the occasion on the barren site at the corner of Old Country Road and Franklin Avenue. Many dignitaries were present to witness this event such as Frederick Hicks, Congressman Townsend Scudder, Colonel William Youngs and Supervisors William Jones and Edwin Willits.

Mineola was legally incorporated as a village in 1906 and run by a president. The land on which the County buildings sat was not included as part of the village. The land and the buildings have a Mineola postal address, but are within the present day Village of Garden City, which did not incorporate or set its boundaries until 1919.

NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island, founded in 1896 by local physicians and residents as Nassau Hospital, and later Winthrop-University Hospital, was Long Island's first voluntary hospital. In 1897, it admitted 91 patients, performed 27 operations, and reported two births and eight deaths during the first year. The original hospital was constructed in 1900. Renamed Winthrop-University Hospital in the 1980s, it is now a nationally recognized award-winning hospital and in 2004 was ranked among the Top 5 Percent of Acute-Care Hospitals in the Country.

In 1888, the Mineola Fire Department was formed in the Willis Ave School house. The department soon moved to a location on Washington Ave. The department originally consisted of volunteer firemen and would officially be incorporated as an official company in 1889.

In 1840, the Mineola Hotel was built by resident John A. Searing across the rail station that was completed the year prior. When the village was separated from Queens and became the county seat of Nassau, it was renamed to Allen's Mineola Hotel. It is considered a landmark alongside the local offices and agencies in Garden City. An adjacent inn, also named the Mineola Hotel, burned down in 1966 as the result of arson. One man was killed and seven others were injured. A jobless machinist, a 20 year old hotel resident named Chlary Skorge, Jr. who was previously on probation for robbery, was indicted for murder. The cause was speculated to be revenge, as he was threatened with eviction after annoying fellow residents.

Main Street was the center of village business as well as a popular meeting place for farmers and the business community alike. The general store offered an array of goods that would fulfill most everyday needs, such as hardware, toys, wool, dry goods, clothing and food. The small glass-fronted mail and delivery boxes filled the existing six-foot post office. As the Mineola population grew, the post office was relocated to the Meyer Building on Mineola Boulevard, and then twice more to 3rd Street and 2nd Street. It eventually found its permanent home on 1st Street and Main Street. As years passed, Jericho Turnpike became the commercial "main street". Farmland was sold off and homes and offices were built. Mineola has continued to be a community of growth and development.

Mineola's first theater named Allen's Hall drew in many early moviegoers to see "the flickers". Motion picture success drew in other theaters to the area, the most lavish being the Century Opera House. Most theaters had a showing in the morning and in the evening, usually featuring a live pianist who kept up with the action of the movie while playing music that suited the story.

The centennial celebration for Mineola was held in 2006. Developments for this celebration originated in 2004 from a Centennial Committee formed by then-mayor Jack M. Martins. Co-chairing this were John DaVanzo, former mayor Robert W. Hinck, Sr., and Candida Maia. Various events commenced in January 2006, including the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra performing at Chaminade High School, the installation of LIRR Caboose #50 in Memorial Park, the unveiling of a historical quilt by the Nimble Fingers quilting group, and a Centennial Journal delivered to residents and businesses. In March, a fashion show entitled “Decade by Decade” was hosted by Fox’s department store at the Corpus Christi Knights of Columbus Hall, and a marching parade consisting of 80 units took place later in October. The final event was an ecumenical service at Mineola Middle School in December, followed by fireworks in Memorial Park.

Mineola is home to large Portuguese communities, and has been for years. Portuguese restaurant, businesses and its accompanying language are a common feature throughout the neighborhood. According to census data, the village contains approximately 1,900 Portuguese residents, out of the 5,100 total across Long Island.

Prevalence in aviation

Mineola was also a familiar place to many of the most famous pilots in history. The Aero Club of America chose the area for the level plains. Glenn Curtiss brought the area to national attention in July 1909 with his second Scientific American Award flight of over 23 minutes and 15 miles. He also made some of the first public flights in America in his "Golden Flyer", while practicing for the Reims Aviation Meet in France. The Wright Brothers, Igor Sikorsky, Captain Rene Fonck, and the famed duo of Clarence Chamberlain and Bert Acosta, dubbed "twins of derring-do", all spent time in Mineola taking advantage of the rolling grasslands and favorable winds.

On November 1, 1915, Captain Raynal Cawthorne Bolling, a New York attorney working at United States Steel, organized the Aviation Detachment, 1st Battalion Signal Corps of the New York National Guard (now the 102d Rescue Squadron). It was the Guard's first genuine aviation unit. Subsequently, the organization was redesignated the 1st Aero Company. Located at Mineola on Long Island, the unit rented and then purchased its own aircraft with funds donated by the Aero Club of America and other contributors. It was "provisionally recognized" on June 22, 1916, and then called into federal service on July 13, 1916, during the Mexican border crisis. However, instead of active service in the southwest, it remained at Mineola training and was released from federal service on November 2, 1916.

After World War I, the British Royal Navy rigid airship R34 made the first-ever east–west aerial crossing of the North Atlantic, traveling from the airship base at RAF East Fortune in the UK to Mineola from July 2 to 6, 1919.

On May 20, 1927, at 7:52 a.m., Charles Lindbergh started his historic flight on the ''Spirit'' from nearby Roosevelt Field. Thirty-three hours later he landed in Paris and became the first person to complete a solo flight from the United States across the Atlantic Ocean. This historic feat was given numerous test flights in the weeks leading up to his departure, particularly in San Diego and St. Louis. On May 20, 1977, fifty years after the flight, a thirteen-cent commemorative stamp depicting the ''Spirit'' over the Atlantic Ocean was issued in commemoration.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has an area of , all land. The village gained territory between the 1990 census and the 2000 census.

Mineola is located approximately 21 miles (34 km) east of Midtown Manhattan and 4 miles (6 km) from the Queens border. The villages bordering Mineola are East Williston and Williston Park to the north, and Garden City to the south. Mineola also borders the hamlets ( CDP) of Carle Place to the east, and Garden City Park and Herricks to the west.

Near the center of the village, Mineola Memorial Park commemorates the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a monument. Mineola's own Memorial Library, as well as multiple private & public schools, adjoin the park. The Memorial Tablet and surrounding paths were an Eagle Project by Troop 45 Eagle Scout Edward Kaiser.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Mineola has a Humid subtropical climate (type Cfa) with cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers. Precipitation is uniform throughout the year, with slight spring and fall peaks.

Greater Mineola area

Mineola consists of 3 villages & 2 unincorporated hamlets:

* Mineola
* Carle Place
* Albertson
* East Williston
* Williston Park

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 20,800 people, 8,618 households, 9,004 housing units, and 4,528 families. The population density was 11,237 people per square mile (4,338.39/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 66.5% White, 63.1% Non-Hispanic White, 1.7% African American, 14.3% Asian, 9.7% from two or more races. 15.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. Additionally, 28.4% were foreign-born persons.

In the village, 4.9% of the population were under age 5, 18.8% were under age 18, and 16.1% were over the age of 65. In total, 46.6% of all persons consisted of females. The average age of all residents was 41.6, with men being 37.9 years old and females being 45.2 years old.

There are 8,618 households, of which 65.5% were fully owned. Of these households, 66% were family owned and 19% were non-family owned. Approximately 6% were occupied by single male individuals, and 8% were occupied by single female individuals.The average household size was 2.44 persons, with the average family household size being 3.09 persons.

The median income for a household in the village was $138,385, and the per capita income was $65,423. Out of all households, 15% had a combined income of under $50,000, 23% were between $50,000-$100,000, 36% were between $100,000-$200,000, and 26% were over $200,000. Approximately 6.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 7% of children and 8% of seniors.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,799 people, 7,473 households, and 4,954 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 7,650 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 81.7% White, 71.5% Non-Hispanic White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8.5% Asian, 5.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. 16.4% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,473 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $60,706, and the median income for a family was $71,042. Males had a median income of $47,182 versus $37,057 for females. The per capita income for the village was $28,890. About 2.6% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The legislative body of the village, the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees, is composed of a mayor and four trustees. Each member is elected to a four-year term. The board is charged with management of village property and finances, and may take all measures under the law for the good government of the village. The trustees may adopt a wide range of local laws to address village concerns.

They are appointed to be liaison officers to various community organizations throughout the village and report back to the board with updates at board meetings.

As of July 2022, the Mayor of Mineola is Paul A. Pereira, the Deputy Mayor is Janine Sartori, and the Village Trustees are Jeffrey M. Clark, Paul S. Cuasto, Janine Sartori, and Donna M. Solosky.

Police force

In 2005–2006, as a result of numerous recommendations from the community that Mineola increase its police force, a Mineola Police Task Force was appointed by Mayor Jack M. Martins to evaluate the feasibility of withdrawing from the Nassau County Police Department and establishing a village police force. The Mayor indicated to the Task Force at its inception that if the feasibility study resulted in a positive report, Mineola would only have its own police department if the residents approved such through a village-wide referendum.

The village board was split 3–2 in favor of the police force, with then-Mayor Jack Martins, Deputy Mayor Werther and Trustee Davanzo supporting it while trustees Fargrieve and Cusato opposed it. On December 5, 2006, the measure was defeated by a 2-1 margin.

Representation in higher government

Mineola is located in the Town of North Hempstead's and 2nd and 3rd council district, which as of August 2024 is represented on the North Hempstead Town Council by Edward Scott (R-Albertson) and Dennis J. Walsh (R–Mineola), respectively. Mineola is also located in Nassau County's 9th Legislative district, which as of August 2024 is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Scott Strauss (R– Locust Valley).

Mineola is based in the New York State Senate's 7th State Senate district, which as of August 2024 is represented in the New York State Senate by former mayor Jack M. Martins (R– Old Westbury).

The village of Mineola is located almost entirely within New York's 3rd Congressional district, which as of August 2024 is represented in the United States Congress by Thomas R. Suozzi ( D– Glen Cove). The south edge located in the Town of Hempstead, however, is represented by Laura Gillen (D- Baldwin) within New York's 4th Congressional district.

Like the rest of New York, Mineola is represented in the United States Senate by Charles Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

Economy

Dover Publications is based in Mineola.

Education

Public

Mineola is primarily located within the boundaries of (and served by) the Mineola Union Free School District. Smaller sections of Mineola are in the East Williston UFSD, Carle Place UFSD, and the Garden City UFSD. As such, children who reside within the village and attend public schools go to school in one of these four districts, depending on where they live within the village.

Private

The private, Catholic Chaminade High School (all boys) is located within the village.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road

Jericho Turnpike (NY 25) passes through the village and Hillside Avenue (NY 25B) forms part of its northern border. Old Country Road also passes through the village and forms its border with Garden City.

The historic Long Island Motor Parkway used to pass through the village, as well.

Other major roads within the village include Mineola Boulevard, Roslyn Road, and Willis Avenue.

Rail

The Mineola station on the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line is located within the village. It serves trains on the Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, and Port Jefferson Branches, as well as limited service on the Montauk Branch.

Bus

Mineola's Mineola Intermodal Center contains the Long Island Rail Road station and a Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus station; the Mineola Intermodal Center is one of Nassau County's main bus hubs.
Mineola is served by the following routes:

* n15: (Rush Hours Only) Mineola - Long Beach
* n22: Jamaica - Hicksville via Hillside Avenue & Prospect Avenue
* n22X: Jamaica - Roosevelt Field Mall
* n23: Mineola - Manorhaven
* n24: Jamaica - Hicksville via Jericho Turnpike & Old Country Road
* n40 (Long Island bus): Mineola - Freeport

The n27 and n40x also serves Mineola, but does not stop at the Mineola Intermodal Center.

Utilities

Natural gas

National Grid USA provides natural gas to homes and businesses that are hooked up to natural gas lines in Mineola.

Power

PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within Mineola.

Sewage

Mineola is connected to sanitary sewers. The village maintains a sanitary sewer system which flows into Nassau County's system, which treats the sewage from the village's system through the Nassau County-owned sewage treatment plants.

The village's sanitary sewer system is roughly in total length.

Water

The Village of Mineola owns and maintains its own water system. Mineola's water system serves the entire village with water.

Notable people

Entertainment

* Lenny Bruce (1925–1966), comedian
* John Burstein (born 1949), creator of Slim Goodbody ("the Superhero of Health")
* Jenna Busch (born 1973), entertainment journalist known for working on sites like IGN, ''Huffington Post'', ''Coming Soon'', JoBlo, SheKnows, Collider, and '' Stan Lee's World of Heroes''
* Jean Butler, (born 1971), Stepdancer, master of Irish Dance, choreographer, and actress. Known for Riverdance
* Justine Cotsonas (born 1985), actress
* Emmy Clarke (born 1991), actress who played the recurring character Julie Teeger on the USA Network show ''Monk''.
* Brian Dennehy (1938-2020), actor
* Andrew Heermans (born 1953), musician, mixer, audio, and mastering engineer
* Jimmy Hines (1903–1986), professional golfer
* Kevin James (born 1965), actor, comedian, star of films and television series ''The King of Queens''
* Jack Kirby (1917-1994), comic book artist
* James Patrick Kelly (born 1951), Hugo Award-winning author
* Jackie Martling (born 1948), comedian and former writer for ''The Howard Stern Show''
* Sally Menke (1953-2010), film editor who worked in cinema and television
* Lia Purpura (born 1964), poet, writer and educator
* Steve Rawlins (born 1954), musician, composer, arranger, musical director, and author
* Kim Richards (born 1964), child actress who starred in '' Nanny and the Professor'', ''Escape to Witch Mountain'', ''No Deposit, No Return'', and ''Return from Witch Mountain''
* Lauren Scala (born 1982), WNBC and New York Nonstop correspondent
* Robert B. Silvers (1929-2017), editor of ''The New York Review of Books''
* Joe Simon (1913-2011), comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher
* Eric Staller (born 1947), mixed media artist
* Katherine Teck (born 1939), author and composer
* Timothy Treadwell (1957-2003), bear enthusiast
* Gary Valentine (born 1961), actor and comedian
* Trisha Ventker (born 1967), author and photographic artist
* Tiffany Vollmer (born 1973), voice actress best known for portraying Bulma from ''Dragon Ball''
* Peter Walker (born 1927), film, stage and television actor
* W. D. Wetherell (born 1948), writer of books, novels, short story collections, memoirs, essay collections, travel and history

Politics and government

* Lloyd Bryce (1851-1917), diplomat and one-term congressman of New York's 7th congressional district
* Steven Derounian (1918-2007), congressman of New York's 2nd and 3rd congressional districts
* Herb Guenther (1941-2021), politician who was a member of both the Arizona House of Representatives and the Arizona State Senate
* Martin W. Littleton (1872-1934), politician and attorney known for involvement in high-profile trials during the early 1900s
* Carolyn McCarthy (born 1944), politician who served as the U.S. representative for New York's 4th congressional district from 1997 to 2015
* Bill Owens, former Congressman for New York's 23rd District
* Ed Ra (born 1981), Republican member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 19th district
* Gerry Studds (1937-2006), Democratic congressman of Massachusetts who was the first member of Congress to be openly gay
* Frances Townsend (born 1961), US Homeland Security Adviser under President George W. Bush
* Mitchell Van Yahres (1926-2008), Democrat mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
* Paula Xinis (born 1968), United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, appointed by former President Barack Obama
* Frank E. Young (1931-2019), physician who served as Commissioner of Food and Drugs and deputy assistant secretary in the United States Department of Health and Human Services

Academia and journalism

* Elizabeth Bunce (1915-2003), geophysicist who became the first female chief scientist of an oceanic expedition at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
* Michael Burns (born 1947), historian and retired actor
* Donald C. Hood (born 1941), professor in Psychology and Professor of Ophthalmic Science in the Department of Psychology at Columbia University
* Elliot G. Jaspin (born 1946), 1979 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
* Monroe Karmin (1929-1999), journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1967
* Jonathan LaPook (born 1953), physician in internal medicine and gastroenterology
* Paul A. Libby (1921-2021), professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, San Diego
* John F. Murray (1927-2020), pulmonologist best known for his work on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
* Deborah Nickerson (1954-2021), professor of genome sciences at the University of Washington
* Gary Schwartz (born 1944), psychologist, author, parapsychologist and professor at the University of Arizona
* Frank Wilczek (born 1951), theoretical physicist, mathematician and Nobel laureate

Business

* Kenneth Chenault (born 1951), CEO of American Express
* Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., former chairman of IBM and former chairman of the Carlyle Group
* Lou Gerstner (born 1942), businessman, best known for his tenure as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of IBM
* Stu Shea (born 1957), business executive and intelligence professional
* Bronson Thayer (1939-2016), chairman of the board and past chief executive officer of Bay Cities Bank

Sports

* Bob Bill (1940-2012), football player and businessman
* Aud Brindley (1923-1957), basketball player for the New York Knicks
* Gary Christenson (born 1953), former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons
* Xavier Edwards (born 1999), professional baseball infielder for the Miami Marlins
* Julia Elbaba (born 1994), former professional tennis player
* Jack Emmer, all-time winningest Division I men's college lacrosse coach for Army
* Steve Falteisek (born 1972), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Montreal Expos and the Milwaukee Brewers
* Luis Felipe Fernandes (born 1996), professional soccer player who currently plays for USL Championship side Sacramento Republic
* Jimmy Hines (1903-1986), professional golfer
* Cannon Kingsley (born 2001), professional tennis player
* Pete Koegel (1947-2023), professional baseball first baseman, catcher, and outfielder
* Warren Koegel (born 1949), professional football player and college athletics administrator
* B. J. LaMura (born 1981), professional baseball pitcher who played for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
* Kevin Lowe, retired professional lacrosse player who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse
* Manny Matos (born 1953), retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League
* Len Mattiace (born 1967), professional golfer, formerly of the PGA Tour and now playing on the PGA Tour Champions
* Carlos Mendes (born 1980), defender for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls
* Brian Mullan (born 1978), former professional soccer player who played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer
* Garrett Pilon (born 1998), son of former NHLer Rich Pilon, Garrett plays in the NHL for the Washington Capitals and Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL)
* Douglas Razzano (born 1988), former competitive figure skater and the 2014 CS Ice Challenge champion
* John Valentin (born 1967), former MLB player
* Lillian Watson (born 1950), former competition swimmer, a two-time Olympic champion, and a former world record-holder in three events
* Chris Weidman (born 1984), UFC Middleweight Champion

Other notable persons

* James L. Fowler (1931-2015), marine who was the founder of the Marine Corps Marathon
* Marie Jerge (born 1953), former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
* Diane Macedo (born 1982), news anchor for ABC News
* Gregory Parkes and Stephen D. Parkes (born 1964 and 1965, respectively), prelates of the Roman Catholic Church

References

External links

Official website

Mineola Chamber of Commerce

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County seats in New York (state)
Villages in Nassau County, New York
Villages in New York (state)