Hempstead, New York

Hempstead: Town in Nassau County, New York

About

Hempstead is a town located in the county of Nassau in the U.S. state of New York. Its population at the 2010 census was 759,757. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 764,055 inhabitants.

Hempstead is a village located in Nassau County, New York, on the south shore of Long Island. With a population of around 55,000, Hempstead is the largest village in New York.

Early Settlement

The roots of Hempstead date back to the 1640s when English settlers from Stamford, Connecticut established the town of Hempstead under a charter from the Dutch governor of New Netherland. This made it one of the oldest European-American settlements in what is now New York.

Its location on the fertile Hempstead Plains made it ideal for farming. Agriculture and raising livestock were the mainstays of the local economy for centuries. The village grew slowly but steadily as a rural farming community through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Growth in the 20th Century

Hempstead transformed rapidly in the 20th century. Its population exploded from 3,000 in 1900 to over 50,000 by 1950. Several factors drove this growth.

Its proximity to New York City made it an attractive suburb as urban residents moved to Long Island. Major transportation projects like the Long Island Railroad and parkways built in the early 20th century enabled commuting and connected Hempstead to the economic engine of NYC.

Levittown, America’s famous postwar planned suburb, abuts Hempstead and drove major residential and commercial development. By the 1950s, Hempstead was transformed into a diverse suburban community.

Hempstead Today

Today, Hempstead is both a suburb and a self-contained community. Over 50% of residents work within the village, sustaining many local businesses and jobs. It functions as the civic, economic, and transportation hub of the surrounding area.

The area boasts a diverse population, with large African American, Hispanic, Caribbean, and European immigrant communities. This diversity brings a robust mix of cultural traditions and eateries. Neighborhoods range from pre-revolutionary homes to Levittown’s iconic suburban housing.

Hempstead continues to balance its rich history with suburban growth and economic development. The village faces challenges like crime and poverty, but community members are active in civic engagement to improve the quality of life. As Long Island’s largest village, Hempstead occupies an important place regionally and retains a distinct identity.

Hempstead locator map
Location of Hempstead on New York map.

Quick Facts about Hempstead

Population : 764,055 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : New York (United States)
County : Nassau County
Phone Area Codes : 516
Area : 495500000 km2
Altitude : 56 feet / 17 meters
Time Zone : America/New_York
Local time : 06:33:52 (19th March 2024)
Postal code : 11549
Population growth : 0.56% (2010-2020)
TownOfHempsteadHall image
TownOfHempsteadHall
TownOfHempsteadHall image

Geography

Hempstead is located at 40°42'22"N 73°37'7"W (40.7062100, -73.6187400).

Hempstead map

Demographics

The population of Hempstead increased by 0.56% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 759,757 - census
2011 763,207 0.45% estimation process
2012 765,466 0.3% estimation process
2013 766,937 0.19% estimation process
2014 767,990 0.14% estimation process
2015 767,371 -0.08% estimation process
2016 767,534 0.02% estimation process
2017 767,721 0.02% estimation process
2018 767,415 -0.04% estimation process
2019 766,535 -0.11% estimation process
2020 764,055 -0.32% estimation process

Hempstead zip code is 11549. County name: Nassau, County fips: 36059

Hempstead, Hemsted, Khempsted, Хемпстед

People born in Hempstead (47)

People born in Hempstead, including politician Henry Southard, recording artist; rapper and actor Method Man, musician Shannon McNally, .

List

  • Shalom H. Schwartz (Israeli psychologist) he was born in 01/01/1940
  • Drew Nicholas (American basketball player) he was born in 17/05/1981
  • Bill Nieder (Athletics competitor, shot putter) he was born in 10/08/1933
  • Bryan Bailey (American basketball player) he was born in 13/05/1980
  • Craig S. Harris (American musician) he was born in 10/09/1953
  • Brian Pumper (American movie film director and actor) he was born in 25/04/1981
  • Gene Ruggiero (American film editor) he was born in 20/06/1910
  • Mark Mobius (American businessman) he was born in 17/08/1936
  • Peter Warren he was born in 21/11/1935
  • William C. Hayes (American egyptologist) he was born in 21/03/1903
  • Stuart Merrill (American poet, who wrote mostly in the French language) he was born in 01/08/1863
  • Bob Wright (US businessman) he was born in 23/04/1943
  • Brandee Younger (American Harpist) she was born in 01/01/1983
  • George H. Williams (former President Of American University) he was born in 12/02/1918
  • George Wallace (American poet) he was born in 22/03/1949
  • Peter J. Stadelman (American politician) he was born in 29/10/1871
  • Tu Holloway (American basketball player) he was born in 21/08/1989
  • William Laing (American Union Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor) he was born in 01/01/1831

Schools in Hempstead

College & universities near Hempstead, NY

Code Name City ZIP
483708 Access Careers Hempstead (NY) 11550-0000
476610 Barber & Beauty Institute of New York Hempstead (NY) 11550-6317
192484 Long Island Beauty School-Hempstead Hempstead (NY) 11550
193292 Molloy College Rockville Centre (NY) 11571-5002
191649 Hofstra University Hempstead (NY) 11549

Stations (16)

Amtrak & bus stations near Hempstead, NY

Code Name Address Type
NRO New Rochelle station 1 Railroad Plaza RAIL
NYP Pennsylvania Station 8th Ave 31st Street / 8th Ave 33rd Street RAIL
YNY Yonkers station 5 Buena Vista Ave. RAIL
STM Stamford Transportation Center Washington Blvd and South State St. RAIL
NWK Pennsylvania Station 1 Raymond Plaza West RAIL

Post offices near Hempstead

Post Office Name City ZIP
Hempstead Post Office Hempstead (NY) 11550
Garden City Post Office Garden City (NY) 11530
Uniondal Post Office Uniondale (NY) 11553
West Hempstead Post Office West Hempstead (NY) 11552
Western Nassau Post Office Garden City (NY) 11599

Other places with the same name (2)

Other cities in Nassau County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Nassau County , NY. (more)

City Name Population Title
Oyster Bay 296,592 Town on Long Island, New York, United States
Freeport 42,705 The county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois.
Hicksville 41,547 Census-designated place in Nassau County, New York
East Meadow 38,132 Hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County (Long Island), New York, United States
Valley Stream 37,196 Village in Nassau County, New York, United States of America
Long Beach 33,303 City in Nassau County, New York, United States
Elmont 33,198 Census-designated place in Nassau County, New York
Franklin Square 29,320 Census-designated place in Nassau County, New York
Glen Cove 27,005 City in Nassau County, New York
Plainview 26,217 City in Texas
Uniondale 24,759 Census designated-place in New York, United States
Rockville Centre 24,398 Village in Nassau County, New York, United States
Baldwin 24,033 Census designated place in New York, United States
Garden City 22,224 Village in New York, United States
Merrick 22,097 Hamlet and census-designated place in New York
Massapequa 21,685 Census-designated place in New York, United States

Distance to Other Cities

Hempstead distances to largest New York cities