Mineola, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mineola is a village in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 19,233 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a Native American word meaning a "pleasant place."
It is the county seat of Nassau CountyGR6. Offices of many Nassau agencies are located both in the southern portion of the village and neighboring Garden City, New York.
The Village of Mineola is in both the Town of Hempstead and the Town of North Hempstead.
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[edit] History
The central, flat, grassy part of Long Island was originally named "Hempstead Plains." In the 19th century various communities were started. One of them was called "Hempstead Branch," and finally, "Mineola".
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."
Mineola was legally incorporated in 1906 and run by a president. The president and Trustees worked to meet the needs of the growing community and later became the judicial and legislative heart of Nassau County. The County Seat found its home in Mineola on July 13, 1900, as Governor Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Nassau County Court House. A celebration was held to commemorate this momentous occasion on the barren five-acre site at the corner of Old Country Road and Franklin Avenue. Many dignitaries were present to witness this history-making event such as, Frederick Hicks, Congressman Townsend Scudder, Colonel William Youngs and Supervisors William Jones and Edwin Willits.
Winthrop-University Hospital, founded in 1896 by local physicians and residents as Nassau Hospital, was Long Island's first voluntary hospital. In 1897, it admitted 91patients, performed 27 operations, and reported two births and eight deaths during the first year. The original hospital was constructed in 1900. Today, Winthrop is a nationally-recognized award-winning hospital and in 2004 was ranked among the Top 5 Percent of Acute-Care Hospitals in the Country.
Mineola was also a familiar place to many of the most famous pilots in history. The Wright Brothers, Igor Sikorsky, Captain Rene Fonac, 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 May 20, 1927 at 7:52am, Charles Lindbergh started his historic flight from nearby Roosevelt Field. Thirty-three hours later he landed in Paris and became the first person to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
Mineola's first theatre 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.
As years passed, Jericho Turnpike became the commerical "main street," farmland was sold off, and homes and offices were built. Mineola has continued to be a community of growth and development.
Mineola held its centennial celebration in 2006.
[edit] Current Elected Officials
Board of Trustees
The legislative body of the village, the board of trustees, is composed of the mayor and four trustees. Each member is elected to a two-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.[1]
Current Trustees
Mayor Jack Martins
Deputy Major Lawrence Werther
Trustee Linda Fairgrieve
Trustee Paul Cusato
Trustee John DaVanzo
[edit] Mineola additional information
Mineola is mostly served by the Mineola Union Free School District. Smaller sections of Mineola are in the East Williston and Carle Place School Districts. In 2005, Assistant Superintendent John Jackson was arrested for stealing money and labor from the district totaling over $90,000. He pleaded guilty and in January 2006 was sentenced to 5 years probation and 90 days in jail. Reggie Carter, former basketball player for the New York Knicks, was Assistant Principal of Mineola High School until his death in 1999.
The Mineola Hotel burned down in 1966 as the result of arson. One man was killed.
Mineola has a central railroad station and adjacent bus station.
Mineola is home to a large Portuguese community, and has been for years. The Portuguese restaurants and businesses are a common feature throughout the neighborhood.
Mineola village leaders have recently expressed dissatisfaction with the level of police protection provided by the Nassau County Police Department and are actively exploring forming their own police force. The feasibility of the police department can be read [here[2]. The village board is currently split 3-2 in favor of the Police Force. Mayor Jack Martins, Deputy Mayor Werther and Trustee Davanzo support it while Trustees Fargrieve and Cusato oppose it. On December 5, 2006 the measure was soundly defeated by a 2-1 .margin
[edit] Geography
Mineola is located at (40.747188, -73.638088)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.8 km² (1.9 mi²), all land.
Neighbors include the villages of New Hyde Park, Garden City, and Westbury.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 19,234 people, 7,473 households, and 4,954 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,992.6/km² (10,337.3/mi²). There were 7,650 housing units at an average density of 1,588.0/km² (4,111.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 86.39% White, 1.03% African American, 0.29% Native American, 4.52% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.93% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. 13.03% 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.
[edit] Notable people
- Mineola was the birthplace of MLB player John Valentin, controversial comedian Lenny Bruce, former Howard Stern Show writer Jackie Martling and The King of Queens star Kevin James. Rock Icon Bob Dylan was married by a justice of the peace in Mineola in 1965. Actor Brian Dennehy lived in Mineola and attended Chaminade High School, which is located in the heart of Mineola. Hugo Award-winning author James Patrick Kelly was born in Mineola in 1951.
- Joel Rifkin, a serial killer and native of East Meadow, Long Island was arrested in Mineola after he crashed his pickup truck into a telephone pole on the corner of Old Country Road and Washington Ave. during a police chase on June 28, 1993. The arrest eventually led to his conviction in the murders of 18 women. Although the arrest took place in the 11501 zip code, Joel Rifkin was actually arrested about 50 yards south of Old Country Road in the Village of Garden City. Ironically, he was arrested right in front of the Nassau County Court Houses where he would have his trial for murder.
- Louis Gerstner, the former Chairman of IBM was born and raised in Mineola. He attended Corpus Christi Grammar School and Chaminade High School, both in Mineola.
- Regis Philbin's parents lived in Mineola in the numbered streets off Old Country Road.
- Carlos Mendes, defenseman for MLS side Red Bull New York
[edit] External links
- Village of Mineola Official Website
- MIneola Volunteer Fire Department
- Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. Official Website
- Mineola Chamber of Commerce
- Mineola American Newspaper
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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| County | Nassau County, New York |  |
| Villages |
Atlantic Beach · Bellerose · Cedarhurst · East Rockaway · Floral Park · Freeport · Garden City · Hempstead · Hewlett Bay Park · Hewlett Harbor · Hewlett Neck · Island Park · Lawrence · Lynbrook · Malverne · Mineola · New Hyde Park · Rockville Centre · South Floral Park · Stewart Manor · Valley Stream · Woodsburgh |
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| Hamlets |
Baldwin · Baldwin Harbor · Barnum Island · Bay Park · Bellerose Terrace · Bellmore · East Atlantic Beach · East Garden City · East Meadow · Elmont · Franklin Square · Garden City South · Harbor Isle · Hewlett · Inwood · Lakeview · Levittown · Lido Beach · Malverne Park Oaks · Merrick · North Bellmore · North Lynbrook · North Merrick · North Valley Stream · Oceanside · Point Lookout · Roosevelt · Salisbury (South Westbury) · Seaford · South Hempstead · South Valley Stream · Uniondale · Wantagh · West Hempstead · Woodmere |
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| Website: toh.li | ||
