Port Washington North, New York

Port Washington North is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Port Washington area, which is anchored by Port Washington. The population was 3,160 at the time of the 2020 census.

The Incorporated Village of Port Washington North is located on the Cow Neck Peninsula, within the Town of North Hempstead.

History

The area now consisting of the Port Washington North was initially settled by European colonists – mainly Dutchmen and Englishmen – in 1644, after they purchased land from the people of the Matinecock Nation.

Port Washington North incorporated in 1932 after residents of the area unanimously voted in favor of incorporating that year. Its first Mayor, John Cocks, led the movement to incorporate; he was elected on August 2, 1932. Manorhaven's annexation bid was unsuccessful due to legal disputes and how the residents in what would ultimately become Port Washington North preferred to incorporate as a separate village. The project involved the use of eminent domain, and some structures – including the historic, 1890-built Gildo's Hotel at the corner of Shore Road and Mill Pond Drive – were moved further back to accommodate the widened road while ensuring the structure's preservation.

In 1952, after holding a one regular board meeting per year for two decades, the Board of Trustees – the village's governing body – began holding its regular meetings once each month. One year later, in 1953, the village annexed an uninhabited area occupied by a sand mine along Cow Neck Road.

By the late 1950s, the Colonial Sand and Gravel Company began selling tracts of their land to developers. In 1959, approval was given by the village for developers to begin constructing the first section of Port Washington North's Soundview Village subdivision.

Etymology

The name of the village reflects its geographic location in the northern part of the Greater Port Washington area.

Additionally, Port Washington North is located on the northern half of the Cow Neck Peninsula.

Port Washington North is located within the Manhasset Bay Watershed, which in turn is located within the larger Long Island Sound/Atlantic Ocean Watershed.

Topography

Like the rest of Long Island's North Shore, Port Washington North is situated on a terminal moraine, known as the Harbor Hill Moraine. This moraine was formed by glaciers during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, and is named for Harbor Hill in Roslyn; Harbor Hill is the highest geographic point in Nassau County.

Land use and zoning

The housing stock in the village is diverse, with a mixture of single-family, multifamily, and townhome-type housing. The majority of the housing stock is single-family residential. Two garden apartment complexes are located in the Soundview Village section of the village. One townhome-type development is located adjacent to the Stop & Shop Plaza, while another – the gated Mill Pond Acres development – is located towards the east end of the village, and is zoned for residents aged 55 and over.

Climate

Port Washington North has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), bordering on a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in the village range from 31.8 °F in January to 75.3 °F in July.

Plant zone

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the village is located within hardiness zone 7b.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Port Washington North had a population of 3,160. The median age was 48.6 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.9 males. The population density was .

There were 1,324 households in the village, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18. Of all households, 56.6% were married-couple households, 12.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 3,154 people residing in the village. The racial makeup of the village was 86.43% White, 1.62% African American, 8.34% Asian, 2.12% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.34% of the population.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,700 people, 1,063 households, and 767 families residing in the village. Additionally, Publishers Clearing House was headquartered within the village until it moved to Jericho in the 2010s; the property was redeveloped into the Grumman Studios at Port Washington North facility.

Government

Village government

thumb|The entrance to Port Washington North's village office in 2022

The Village of Port Washington North is governed by the five-member Village of Port Washington North Board of Trustees, which consists of a mayor and four village trustees.

As of May 2026, the Mayor of Port Washington North is Robert S. Weitzner and the Village Trustees are Steven Cohen, Matthew Kepke, Michael Malatino, and Andrea Scheff.

The following is a list of Port Washington North's mayors, from 1932 to present:

On the county level, Port Washington North is located in Nassau County's 11th Legislative district, which as of April 2026 is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Delia DiRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove).

On the state level, Port Washington North is located within the New York State Assembly's 16th State Assembly district and the New York State Senate's 7th State Senate district, which as of May 2026 are represented by Daniel J. Norber (R–Great Neck) and Jack M. Martins (R–Old Westbury), respectively.

On the federal level, Port Washington North is located in New York's 3rd congressional district, which as of April 2026 is represented by Thomas R. Suozzi (D–Glen Cove). Like the rest of New York, it is represented in the United States Senate by Charles E. Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

Politics

In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the majority of Port Washington North voters voted for Kamala D. Harris (D).

Parks and recreation

thumb|Bay Walk Park in 2022

thumb|Mill Pond Park in 2022

The Village of Port Washington North owns and maintains a park along Manhasset Bay, known as Bay Walk Park. This village-operated park, which was constructed and opened in phases, also contains the village's Nautical Art Museum. This town-operated park, which contains Mill Pond, is located at the south end of the village and connects to Bay Walk Park. Accordingly, all children who reside within the village and attend public schools go to Port Washington's schools.

Utilities

Natural gas

National Grid USA provides natural gas to properties within Port Washington North that are hooked up to natural gas lines.

Power

PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within Port Washington North, on behalf of the Long Island Power Authority.

Sewage

Port Washington North is located within the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District, which operates the sanitary sewer system serving the village.

Water

Port Washington North is located within the boundaries of the Port Washington Water District, which provides the entirety of the village with water.

Fire

Port Washington North, in its entirety, is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Port Washington Fire District.