West Hempstead, New York

West Hempstead is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 19,835 at the time of the 2020 census. There are three railroad stations within its borders: West Hempstead, Hempstead Gardens, and Lakeview. The line continues to Valley Stream where it joins the Babylon Branch. Halls Pond Park, the main park within West Hempstead, was dedicated by Nassau County in 1961. The smaller Echo Park contains a public indoor pool. Its name is derived from the community's first four little league teams: Eagles, Cardinals, Hawks, and Orioles. In 1962 they represented the east in the Senior League world series beating a team from New London, Ohio 3-2 to advance to the championship against La Habra, California. West Hempstead ended up beating them 8-2. In 1956, the West Hempstead Public Library was founded and chartered by the State in 1967. Its present 28,000 square-foot facility was completed in 2007.

In 2001, residents of West Hempstead held a nonbinding referendum on renaming the community. The vote followed a two-year effort by the West Hempstead Civic Association and the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce to give the community a unique name, distancing itself from the neighboring crime ridden Hempstead. By a 94-vote margin, West Hempstead retained its name over the proposed Mayfair Gardens.

West Hempstead is easily accessed from the Southern State Parkway at Exit 17N.

The West Hempstead Union Free School District currently operates 4 schools; 1 kindergarten, 1 elementary, 1 intermediate school and 1 secondary school.

The West Hempstead Fire Department (also referred to as West Hempstead FD and abbreviated as WHFD) is the main provider of Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services within West Hempstead.

Etymology

West Hempstead's name reflects upon the fact that it is located immediately west of the Village of Hempstead.

Geography

thumb|left|U.S. Census map of West Hempstead

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and – or 3.64% – is water.

West Hempstead lies on a gently sloping terrain between the Hempstead Plains and the Atlantic Ocean. Pine Stream runs through the center of West Hempstead, feeding into Halls Pond. The community is bordered on the east by Hempstead Lake State Park and on the south by the Southern State Parkway.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, West Hempstead had a population of 19,835. The median age was 39.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.7 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,093 households in West Hempstead, of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 60.5% were married-couple households, 12.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. and the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County elementary school among its local institutions.

Notable people

Nathan Englander, American short story writer and novelist, was born and raised in West Hempstead.
Kalomoira, popular Greek singer, was born in West Hempstead.
Lucien Laurin, award-winning horse trainer and Belmont Stakes champion, lived in West Hempstead.
Don McPherson, former NFL player
Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist and journalist, was the headmaster of the West Hempstead-based District 17 Schoolhouse.
Orville Wright, Inventor of powered flight, lived in West Hempstead in the early 1930s.
Heinrich Guggenheimer, Prominent mathematician and Hebrew scholar, lived in West Hempstead later in life.

Local activities

West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club
The New York Equestrian Center, Horse Riding & 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
Girl Scout Troop 1479