Westbury is a village in the southeastern portion of the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Westbury area. The population was 15,404 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

The first settlers in what is now the Village of Westbury arrived in 1658 in the region known as the Hempstead Plains. Many of the early settlers were Quakers. Other Quaker families who were also seeking a place to freely express their religious beliefs joined the Tituses and Willises. The first Society of Friends meeting house was built in 1700. The early history of Westbury and that of the Friends are so interconnected that they are essentially the same. The building still stands on the corner of Union Ave. and Grand Blvd.

By 1837, the Long Island Rail Road had built through Westbury. Schedules from March 1837 mention a stop at Westbury, but by June list Carle Place instead, with schedules from 1842 listing both.

In 1840, the first public school was built. The railroad made it easier for Italian and Irish immigrants to work Westbury's farms and in 1857, St. Brigid's Parish was founded.

In response to a rumor that northern Westbury planned to incorporate as its own village, thereby leaving the southern part without a name, local residents voted to incorporate the greater area as the Village of Westbury in 1932.

Westbury is located about east of Manhattan.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Westbury had a population of 15,864. The median age was 41.0 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 5,083 households in Westbury, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.6% were married-couple households, 17.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The racial makeup of the village was 66% White, 20% of the population are Hispanic White or White Latino, 12% African American, and 2.0% Asian.

There were 5,078 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.5.

Politics

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

Education

The Village of Westbury is served primarily by the Westbury Union Free School District, although the westernmost portions of the village are served by the Carle Place Union Free School District.

Transportation

thumb|The [[Westbury station (LIRR)|Westbury LIRR station in 2022]]

Westbury is served by the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road.

  • Skip Jutze (born 1946), Major League Baseball player, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals.
  • DJ Rekha (born 1971), credited with starting New York's South Asian bhangra scene
  • Irene Rosenfeld (born 1953), CEO of major corporations; born in Westbury and attended W. T. Clarke High School
  • Joel Ross, tennis player
  • Joe Satriani (born 1956), virtuoso guitarist, composer, producer and guitar teacher
  • Steve Serio (born 1987), paralympic wheelchair basketball player.
  • Tyson Walker (born 2000), college basketball player for the Michigan State Spartans
  • Spann Watson (1916–2010), Tuskegee Airman, was a longtime resident of Westbury
  • Geeta Citygirl (born 1971), actor and founding artistic director of SALAAM Theatre, the first South Asian not-for-profit, professional, theater company celebrating in America.

References

  • Westbury official website
  • Westbury Memorial Public Library Current home of the Historical Society of the Westburys