PORT WASHINGTON, NY

Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The hamlet is the anchor community of the Greater Port Washington area. The population was 15,846 at the 2010 census.

History

Much of the Port Washington area was initially settled by colonists in 1644, after they purchased land from the people of the Matinecock Nation.

In the 1870s, Port Washington became an important sand-mining town; it had the largest sandbank east of the Mississippi and easy barge access to Manhattan. Some 140 million cubic yards of local sand were used for concrete for New York skyscrapers (including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings), in addition to the New York City Subway. In 1998, the sand mines were redeveloped as Harbor Links, which is a golf course for North Hempstead residents.

In 1930, Port Washington tried to incorporate itself as a city, which would have had the same boundaries as the Port Washington Union Free School District's, excluding Sands Point, which had already incorporated itself as a village. This plan ultimately failed when the bill was killed after Baxter Estates, Flower Hill, and Manorhaven incorporated themselves as villages in order to retain home rule of their respective areas.

In the late 1930s, prior to the opening of the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport, Port Washington was Pan-American World Airways' New York base for their Yankee Clipper Boeing B-314 flying boats; the waters of Manhasset Bay were ideal for flying boat operations. Common destinations served included London, Southampton (UK), the Azores, and Bermuda.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and (25.22%) is water.

The hamlet is bordered on two sides with bodies of water: Manhasset Bay on its western side and Hempstead Harbor on its eastern side.

Port Washington is located on the Cow Neck Peninsula.

Two enclaves exist above the northern portions of the main, contiguous part of the hamlet.

Climate

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

The hardiness zone is 7b, except on the north-to-south ridge where it is 7a.

Greater Port Washington area

The Greater Port Washington area is home to four incorporated villages, in addition to the hamlet of Port Washington:

The Greater Port Washington area also includes part of the Village of Flower Hill (which is split between Manhasset, Port Washington, and Roslyn), as well as a small part of the Village of Plandome Manor (which is split between Manhasset and Port Washington).

Demographics

2010 Census

As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,846. The racial makeup of the population was 82.2% White 74.7% Non-Hispanic White, 2.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 4.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.4% of the population. The median income for households in Port Washington, New York is $127,813, while the mean household income is $189,892.

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,215 people, 5,521 households, and 4,168 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,613.7 per square mile (1,395.4/km). There were 5,662 housing units at an average density of 1,344.8/sq mi (519.3/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.97% White, 2.81% African American, 0.11% Native American, 6.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.15% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.20% of the population.

There were 5,521 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, and 24.5% were non-families. Of all households, 20.4% were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $105,837 and the median income for a family was $122,646. Males had a median income of $91,024 versus $59,299 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $53,815. About 3.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Port Washington, an unincorporated area within the Town of North Hempstead, is directly governed by said Town. It is located entirely within the Town of North Hempstead's 6th councilmanic district, which is represented on the Town Board by Mariann Dalimonte (D – Port Washington).

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the majority of Port Washington voters voted for Hillary Clinton (D).

Economy and real estate

Economy

There are numerous small stores in Port Washington with 6 shopping centers, 4 strip malls and an industrial complex on the east side of Port Washington next to Hempstead Harbor, off West Shore Road. Entertainment One, NPD Group, Pall, and Systemax are located in that industrial complex.

Real estate

One notable housing development in Port Washington is New Salem, which was developed by Long Island housing developer Cy Williams.

In 2017, Port Washington, NY 11030 was ranked as the 418th wealthiest ZIP Code by Forbes, with a median home sale price of $1,323,271.

Education

School district

Port Washington is located entirely within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Port Washington Union Free School District. As such, all students who reside within the hamlet and attend public schools go to Port Washington's schools. In 2022, Port Washington's high school, Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School was ranked #733 nationally out of 17,843 schools and #77 in New York High Schools out of 1,212 schools.

Library district

Port Washington is located entirely within the boundaries of the Port Washington Library District.

Fire and police services

Fire department

The Port Washington Fire Department is a not-for-profit private corporation providing contractual public safety services to the area known as the Port Washington Fire Protection District. The Port Washington Fire Protection District is an area, which includes the majority of the hamlet (with the exception being the southernmost parts of the industrial park at the southwestern edge of the hamlet.

The Port Washington Fire Department is a volunteer department composed of four companies.

Police district

The Port Washington Police District provides police protection for the hamlet.

Transportation

Rail

Port Washington is the terminus of the Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, which opened for passengers in 1898.

Bus

The n23 bus operated by Nassau Inter-County Express, which runs from Manorhaven to the Mineola Intermodal Center in Mineola also serves Port Washington, running along Main Street and Port Washington Boulevard.

Additionally, the NICE operates a shuttle route called the Port Washington Shuttle, which provides local service in the hamlet and throughout the Greater Port Washington area, with limited service to the Village of Roslyn, which is located slightly southeast of Port Washington.

Parks and recreation

Yacht clubs

The former Knickerbocker Yacht Club was also located within the hamlet.

Landmarks

The Thomas Dodge Homestead, William Landsberg House, Main Street School, and the Monfort Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable people