Mineola, New York

Mineola is a village in and the county seat of Nassau County, Long Island, New York, United States. The population was 18,799 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from an Algonquin Chief, Miniolagamika, which means "pleasant village".

Most of the Incorporated Village of Mineola is in the Town of North Hempstead, with a small portion of its southern edge within the Town of Hempstead. Old Country Road runs along the village's southern border. The area serviced by the Mineola Post Office extends farther south into the adjacent village of Garden City, New York, where the county seat of Nassau County is located. Offices of many Nassau County agencies are in both Mineola and Garden City.

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".

From about 1787 until the 1870s, the area was the county seat for Queens County, in a section then known as Clowesville, just outside the present village boundaries. The western portion of Queens became a borough of New York City in 1898, and in 1899 Nassau County was formed from the part of Queens that did not so consolidate. Voters selected Mineola (in the Town of North Hempstead) to be the county seat for the new county of Nassau in November 1898 (before Mineola incorporated as a village in 1906 and set its boundaries), winning out over Hicksville and Hempstead. The Garden City Company (founded in 1893 by the heirs of Alexander Turney Stewart) donated four acres of land for the county buildings just south of the Mineola train station and the present day Village of Mineola, in the Town of Hempstead.

Mineola officially became the County Seat on July 13, 1900, as Governor Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Nassau County Court House. A celebration was held to commemorate the occasion on the barren 5 acre site at the corner of Old Country Road and Franklin Avenue. Many dignitaries were present to witness this event such as Frederick Hicks, Congressman Townsend Scudder, Colonel William Youngs and Supervisors William Jones and Edwin Willits.

Mineola was legally incorporated in 1906 and run by a president. The land on which the County buildings sat was not included as part of the village. The land and the buildings have a Mineola postal address, but are within the present day Village of Garden City, which did not incorporate, nor set its boundaries, until 1919.

NYU Winthrop Hospital, founded in 1896 by local physicians and residents as Nassau Hospital, and later Winthrop-University Hospital, was Long Island's first voluntary hospital. In 1897, it admitted 91 patients, performed 27 operations, and reported two births and eight deaths during the first year. The original hospital was constructed in 1900. Renamed Winthrop in the 1980s, it is now a nationally recognized award-winning hospital and in 2004 was ranked among the Top 5 Percent of Acute-Care Hospitals in the Country.



In 1888, the Mineola Fire Department was formed in the Willis Ave School house. The department soon moved to a location on Washington Ave.

Mineola was also a familiar place to many of the most famous pilots in history. The Aero Club of America chose the area for the level plains. Glenn Curtiss brought the area to national attention in July 1909 with his second Scientific American Award flight of over 23 minutes and 15 miles. He also made some of the first public flights in America in his "Golden Flyer", while practicing for the Reims Aviation Meet in France. The Wright Brothers, Igor Sikorsky, Captain Rene Fonck, 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 November 1, 1915, Captain Raynal Cawthorne Bolling—a prominent New York attorney working at United States Steel—organized the Aviation Detachment, 1st Battalion Signal Corps of the New York National Guard (now the 102d Rescue Squadron). It was the Guard's first genuine aviation unit. Subsequently, the organization was redesignated the 1st Aero Company. Located at Mineola on Long Island, the unit rented and then purchased its own aircraft with funds donated by the Aero Club of America and other contributors. It was "provisionally recognized" on June 22, 1916, and then called into federal service on July 13, 1916, during the Mexican border crisis. However, instead of active service in the southwest, it remained at Mineola training and was released from federal service on November 2, 1916.

On May 20, 1927, at 7:52 a.m., 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 from the United States 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 commercial "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.

Geography
Mineola is located at 40.74719°N, -73.63809°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has an area of 1.9 sqmi, all of it land.

The villages bordering Mineola are Garden City, Old Westbury, East Williston, and Williston Park. Mineola also borders the hamlets (CDP) of Herricks, Garden City Park and Carle Place.

The village gained territory between the 1990 census and the 2000 census.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,799 people, 7,473 households, and 4,954 families residing in the village. The population density was 10,337.3 people per square mile (3,992.6/km2). There were 7,650 housing units at an average density of 4,111.5 per square mile (1,588.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 81.7% White, 71.5% Non-Hispanic White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 5.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. 16.4% 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.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,234 people, 7,473 households, and 4,954 families residing in the village. The population density was 10,337.3 people per square mile (3,992.6/km2). There were 7,650 housing units at an average density of 4,111.5/sq mi (1,588.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 82.39% 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.

Government
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.

The current trustees are:


 * Mayor Scott Strauss
 * Deputy Mayor Paul "Chad" Pereira
 * Trustee George Durham
 * Trustee Paul Cusato
 * Trustee Dennis Walsh

Police force
In 2005–2006, as a result of numerous recommendations from the community that Mineola increase its police force, a Mineola Police Task Force was appointed by Mayor Jack M. Martins to evaluate the feasibility of withdrawing from the Nassau County Police Department and establishing a village police force. The Mayor indicated to the Task Force at its inception that if the feasibility study resulted in a positive report, Mineola would only have its own police department if the residents approved such through a village-wide referendum.

The village board was split 3–2 in favor of the police force, with Mayor Jack Martins, Deputy Mayor Werther and Trustee Davanzo supporting it while trustees Fargrieve and Cusato opposed it. On December 5, 2006 the measure was defeated by a 2-1 margin.

Education
Mineola is mostly served by the Mineola Union Free School District, which encompasses the communities of Mineola, Garden City Park, Williston Park, Albertson, and Roslyn Heights. Smaller sections of Mineola are in the East Williston, Carle Place and Garden City 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 five 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.

Mineola Union Free School District

 * Mineola High School (located in Garden City Park; grades 8-12)
 * Mineola Middle School (grades 5 to 7)
 * Jackson Avenue School (grades 3 & 4)
 * Hampton Street School (grades Pre-K-2)
 * Meadow Drive School (located in Albertson; grades Pre-K-2)

Mineola Union Free School District is ranked 47th in NY state, 92nd nationally, and has a rating of 8 out of 10.

Transportation
Mineola is the site of the Mineola Intermodal Center, which contains a Long Island Rail Road station, as well as a bus station. It is served by the following routes.
 * n22: Jamaica - Hicksville via Hillside Avenue & Prospect Avenue
 * n22X: Jamaica - Hicksville via Hillside Avenue & Prospect Avenue
 * n23: Mineola - Manorhaven
 * n24: Jamaica - Hicksville via Jericho Turnpike & Old Country Road
 * n40/41: Mineola - Freeport

The n27 also serves Mineola, but not the Intermodal Center.

Notable people

 * Lenny Bruce (1925–1966), comedian
 * Jean Butler, (born 1971), Stepdancer, master of Irish Dance, choreographer, and actress. Known for Riverdance.
 * Kenneth Chenault (born 1951), CEO of American Express
 * Emmy Clarke (born 1991), actress who played the recurring character Julie Teeger on the USA Network show Monk.
 * Brian Dennehy (1938-2020), actor
 * Jack Emmer, all-time winningest Division I men's college lacrosse coach for Army
 * Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., former Chairman of IBM and former Chairman of the Carlyle Group; born and raised in Mineola; attended Corpus Christi Grammar School and Chaminade High School
 * Jimmy Hines (1903–1986), professional golfer
 * Kevin James (born 1965), actor, comedian, star of films and television series The King of Queens
 * Elliot G. Jaspin (born 1946), 1979 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting
 * James Patrick Kelly (born 1951), Hugo Award-winning author
 * B. J. LaMura (born 1981), professional baseball pitcher who played for Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
 * Diane Macedo (born 1982), news anchor for ABC News
 * Jackie Martling (born 1948), comedian and former writer for The Howard Stern Show
 * Carlos Mendes (born 1980), defender for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls
 * Bill Owens, former Congressman for New York's 23rd District; raised in Mineola; graduate of Chaminade High School
 * Kim Richards (born 1964), child actress who starred in Nanny and the Professor, Escape to Witch Mountain, No Deposit, No Return, and Return from Witch Mountain
 * Lauren Scala (born 1982), WNBC and New York Nonstop correspondent
 * Stephen Schwartz (born 1948), Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning writer and composer; graduated from Mineola High School in 1964
 * Robert B. Silvers (1929-2017), editor of The New York Review of Books
 * Frances Townsend (born 1961), US Homeland Security Adviser under President George W. Bush
 * John Valentin (born 1967), former MLB player
 * Tiffany Vollmer (born 1973), voice actress best known for portraying Bulma from Dragon Ball
 * Chris Weidman (born 1984), UFC Middleweight Champion

Community



 * Mineola has a central railroad station and Nassau Inter-County Express hub station. Mineola has become a bedroom community for many residents who take advantage of the close proximity to NYC. Many businesses are also nearby (e.g., Canon USA).
 * Near the center of the village, Mineola Memorial Park commemorates the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a monument. Mineola's own Memorial Library and private and public schools adjoin the park. The Memorial Tablet and surrounding paths were an Eagle Project by Troop 45 Eagle Scout Edward Kaiser.
 * Mineola is home to large Portuguese communities, and has been for years. Portuguese restaurants and businesses and the Portuguese language are a common feature throughout the neighborhood.
 * The Mineola Hotel burned down in 1966 as the result of arson. One man was killed.
 * Dover Publications is based in Mineola. Dover participates in coloring book day every summer.