Mineola, New York

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Mineola (Template:Respell) is a village and the county seat of Nassau County, on Long Island, New York, United States. The population was 20,800 at the time of the 2020 census. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Mineola area.

The Incorporated Village of Mineola is located primarily in the Town of North Hempstead, with the exception being a small portion of its southern edge within the Town of Hempstead.<ref name=2005MasterPlan>Template:Cite web especially see page 5</ref> Old Country Road (CR 25) 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, where the Old Nassau County Courthouse and other county offices are located.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Offices of many Nassau County agencies are in both Mineola and Garden City.

History

Mineola in 1931
The Mineola Post Office – a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places – as seen in 2008

Pre-incorporation

The central, flat, grassy part of Long Island was originally known as the Hempstead Plains. In the 19th century, various communities were started in this area. One of those communities was called "Hempstead Branch," which would ultimately be known as "Mineola" later on.<ref name=":81">Template:Cite book</ref>

As early as 1609, Long Island was part of Henry Hudson's original claim in the name of the Dutch East India Company. 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 the community was named by the locals after an Algonquin Indian Chief, Miniolagamika meaning, "Pleasant Village". The name was later shortened and altered to "Mineola".<ref name=":81" /><ref name="Gov">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite book</ref>

From about 1787 until the 1870s, the area was the county seat for Queens County, in a section then known as Clowesville – located just outside the Village of Mineola's present territory.<ref> Template:Cite webTemplate:Cite bookTemplate:Cite book</ref><ref> Template:Cite web</ref><ref> Template:Cite web</ref><ref> Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That area today is largely in the adjacent hamlet, Garden City Park.<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NCPO"> Template:Cite webTemplate:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news </ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 consolidate. Voters selected Mineola (in the Town of North Hempstead) to be the county seat for the new county of Nassau in November 1898<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>(before Mineola incorporated as a village in 1906 and set its boundaries), winning out over Hicksville and Hempstead.<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Garden City Company (founded in 1893 by the heirs of Alexander Turney Stewart)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> donated four acres of land for the county buildings just south of the Mineola LIRR station and the present day Village of Mineola, in the Town of Hempstead; these buildings today are physically located within the territory constituting the Village of Garden City but use the Mineola ZIP Code.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mineola officially became the County Seat of Nassau County 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 Template:Convert 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.<ref name=":5" />

Village of Mineola, 1906–present

Mineola was legally incorporated as a village in 1906 and run by a president. The lands on which the County buildings sat were 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 or set its boundaries until 1919.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island founded in 1896 by local physicians and residents as Nassau 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-University Hospital 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.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1888, the Mineola Fire Department was formed in the Willis Avenue School house. The department soon moved to a new location on Washington Avenue. The department originally consisted of volunteer firemen and would officially be incorporated as an official company in 1889.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1839, the Long Island Rail Road reached Mineola, with the community's eponymous station along what is now the Main Line opening that same year.<ref name=":5" />

In 1840, the Mineola Hotel was built by resident John A. Searing across from the LIRR station, which had been completed the year prior. When the village was separated from Queens and became the county seat of Nassau, it was renamed to Allen's Mineola Hotel.<ref name=":4" /> It is considered a landmark alongside the local offices and agencies in Garden City. An adjacent inn, also named the Mineola Hotel, burned down in 1966 as the result of arson. One man was killed and seven others were injured. A jobless machinist, a 20 year old hotel resident named Chlary Skorge, Jr. who was previously on probation for robbery, was indicted for murder. The cause was speculated to be revenge, as he was threatened with eviction after annoying fellow residents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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. As years passed, Jericho Turnpike became the commercial "main street" within Mineola. Farmland was sold off and homes and offices were built. Mineola would continue to be a community of growth and development – a trend continuing into the 21st century.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Mineola's first theater 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.<ref name=":4" />

The centennial celebration for Mineola was held in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Developments for this celebration originated in 2004 from a Centennial Committee formed by then-mayor Jack M. Martins. Co-chairing this were John DaVanzo, former mayor Robert W. Hinck, Sr., and Candida Maia. Various events commenced in January 2006, including the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra performing at Chaminade High School, the installation of LIRR Caboose #50 in Memorial Park, the unveiling of a historical quilt by the Nimble Fingers quilting group, and a Centennial Journal delivered to residents and businesses. In March, a fashion show entitled “Decade by Decade” was hosted by Fox’s department store at the Corpus Christi Knights of Columbus Hall, and a marching parade consisting of 80 units took place later in October. The final event was an ecumenical service at Mineola Middle School in December, followed by fireworks in Mineola Memorial Park.

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 then-Mayor Jack M. Martins to evaluate the feasibility of withdrawing from the Nassau County Police Department and establishing a village police department. 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.<ref>Mineola Police Department Operational Report</ref> The village board was split 3–2 in favor of the police force, with Mayor 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 by village residents in a referendum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 2010s and 2020s, the Village of Mineola's downtown has seen significant growth, in part credited to the creation of large-scale transit-oriented development in the vicinity of the Mineola LIRR station.<ref name=":6" />

Prevalence in aviation

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 New York attorney working at United States Steel, organized the Aviation Detachment, 1st Battalion Signal Corps of the New York National Guard (now the 102nd Rescue Squadron). It was the Guard's first genuine aviation unit. Subsequently, the organization was re-designated as 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 for training and was ultimately released from federal service on November 2, 1916.

After World War I, the British Royal Navy rigid airship R34 made the first-ever east–west aerial crossing of the North Atlantic, traveling from the airship base at RAF East Fortune in the UK to Mineola from July 2 to 6, 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>The Transatlantic Voyage of R.34 Flight July 10, 1919, pp. 906–10</ref>

On May 20, 1927, at 7:52 a.m., Charles Lindbergh started his historic flight on the Spirit of St. Louis from nearby Roosevelt Field.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. This historic feat was given numerous test flights in the weeks leading up to his departure, particularly in San Diego and St. Louis. On May 20, 1977, fifty years after the flight, a thirteen-cent commemorative stamp depicting the Spirit of St. Louis over the Atlantic Ocean was issued in commemoration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1982 Long Island Rail Road auto-train collision

At approximately 2:18 AM on Sunday, March 14, 1982, ten teenagers were riding in a Ford Econoline van on their way to a nearby popular nightspot in Garden City South after attending a friend's house party when the driver swerved around the closed Herricks Road railroad crossing gates, only for their vehicle to be struck broadside and dragged an estimated 100 yards. A 17-year-old girl, Kathleen Caemmerer (the daughter of former New York State Senator John D. Caemmerer) was the only survivor despite being severely injured. The county's worst auto accident and railroad accident sent shockwaves across New York and across the country.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/490065306/</ref> In an investigation made and concluded by the Nassau County Police Department, the primary cause of the accident was the driver's failure of judgement contributed by driving under the influence.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/731439396/</ref>

Etymology

The village's name is derived from an Algonquin Chief, Miniolagamika, which means "pleasant village."<ref name="Gov" />

Geography

U.S. Census map of Mineola

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has an area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The village gained territory between the 1990 census and the 2000 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mineola is located approximately 21 miles (34 km) east of Midtown Manhattan and 4 miles (6 km) from the Queens border. The villages bordering Mineola are East Williston and Williston Park to the north, and Garden City to the south. Mineola also borders the hamlets (CDP) of Carle Place to the east, Garden City Park and Herricks to the west, and Roslyn Heights to the north.

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, as well as multiple private & public schools, adjoin the park.<ref name=":1" /> The Memorial Tablet and surrounding paths were an Eagle Project by Troop 45 Eagle Scout Edward Kaiser.<ref>Memorial Park, Village of Mineola. Accessed December 27, 2016.</ref>

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Mineola has a Humid subtropical climate (type Cfa) with cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers.<ref name=":6122">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":62222">Template:Cite web</ref> Precipitation is uniform throughout the year, with slight spring and fall peaks.<ref name=":6122" /><ref name=":62222" />Template:Weather box

Plant zone

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Mineola is located within hardiness zone 7b.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Greater Mineola area

The Greater Mineola area consists of three incorporated villages and two unincorporated hamlets:

Economy

NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island in 2017

Mineola is considered a bedroom community of the City of New York. Accordingly, a large number of its residents commute to and from New York each day for work.<ref name=":6" />

Dover Publications is based in Mineola.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The village is also home to NYU Langone Hospital–Long Island (formerly known as Nassau Hospital, Winthrop University Hospital and NYU-Winthrop Hospital) – the second-largest employer located within the Town of North Hempstead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2020, there were 20,800 people, 8,618 households, 9,004 housing units, and 4,528 families.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was 11,237 people per square mile (4,338.39/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 66.5% White, 63.1% Non-Hispanic White, 1.7% African American, 14.3% Asian, 9.7% from two or more races. 15.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. Additionally, 28.4% were foreign-born persons.

In the village, 4.9% of the population were under age 5, 18.8% were under age 18, and 16.1% were over the age of 65. In total, 46.6% of all persons consisted of females. The average age of all residents was 41.6, with men being 37.9 years old and females being 45.2 years old.

There are 8,618 households, of which 65.5% were fully owned. Of these households, 66% were family owned and 19% were non-family owned. Approximately 6% were occupied by single male individuals, and 8% were occupied by single female individuals.The average household size was 2.44 persons, with the average family household size being 3.09 persons.

The median income for a household in the village was $138,385, and the per capita income was $65,423. Out of all households, 15% had a combined income of under $50,000, 23% were between $50,000-$100,000, 36% were between $100,000-$200,000, and 26% were over $200,000. Approximately 6.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 7% of children and 8% of seniors.

2010 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 18,799 people, 7,473 households, and 4,954 families residing in the village. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,650 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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, 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.

Portuguese community

Korean and Portuguese churches in Mineola

Mineola has been home to a large, well-established Portuguese community since the early 20th century.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":7">Slutsky, Maryann Sinclair. "Mineola: The Next Best Thing to Portugal", Long Island Wins, November 19, 2013. Accessed December 27, 2016. "As immigrant communities often do, the Portuguese community has expanded from its original home base in Mineola to communities across Long Island. But Mineola is still considered to be the community’s cultural center, home not just to Bakers of All Nations but to many businesses, clubs and events that maintain Mineola’s decidedly Portuguese flavor."</ref> Portuguese restaurants and businesses – in addition to the Portuguese language – are a common feature throughout the village.<ref name=":7" /> According to census data, the village contains approximately 1,900 Portuguese residents, out of the 5,100 total across Long Island.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Village government

The legislative body of the village is the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees, which is composed of a mayor and four village trustees – one of whom also serves as the deputy mayor, appointed to that rule annually by the mayor.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Each member is elected to a four-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.<ref name=":3" />

The trustees are appointed to be liaison officers to various community organizations throughout the village and report back to the board with updates at board meetings.<ref name=":3" />

As of August 2025, the Mayor of Mineola is Paul A. Pereira, the Deputy Mayor is Janine Sartori, and the Village Trustees are Jeffrey M. Clark, Paul S. Cuasto, Janine Sartori, and Donna M. Solosky.<ref name=":3" />

Representation in higher government

Town representation

Mineola is located in the Town of North Hempstead's 2nd and 3rd council districts, which as of August 2025 are represented on the North Hempstead Town Council by Edward W. Scott (R–Albertson) and Dennis J. Walsh (R–Mineola), respectively.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County representation

Mineola is located in Nassau County's 9th Legislative district, which as of August 2025 is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Scott Strauss (R–Mineola).<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

State representation

New York State Assembly

Mineola is located in the New York State Assembly's 19th State Assembly district, which as of August 2025 is represented in the New York State Assembly by Edward P. Ra (R–Garden City South).<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New York State Senate

Mineola is located in the New York State Senate's 7th State Senate district, which as of August 2025 is represented in the New York State Senate by its former mayor, Jack M. Martins (R–Old Westbury).<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Federal representation

United States Congress

The village of Mineola is located almost entirely within New York's 3rd Congressional district, which as of August 2025 is represented in the United States Congress by Thomas R. Suozzi (D–Glen Cove).<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The southern edge located in the Town of Hempstead, however, is represented by Laura Gillen (D-Baldwin), and is within New York's 4th Congressional district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

United States Senate

Like the rest of New York, Mineola is represented in the United States Senate by Charles Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the majority of Mineola voters voted for Donald J. Trump (R).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":52">Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Public

Template:Further

Mineola Middle School in 2018

The Village of Mineola is primarily located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Mineola Union Free School District.<ref name="2005MasterPlan" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Smaller sections of Mineola are in the East Williston UFSD, Carle Place UFSD, and the Garden City UFSD.<ref name=":1" />Accordingly, children who reside within Mineola and attend public schools go to school in one of these four districts, depending on where they live within the village.<ref name=":1" />

Private

The private Chaminade High School – an all-boys Catholic high school – is located within the village.<ref name=":1" />

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road

Jericho Turnpike (NY 25) passes through the village and Hillside Avenue (NY 25B) forms part of its northern border.<ref name=":1" /> Old Country Road also passes through the village and forms its border with Garden City.<ref name=":1" />

Other major roads within the village include Mineola Boulevard, Roslyn Road, and Willis Avenue.<ref name=":1" />

Additionally, the historic Long Island Motor Parkway formerly ran north-–south through the village; the right-of-way is now used by the Long Island Power Authority for a high-voltage power transmission line.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rail

The Mineola LIRR station in 2023

The Mineola station on the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line is located within the village.<ref name=":1" /> It serves trains on the Oyster Bay, Ronkonkoma, and Port Jefferson Branches, as well as limited service on the Montauk Branch.<ref name=":1" />

Bus

An n24 bus pulling into the Mineola Intermodal Center in 2017

Mineola's Mineola Intermodal Center contains the Long Island Rail Road station and a Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) bus terminal; the Mineola Intermodal Center is one of Nassau County's main bus hubs.<ref name=":13">Template:Cite web</ref> Mineola is served by the following routes:<ref name=":13" />

  • n15: Mineola – Long Beach (rush hours only)
  • n22: Jamaica – Hicksville via Hillside Avenue & Prospect Avenue
  • n22X: Jamaica – Roosevelt Field Mall
  • n23: Mineola – Manorhaven
  • n24: Jamaica – Hicksville via Jericho Turnpike & Old Country Road
  • n40: Mineola – Freeport
  • n40x: Mineola – Freeport

NICE's n27 bus routes also serve Mineola, but they do not stop at the Mineola Intermodal Center.<ref name=":13" />

Utilities

Natural gas

National Grid USA provides natural gas to homes and businesses that are hooked up to natural gas lines in Mineola.<ref name=":38">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Power

PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within Mineola.<ref name=":38" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sewage

Mineola is connected to sanitary sewers.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The village maintains a sanitary sewer system which flows into Nassau County's system, which treats the sewage from the village's system through the Nassau County-owned sewage treatment plants.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

The village's sanitary sewer system is roughly Template:Convert in total length.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Water

The Village of Mineola owns and maintains its own water supply system.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Mineola's municipal water supply system serves the entire village with water.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Notable people

Entertainment

"'Real Housewives' star Kim Richards, Mineola native, arrested in L.A. for shoplifting" Template:Webarchive, The Island Now, August 6, 2015. Accessed June 23, 2016. "Richards was born in Mineola in 1964 and began her career at four months old when she appeared in a TV commercial."</ref>

Politics and government

Academia and journalism

Business

Sports

Other notable people

See also

References

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