Port Washington, New York

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Port Washington is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) on the Cow Neck Peninsula 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 16,753 at the time of the 2020 census.

History

What is now Port Washington was originally inhabited by the Matinecock Native Americans.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":022">Template:Cite web</ref> European colonists – namely, Dutchmen and Englishmen – settled in the area in 1644, after they purchased land from the Matinecocks.<ref name=":81">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":022" /><ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref> Many of these settlers in modern-day Port Washington and across Cow Neck established farms or large colonial estates.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":022" /><ref name=":9" /> Some of these early settlers belonged to prominent, early Long Island families – including members of the Hewlett, Sands, and Willets families, among others.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":15">Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 1870s, Port Washington became an important sand-mining town; it had the largest sandbank east of the Mississippi River and easy barge access to Manhattan. Some 140 million cubic yards of local sand were used for concrete for skyscrapers in New York City (including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings), in addition to the New York City Subway.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1998, the sand mines were redeveloped as Harbor Links – a golf course for North Hempstead residents.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1895, a group of Port Washington residents lobbied for the Long Island Rail Road to be extend what is now the Port Washington Branch from Great Neck to its present terminus in Port Washington; this request came after the failure of an 1882 attempt to extend the line from Great Neck to Roslyn. The LIRR agreed to build an extension to Port Washington, and the extended line – including the Manhasset and Port Washington stations – subsequently opened on June 23, 1898.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref> The arrival of rail service in Port Washington spurred rapid development in the community.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />

The Port Washington Line of the New York and North Shore Traction Company's trolley system reached Port Washington in 1907 and opened in 1908; this trolley connected the community with Roslyn and Mineola.<ref name=":53">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":43">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":122">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":83">Template:Cite book</ref> These trolleys operated until 1920, when the company collapsed.<ref name=":53" /><ref name=":43" /><ref name=":122" /><ref name=":83" />

In 1908, the Town of North Hempstead opened the Port Washington Town Dock, located along Manhasset Bay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This facility would become a major destination in Port Washington over the ensuing years and decades.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":19">Template:Cite web</ref>

By 1910, the northern portions of the peninsula – including Sands Point, Mott's Point, and Barker's Point – sought to incorporate as villages and thereby split from the rest of Port Washington. Citing concerns over the effects which these developments would have on the rest of the Greater Port Washington area's taxpayers, a movement to incorporate Port Washington proper as the Incorporated Village of Port Washington was born, with a vote on the incorporation taking place in 1912.<ref name=":21">Template:Cite news</ref> However, this proposal – like later proposals to incorporate the community – was unsuccessful, and the movement was highly contentious.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":24">Template:Cite news</ref> In the 1912 referendum vote on the matter, the measure to incorporate Port Washington as a village was defeated by nine votes, and local Democratic Party leaders in the community had fiercely rallied against the incorporation plans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1912, Main Street – the main east–west thoroughfare through downtown Port Washington – was renamed accordingly from Flower Hill Avenue, its former name.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1916, the Town of North Hempstead proposed erecting a vehicular bridge across Hempstead Harbor, between Bar Beach in Port Washington and Shore Road in Glenwood Landing, citing traffic demand. While this bridge would never be built, one further south – the William Cullen Bryant Viaduct – opened several years later as part of a separate but similar project, in January 1950.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":54">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":62">Template:Cite news</ref>

As Port Washington continued to grow in the early 20th century, the need arose for improved law enforcement services in the community.<ref name=":23">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":33">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":04">Template:Cite web</ref> This led to the establishment of the Port Washington Police District – as of 2025 the only special district police department in New York state – in 1921.<ref name=":23" /><ref name=":33" /><ref name=":04" />

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 – excluding Sands Point, which had already incorporated itself as a village several years prior.<ref name=":81" /> The plan to incorporate as a city ultimately failed when Baxter Estates, Flower Hill, and Manorhaven incorporated themselves as villages in order to retain home rule over their respective areas – events which effectively killed the city incorporation bill.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":24" /> The City of Greater Port Washington ultimately never formed, and the Port Washington CDP remains an unincorporated part of – and continues to be governed by – the Town of North Hempstead to this day.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":24" />

1930 also saw the establishment of a ferry between Bowman's Point Road (now in the Village of Manorhaven) to New Rochelle in Westchester County via (and across) the Long Island Sound, after the courts ruled in favor of its establishment in a legal dispute over the proposal; the service was established a few months prior to the Manorhaven's incorporation, meaning service originally began in Port Washington proper.<ref name=":03">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":14">Template:Cite web</ref> This ferry – operated by the Port Washington–New Rochelle Ferry Co., Inc. – would run until 1939, when the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge opened further to the west and rendered the service obsolete, partially due to a lack of sufficient business.<ref name=":03" /><ref name=":14" />

The Port Washington Post Office – commissioned by the United States Government as part of the New Deal – opened in 1935.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In the late 1930s, prior to the opening of the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport, Port Washington and Manorhaven were home to 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.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite book</ref> Common destinations served included London, Southampton (UK), the Azores, and Bermuda.<ref name=":02" />

In 1953, the community's current high school – Paul D. Schreiber High School – opened.<ref name=":17">Template:Cite web</ref> It is named in honor of Paul D. Schreiber, who served as the Port Washington Union Free School District's superintendent from 1920 to 1953.<ref name=":17" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Around 2007, the Town of North Hempstead took ownership of Hempstead Harbor Beach Park from Nassau County.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite news</ref> It subsequently turned it and the adjacent, Town-owned park – Bar Beach Town Park – into a single, larger, Template:Convert park facility, known as North Hempstead Beach Park.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref>

Etymology

Port Washington's name is a tribute to George Washington – an American Revolutionary War general and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, who served as the first President of the United States between 1789 and 1797.<ref name=":81" />

Geography

U.S. Census map of Port Washington

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert, or 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.<ref name="GR22">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":32" />

Two enclaves exist above the northern portions of the main, contiguous part of the hamlet.<ref name=":32">Template:Cite web</ref>

Furthermore, Port Washington is located on the Cow Neck Peninsula.<ref name=":02" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Topography

Like the rest of Long Island's North Shore, Port Washington is situated on a terminal moraine, known as the Harbor Hill Moraine.<ref name=":58">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":59">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> This moraine was formed by glaciers during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, and is named for Harbor Hill in Roslyn; Harbor Hill is the highest geographic point in Nassau County.<ref name=":58" /><ref name=":59" />

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey, the highest point in Port Washington is Beacon Hill, at an elevation of roughly Template:Convert, and the lowest point is Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Bay, which are at sea level.<ref name=":16">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

Overview

Port Washington has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), bordering on a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa).<ref name=":5" /> Average monthly temperatures in the central CDP range from 33.0 °F in January to 75.9 °F in July.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Weather box

Plant zone

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

Greater Port Washington area

The Greater Port Washington area is home to four incorporated villages in their entirety, in addition to the hamlet of Port Washington:<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

Additionally, the Greater Port Washington area also includes part of the Incorporated Village of Flower Hill (which is split between the Greater Manhasset, Greater Port Washington, and Greater Roslyn areas), as well as a small part of the Village of Plandome Manor (which is split between the Greater Manhasset and Port Washington areas).<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

The Hilton Garden Inn in Port Washington in 2022

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, as well as a Hilton Garden Inn are located in that industrial complex.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref>

Business improvement district

The entire hamlet is located within the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District's boundaries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2010 Census

As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,846.<ref name="GR22" /> The racial makeup of the population was 82.2% White, 2.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8% Asian, 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 Template:Convert. There were 5,662 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.

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.<ref name="GR22" />

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.<ref name="GR22" /> 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.<ref name="GR22" />

Government

Town representation

Port Washington, an unincorporated area within the Town of North Hempstead, is directly governed by said Town.<ref name=":32" /> It is located entirely within North Hempstead Town Council's 6th district, which as of January 2025 is represented by Mariann Dalimonte (D–Port Washington).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Representation in higher government

Nassau County representation

Port Washington is in the Nassau County Legislature's 11th legislative district, which as of January 2025 is represented by Delia DiRiggi-Whitton (D–Glen Cove).<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":782">Template:Cite web</ref>

New York State representation

New York State Senate

Port Washington is in New York's 7th State Senate district, which as of January 2025 is represented by Jack M. Martins (R–Old Westbury).<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New York State Assembly

Port Washington is in New York's 16th State Assembly district, which as of January 2025 is represented by Daniel J. Norber (R–Great Neck).<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Federal representation

United States Congress

Port Washington is in New York's 3rd congressional district, which as of January 2025 is represented in the United States Congress by Thomas R. Suozzi (D–Glen Cove).<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

United States Senate

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

Politics

In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the majority of Port Washington voters voted for Kamala D. Harris (D).<ref name=":52">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Parks and recreation

The Sandminers Monument, located off of West Shore Road, pays tribute to the area's historic sand-mining operations

There are several public parks in Port Washington. These include:<ref name=":32" />

Other recreational facilities include Lions Field and the Port Washington Tennis Academy.<ref name=":32" />

Park district

File:Merriman Park, Port Washington, Long Island, New York June 4, 2022 A.jpg
An entrance to Merriman Park in 2022

A small portion of Port Washington is in a park district named the Manhasset Bay Park District. This special district, which is operated by the Town of North Hempstead, covers the hamlet's Manhasset Bay Estates neighborhood, as well as a portion of the Plandome Country Club in the adjacent incorporated village, Plandome Manor.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":20" />

The Manhasset Bay Park District is responsible for operating and maintaining Merriman Park, located on the former site of the Port Washington Union Free School District's Merriman School; the park is open exclusively to residents of the Manhasset Bay Park District.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":20" />

Yacht clubs

The former Knickerbocker Yacht Club was also in the hamlet, along Manhasset Bay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

School district

File:Paul D. Schreiber High School, Port Washington, NY August 7, 2025 E.jpg
Paul D. Schreiber High School in 2025

Port Washington is within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Port Washington Union Free School District.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, a small portion of the hamlet's southeastern corner is within the boundaries of the Roslyn Union Free School District. However, there are no homes in that area of the hamlet, and thus, all students in the hamlet who attend public schools go to Port Washington's schools.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":6" />

In 2022, the Port Washington UFSD'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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Library district

Port Washington is located within the boundaries of the Port Washington Library District, which is served by the Port Washington Public Library, located in the Village of Baxter Estates.<ref name=":32" />

Infrastructure

Transportation

Road

One state road passes through and directly serves Port Washington: Port Washington Boulevard (NY 101).<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":18">Template:Cite web</ref> Other major roads within the hamlet include Harbor Road, Mackey Avenue, Main Street, Murray Avenue, North Plandome Road, Radcliff Avenue, Sandy Hollow Road, South Bayles Avenue, West Shore Road/Beacon Hill Road, and Willowdale Avenue.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":18" />

Parking District

Port Washington, in its entirety, is within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Town of North Hempstead's Port Washington Parking District – a special district.<ref name=":32" /> Several of the district's parking facilities are in the hamlet.<ref name=":32" />

Rail

File:Port Washington LIRR Station House from Main Street, Port Washington, Long Island, New York.jpg
The Port Washington LIRR station's station house in 2021

Port Washington is the terminus of the Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, which opened for passengers in 1898.<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bus

File:NICE n23 Bus on Main Street, Port Washington, NY August 9, 2025 A.jpg
A Mineola-bound n23 bus on Main Street within the hamlet in 2025

The n23 bus, which is operated by Nassau Inter-County Express and runs from Manorhaven to the Mineola Intermodal Center in Mineola, serves Port Washington, running along Main Street and Port Washington Boulevard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Additionally, NICE's Port Washington Shuttle provides local rush-hour service in the hamlet and throughout the Greater Port Washington area – as well as providing service to the Village of Roslyn, which is slightly southeast of Port Washington.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Utilities

Natural gas

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

Power

PSEG Long Island provides power to all homes and businesses within Port Washington, on behalf of the Long Island Power Authority.<ref name=":38" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sewage

Port Washington is within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District, which operates the sanitary sewer system serving the hamlet.<ref name=":32" />

Water

The Port Washington Water District provides supplies the heavy majority of the hamlet with its water.<ref name=":32" /> The sole exception is the small portion of the hamlet located within the Roslyn Union Free School District's boundaries, which is instead served by the Roslyn Water District.<ref name=":32" />

Healthcare and emergency services

Healthcare

There are no hospitals in Port Washington. The nearest hospital is St. Francis Hospital in the Village of Flower Hill.<ref name=":32" />

Fire

The heavy majority of Port Washington is within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Port Washington Fire District, with the exception being the portion of the hamlet located within the Roslyn Union Free School District's boundaries, which is within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Roslyn Fire District.<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Police

The Port Washington Police District provides police protection for the heavy majority of the hamlet, with the exception being the portion of the hamlet located within the Roslyn Union Free School District's boundaries, which is served by the Sixth Precinct of the Nassau County Police Department.<ref name=":32" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Landmarks

The Thomas Dodge Homestead, Main Street School, and the Monfort Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris2">Template:NRISref</ref><ref name="weekly2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Main Street School, Port Washington, NY August 9, 2025 A.jpg
The Main Street School (now the Landmark on Main Street Community Center) in 2025

Notable people

Over the years, scenes for various shows and movies have been filmed within the hamlet. These include scenes for Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Meet the Parents (2000), and Louder than Bombs (2015).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

References

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