Plainview, New York

Coordinates: 40°46′48″N 73°28′46″W / 40.78000°N 73.47944°W / 40.78000; -73.47944
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Plainview, New York
Hamlet and census-designated place
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
Location in Nassau County and the state of New York.
Plainview, New York is located in New York
Plainview, New York
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 40°46′48″N 73°28′46″W / 40.78000°N 73.47944°W / 40.78000; -73.47944
Country United States
State New York
CountyNassau
Area
[1]
 • Total5.74 sq mi (14.85 km2)
 • Land5.72 sq mi (14.83 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
151 ft (46 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total27,100
 • Density4,734.45/sq mi (1,827.98/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
11803
Area code516
FIPS code36-58442
GNIS feature ID0960664

Plainview is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located near the North Shore of Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP as of 2020 was 27,100.[2] The Plainview post office has the ZIP code 11803.[3]

Plainview and its neighboring hamlet, Old Bethpage, share a school system, library, fire department, and water district. Law enforcement for the communities is provided by the Nassau County Police Department's Second Precinct.

History[edit]

Plainview's origins date to 1648, when Robert Williams, a settler from Wales, bought land in the area. The land was considered desirable for farming because of a small pond named the Moscopas by local Native Americans, meaning "hole of dirt and water".[4] The remainder of the land in the area was purchased by Thomas Powell in 1695 as part of the Bethpage Purchase. The name "Mannatto Hill" had already appeared on the 1695 deed of the Bethpage Purchase, and the settlement came to be called "Manetto Hill". Manitou was the Native American word either for "god" or for "spirit".[5]

The 1837 arrival of the Long Island Rail Road to nearby Hicksville brought a boom to local farming.[6] In 1885, residents of Manetto Hill petitioned the United States Postal Service for a local post office, but were turned down because, according to several accounts, a similar name was already in use upstate.[7] The hamlet was then named "Plainview", for the view of the Hempstead Plains from the top of the Manetto Hills.[4]

Plainview remained a farming community, famous for growing cucumbers for the huge Heinz pickle factories located in nearby Farmingdale and Hicksville. In the early 1900s blight destroyed the cucumber crop and many farmers switched to potatoes. After World War II, a potato blight combined with the desire of many returning GIs to leave New York City for the more rural Long Island, convinced many farmers to sell their property, leading to massive development in the area, giving rise to so-called suburban sprawl.[6][dead link] Between 1950 and 1960, the hamlet grew from a population of 1,155 to more than 35,000.[4] Most of the available land was developed during this period or otherwise designated as parkland. While overall development declined it did continue sporadically as smaller remaining parcels of land were also developed. In recent years, some of the few large remaining parcels have given way to gated communities, which are in contrast to most housing in the area. Some of these developments include "The Hamlet on Olde Oyster Bay" [8] and "The Seasons at Plainview", a residential community focused on over age 55 residents and first time home buyers.[9]

Geography[edit]

U.S. Census Map

Plainview is located at 40°46′48″N 73°28′46″W / 40.78000°N 73.47944°W / 40.78000; -73.47944 (40.779911, -73.479483).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (15 km2). Plainview is on the Nassau County side of the border with Suffolk County. On the Nassau side it borders the hamlets of Bethpage, Hicksville, Old Bethpage, Syosset, and Woodbury. On the Suffolk side, its primary border is with Melville, but also touches West Hills.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
202027,100—
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of a 2020 census, there were 26,973 people; 8,923 households; and 7,243 families residing in the CDP.[12] The population density was 26,217 inhabitants per square mile (10,122/km2). There were 9,281 housing units. The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.8% White, 19.9% Asian, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population. Plainview, like many other places in northern Nassau County has historically had a large Jewish population,[13] and in recent years has exhibited exhorbitant growth in its East Asian population.

There were 8,963 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples living together. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.24. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

According to the 2020 Census estimate,[14] the median income for a household in the CDP was $181,423, and the median income for a family was $211,995. None of the families and 0.8% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 0.7% of those over 64.

Economy[edit]

While largely a suburban enclave, in addition to its numerous shopping centers and strip malls, Plainview has approximately 330 acres of commercial property, spread across three office parks. The most notable tenants include Veeco and Aeroflex (now Cobham), which are headquartered there.[15]

Houses of Worship[edit]

There are numerous houses of worship located in Plainview.

Plainview is home to several Jewish congregations. Plainview Synagogue and Young Israel of Plainview are Orthodox. Plainview Jewish Center and Manetto Hill Jewish Center are Conservative. Temple Chaverim is reform.

Churches include Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Plainview United Methodist Church (also known as the Korean United Methodist Church), Plainview Reformed Church, St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church and Episcopal Church of St. Margaret, which includes a cemetery in its backwoods.

In addition, there is also the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center, Inc., a Sikh temple. This temple's building formerly housed the Bethel United Pentecostal Church.[16] In addition, Plainview is home to Beth Yeshua/Olive Tree Congregation, a Messianic temple.

Education[edit]

Further information: Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District services children from Kindergarten through Grade 12. This school district contains one high school, two middle schools, and four elementary schools. Of these schools, all but one are located in Plainview.

Small parts of Plainview are served by the Syosset Central School District and the Bethpage Union Free School District.

There are multiple private schools in Plainview, and Farmingdale State College is located in nearby Farmingdale.

Library[edit]

The Plainview Library was first established in 1956 in the Jamaica Avenue School, and later opened as a separate facility in the Morton Village Shopping Center in 1958. Significant increases in population caused the library to outgrow this space. In March 1962, voters approved a $711,000 bond issue to pay for the purchase of a nearly three-acre parcel of land and development of a new library building directly across the street from Morton Village.[17][18] Two years later, the library moved into its new facilities.[19] Since its construction, the building has had two major expansions to better serve the community's needs, including increased audio/visual and internet demands.[20][21] In 2005, a 236-seat auditorium was built, and expanded Family Center and Media Center areas were added. In 2014, library space was added from funds received previously from the New York State Dormitory Authority.[22] The new space was updated and redesigned with additional study rooms/public meeting areas, along with self-checkout stations, an integrated Media Area and a new Technology Department. The Plainview-Old Bethpage Library is honored to be recognized by Library Journal as a "5 Star Library" for the past five years.

Mid Island Y-JCC[edit]

The Mid Island Y-Jewish Community Center, which opened in 1956,[23] serves residents of Plainview, Old Bethpage, Syosset and surrounding areas.

Parks[edit]

Plainview has numerous community parks tucked in between homes. Its primary park is the 19-acre (77,000 m2) Plainview-Old Bethpage Community Park, located on Washington Avenue.[24] Opened in 1960, this park features an Olympic size pool, a children's pool, baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, racquetball/handball courts, basketball courts, a newly built children's recreation playground, and trails through its woods. The woods spans from the park to the commercial hub and also to smaller community parks in the residential areas of Pal Street.[25][26] During the summer, the park runs a concession stand. Parks in Plainview are administered by either the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums or the Town of Oyster Bay. In addition, the town is home to a nature preserve called the Manetto Hills Park. This undeveloped parkland was formerly known as the Shattuck Estate.

Borella Fields, located on Plainview Road, is another large community park. It has three baseball fields, a soccer field and a large playground.

Estates[edit]

Plainview was home to several grand Gold Coast estates.

  • The Schwarzenbach Estate. Robert Schwarzenbach was a very successful textile manufacturer, who purchased an estate on Manetto Hill. The house was demolished long ago to make way for homes, however, one outbuilding still exists. It is located in the Manetto Hills Shopping Center. This building, originally the home provided to the estate's gardener, operated for many years as Malarkey's Tavern. The building presently houses a veterinarian's office. In addition, until the 1990s, a second building was still standing. This building, which had been the estate's chicken coop, was converted into a residence, where the gardener mentioned above eventually moved with his wife. It was located on Manetto Hill Road, just across from Nick Place.
  • The Shattuck Estate. The Shattuck Estate was purchased by successful New York City attorney, Edwin Paul Shattuck, who lived there until he died in the 1960s. He was a member of the Shattuck family which owned the Frank G. Shattuck Company. The company operated, among other things, a restaurant chain known as Schrafft Foods.[27] Mr. Shattuck was personal attorney for President Herbert Hoover. They were best friends and died within three days of each other. The property, which totals approximately 138 acres (0.56 km2), was almost developed in the 1970s until community activists forced the county to purchase the property and leave it as a nature preserve.[28] It is located on Washington Avenue and has no signage to indicate its presence. The property's main house was demolished in September 2013. A portion of the property now houses the AHRC's Helen Kaplan Project, a program for developmentally disabled adults.
  • The property known as the Nassau County Office Complex, located between the split of Old Country Road and Round Swamp Road, was once home to the Nassau County Sanitarium, a tuberculosis ward. Built on the Taliaferro Estate, primarily in Old Bethpage, the sanitarium was authorized by the Nassau County Board of Supervisors in 1930, and was completed in the early part of the same decade.[29][30] As tuberculosis was brought under control, the complex of Georgian style buildings was closed in the 1960s.[31] Following its closure, the facility was given over to mixed use, including the establishment of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in 1976 and a branch of the Cornell Cooperative Extension.[31][32] In 1999, Charles Wang, founder of Computer Associates purchased the 144-acre (0.58 km2) property from the county for $23 million.[33] Included in the purchase was 1535 Old Country Road, which at one point housed the corporate offices of the New York Islanders and New York Dragons, both of which were owned by Wang. In addition, the building was home to the Plainview Chinese Cultural Center, an organization founded by Wang.[34] Currently, the site is the home of Country Pointe at Plainview, which mainly hosts senior condos and retail space.

Media[edit]

Television[edit]

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Public television station, WLIW, channel 21, formerly broadcast from Plainview at studios located on Channel 21 Drive. Although the studios still remain at this address, the station now shares transmission facilities with WNET on top of One World Trade Center in New York City.

Movies[edit]

Until the 1980s, there were several movie theaters in the community. The multiplexes built in Hicksville and Commack drew patrons away from the local theaters which were subsequently converted, primarily, to office or retail use.

  • Century's Morton Village, Morton Village Shopping Center. This theater, located at the western end of the shopping center, was converted to retail space with office space above. It is named for the Morton Village development north and south of the strip mall.
    • Beginning in 1976, the theater began pinning their ticket price to the year and lowered their ticket price to 7 cents. The price was raised a penny a year until their 1984 closure. It was widely referred to as "the 76 cent movie theater" until it closed.
    • During his 1984 Presidential run, Walter Mondale made a campaign stop in the parking lot of the Morton Village Shopping Center immediately adjacent to the theater.
  • Old Country Theater. Located west of the intersection of Old Country and Plainview Roads, immediately west of the Shell gas station. Initially a single screen theater, it was converted into a twin. After its closure, the building was converted to an office building, housing mostly medical offices.
  • RKO Plainview Twin. This movie theater was located behind the Plainview Centre on South Oyster Bay Road. This building was converted (and expanded) into today's Shoprite.
  • The Plainview, A Century Theater. This theater was located on the west side of South Oyster Bay Road (facing what is now the Plainview Centre, noted above) next to the Donut Man and, therefore is actually in Hicksville as South Oyster Bay Road is the boundary line between two hamlets. It was converted into an office building, housing mostly medical offices.

Radio[edit]

Plainview is home to WPOB 88.5 FM, the local radio station located in the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School. The school shares the same frequency as Syosset High School's WKWZ station.

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "QuickFacts Plainview CDP, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  3. ^ http://zipcode.org/city/NY/PLAINVIEW [bare URL]
  4. ^ a b c "Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce History". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011.
  5. ^ Maximilian Schele De Vere (1872). Americanisms: The English of the New World. New York, C. Scribner & Co. p. 33. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Newsday - History of Plainview". Archived from the original on July 9, 2008.
  7. ^ There is a small community in Putnam County, New York that is named Manitou, in the 10524 ZIP code and presently served by the Garrison Post Office. There is also a town and a hamlet in Oswego County, NY, named Minetto, with its own post office and 11315 ZIP code.
  8. ^ Hamlet on Olde Oyster Bay
  9. ^ hso-Seasons at Plainview Archived February 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  12. ^ https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/plainview-ny-population
  13. ^ https://www.jewishdatabank.org/content/upload/bjdb/716/JCSNY-2011-Geographic-Profile-Report-Chap-7-Nassau-Rev-10-13.pdf
  14. ^ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/plainviewcdpnewyork/RHI125222#qf-flag-X
  15. ^ "Contact Aeroflex Archived 2012-01-08 at the Wayback Machine." Aeroflex. Retrieved 2012-01-11. "35 South Service Road P.O. Box 6022 Plainview, NY 11803-0622"
  16. ^ BethelUPC/History
  17. ^ Plainview Library Voted
  18. ^ L.I. Library Seeks $190,000 to Buy Site
  19. ^ Plainview Library to Be Closed
  20. ^ Expansion Planned at POB Library Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Update for Residents on Plainview Old Bethpage Public Library Expansion Archived 2008-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Key Support Obtained for Plainview-Old Bethpage Library Archived 2008-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "MIYJCC.com:About". Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  24. ^ "Town of Oyster Bay- Parks Division". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "$1,000,000 Park Dedicated". The New York Times. May 21, 1962.
  26. ^ "L.I. Park Will Open New Pool In August". The New York Times. March 12, 1961.
  27. ^ Unknown (March 15, 1937). "FRANK G. SHATTUCK OF SCHRAFFT'S DIES". NY Times. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  28. ^ Save Americas Forests: Carl Ross
  29. ^ Encyclopedia of the Unincorporated Village of Bethpage Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ Unknown (April 14, 1932). "$5,000,000 Bonds For Nassau County". NY Times. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  31. ^ a b McMorrow, Fred (November 7, 1976). "Beyond the Drunk Tank". NY Times. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  32. ^ NY Camping Review Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ "The Long Island and New York City News Source". Newsday. February 20, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ Charles Wang Foundation Donates Plainview Chinese School to Enrich Asian Cultural Offerings For Long Islanders
  35. ^ "Harrison Chad". IMDb.
  36. ^ The Broadway League. "The official source for Broadway Information". IBDB. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  37. ^ Lovece, Frank. "Ex-LIer Lois Feinstein appeared on Alex Trebek's first 'Jeopardy!' show". Newsday. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  38. ^ composer biography at Naxos Records website.
  39. ^ Balk, Brenda and Mitchell, Jeff (March 11, 2002). "Kupfer maintains connections". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  40. ^ Goldstein, Miles Elliot. Gonzo Judaism: A Bold Path for Renewing an Ancient Faith, p. 152. Shambhala Publications, 2010. ISBN 9780834822313. Accessed May 15, 2022. "Frank London is a musician and composer who lives in the East Village and who grew up in Plainview, Long Island ('It lives up to its name,' he says)."
  41. ^ RobertLongo.com
  42. ^ TVGuide: Chuck Lorre
  43. ^ Eonline: All You Need to Know About Charlie Sheen Nemesis Chuck Lorre
  44. ^ "Suburban Mom Introduces "Long Island Country Rock"". American Homes. January 25, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  45. ^ "Newsday LI History: Charles W. Shea". Archived from the original on August 31, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  46. ^ "World War II History: Charles W.Shea". Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  47. ^ foxnews.com:Former Acting IRS Administrator Werfel Leaves Government

Sources[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plainview, New York.
  • Our Town: Life in Plainview-Old Bethpage 1600 Through Tomorrow, by Richard Koubek, published in 1987
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