West Hempstead, New York

West Hempstead is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 18,862 at the 2010 census. West Hempstead is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead and is represented by Councilman Bruce Blakeman.

History

West Hempstead is served by the West Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, there are 3 stations within its borders, West Hempstead, Hempstead Gardens, and Lakeview. The line continues to Valley Stream where it joins the Babylon Branch.

West Hempstead is easily accessed from the Southern State Parkway at Exit 17N

The West Hempstead Union Free School District current operates 5 schools, 1 kindergarten, 2 elementary, 1 middle school and 1 high school.

Geography

West Hempstead is located at 40°41′47″N 73°39′9″W / 40.69639°N 73.65250°W / 40.69639; -73.65250 (40.696409, -73.652522).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (3.64%) is water.

West Hempstead (LIRR station)

West Hempstead is the terminal station at the east end of the Long Island Rail Road's West Hempstead Branch serving West Hempstead, New York, United States. It is located at Hempstead Avenue and Hempstead Gardens Drive.

History

Between 1870 and 1879 the Southern Hempstead Branch of the South Side Railroad of Long Island had a terminal station located on Greenwich Street further to the east. The station and the line were abandoned in May 1879, but the station itself was converted into a skating rink that burned down in July 1888.