Floral Park, New York
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Floral Park is a village located in Nassau County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 15,967.
The Village of Floral Park is at the western border of the county. Floral Park is in both the Town of Hempstead and the Town of North Hempstead.
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History
The Village of Floral Park was incorporated in 1908. A prominent founding father, John Lewis Childs, became the first mayor. The village is adjacent to Queens County, New York and that part of Queens near the village is also called Floral Park, but is not part of the village. Flower names are used for many of the street names in the village, and many of the streets are located over the fields where Childs grew plants for his seed business.
While this area was still part of Queens County, it was known as East Hinsdale. When Nassau County was formed in 1899, the community changed the name, on the advice of Childs, to Floral Park.
The first school was constructed in 1895. When Childs died in 1921, it was renamed the John Lewis Childs School. Currently the two elementary schools (JLC and the larger Floral Park - Bellerose School) are operated by the Floral Park - Bellerose School District. Sewanhaka High School was built just across the Elmont border in 1926, and was the only high school serving Floral Park for the next 31 years. The baby boom caused many couples to move into Floral Park, and so Floral Park Memorial High School opened its doors in 1957. Now, most students in Floral Park go on to FPM.
Quality of life
The government of Floral Park provides its citizens with a rather high quality of life. The violent crime rate in 2003 was 0.8 per 1,000 and there were 0 murders and homicides. This figure is particularly impressive when you consider that Floral Park borders New York City proper. The village policemen are extremely motivated by their comfortable starting salaries of $70,000.
Along with the low crime, the local government ensures that the village is kept visually pleasing as well. Some of the ordnances that cause this are:
- No fences over 6 feet high may be erected, and no wire fences of any sort are allowed.
- No driveway may be enlarged in any way without a permit.
- No car may be parked anywhere but a specified driveway or garage, or the street.
- Any unhealthy trees visible from the street must be removed at owner's expense.
Geography
The western village boundary is the border of New York City.
Floral Park is located at 40°43'21" North, 73°42'12" West (40.722427, -73.703207)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 15,967 people, 5,770 households, and 4,258 families residing in the village. The population density is 4,499.9/km² (11,635.9/mi²). There are 5,892 housing units at an average density of 1,660.5/km² (4,293.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 93.56% White, 0.46% African American, 0.06% Native American, 3.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 5.38% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,770 households out of which 34.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% are married couples living together, 9.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% are non-families. 23.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.76 and the average family size is 3.30.
In the village the population is spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $73,719, and the median income for a family is $87,243. Males have a median income of $56,527 versus $38,592 for females. The per capita income for the village is $31,183. 3.1% of the population and 2.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Additional facts about Floral Park
The composer John Williams was born in Floral Park.
Floral Park is a station on the Long Island Rail Road.
External links
- Floral Park official website (http://www.fpvillage.org/)
- Floral Park - Bellrose Schools (http://www.floralpark.k12.ny.us)
- History of Floral Park (http://www.fpvillage.org/history/history.htm)
- Sewanhaka High School District (http://www.sewanhaka.k12.ny.us)