Nassau County, New York

Nassau County
County of Nassau
Hempstead House, part of Sands Point Preserve, on Nassau County's Gold Coast, home to some of the world's most expensive real estate
Hempstead House, part of Sands Point Preserve, on Nassau County's Gold Coast, home to some of the world's most expensive real estate
Flag of Nassau County
Official seal of Nassau County
Map of New York highlighting Nassau County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°44′50″N 73°38′17″W / 40.7472°N 73.6381°W / 40.7472; -73.6381
Country United States
State New York
Founded1899
Named forHouse of Nassau
SeatMineola
Largest townHempstead
Government
 • ExecutiveBruce Blakeman (R)
Area
 • Total453 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Land285 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Water169 sq mi (440 km2)  37%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,395,774
 • Density4,897.45/sq mi (1,890.92/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code516, 363
Congressional districts2nd, 3rd, 4th
Websitewww.nassaucountyny.gov
Population is 2020 official census
Map
Interactive map of Nassau County, New York

Nassau County (/ˈnæsɔː/ NASS-aw) is a suburban county located on Long Island, immediately to the east of New York City. As of the 2020 United States census, Nassau County's population was 1,395,774, making it the sixth-most populous county in the State of New York,[1] and reflecting an increase of 56,242 (+4.2%) from the 1,339,532 residents enumerated at the 2010 census.[2] Its county seat is Mineola, while the county's largest town is Hempstead.[3][4][5] Along with the remainder of Long Island, Nassau County lies in the southeastern portion of New York State.

Situated on western Long Island, the County of Nassau borders New York City's borough of Queens to its west, and Long Island's Suffolk County to its east. It is the most densely populated and second-most populous county in the State of New York outside of New York City, with which it maintains extensive rail and highway connectivity, and is considered one of the central counties within the New York metropolitan area.

Nassau County comprises two cities, three towns, 64 incorporated villages, and more than 60 unincorporated hamlets. Nassau County has a designated police department,[6] fire commission,[7] and elected executive and legislative bodies.[8]

Main Street, Port Washington

A 2012 Forbes article based on the American Community Survey reported Nassau County as the most expensive county and one of the highest income counties in the U.S., and the most affluent in New York state, with four of the nation's top ten towns by median income located in the county.[9] As of 2023, the median home price in Nassau County is approximately US$700,000, and the Gold Coast of Nassau County features some of the world's most expensive real estate. Nassau County high school students often feature prominently as winners of the International Science and Engineering Fair and similar STEM-based academic awards.[10] Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in the Town of Oyster Bay; the Old Westbury campus of New York Institute of Technology; Zucker School of Medicine in the Village of Hempstead; and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, are prominent life sciences research and academic institutions in Nassau County.

  1. ^ "QuickFacts Nassau County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts Nassau County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Nassau County Atlas, 6th Large Scale Edition, Hagstrom Map Company, Inc., 1999
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Toy, Vivian S. (March 30, 2003). "For Sale: Nassau's County Seat". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2017. The county's properties all have mailing addresses in Mineola, the official county seat, but are actually within Garden City's boundaries.
  6. ^ "NCPD: Nassau County Police Department". Nassau County. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Nassau County Fire Commission". Nassau County. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  8. ^ "Governmental Structure: Nassau County". Nassau County. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  9. ^ "America's Most Affluent Neighborhoods". Forbes.com. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  10. ^ "Student Science a Resource of Society for Science & the Public". Society for Science & the Public. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.