Floral Park, New York
Encyclopedia : F : FL : FLO : Floral Park, New York
Floral Park is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York on Long Island. The population was 15,967 at the 2000 census. The village is at the western border of Nassau County, and is located in both the Town of Hempstead and the Town of North Hempstead. The neighborhood of Floral Park, Queens is adjacent to the village.
Government
The village has a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is Phil Guarnieri; the four-member village board is comprised of trustees Thomas J. Tweedy, Gerry M. Bambrick, Kevin J. Greene, and James E. Rhatigan.Floral Park has its own police force, which is currently comprised of two lieutenants, six sergeants, two detectives and twenty-five police officers, and is commanded by police commissioner Michael Reid. Floral Park also has a volunteer fire department, lead by Chief Joe O'Grady, (and assistant chiefs Kelleher, Militello, Wakely Jr., and Ulmer) and a sanitation department.
Floral Park Police officers earn starting salaries of approximately $70,000.
Quality of life
Floral Park is considered to have a high standard of living. The violent crime rate in 2003 was 0.8 per 1,000 and there were 0 homicides. This figure is particularly impressive considering that Floral Park borders New York City proper.Along with the low crime, the local government ensures that the village is kept visually pleasing as well. Some relevant ordinances include:
- 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.
- Cars are not allowed to be parked on the street at night (from 3 AM to 5 AM) so that the street sweeper can move unobstructed.
- Any unhealthy trees visible from the street must be removed at owner's expense.
- Snow must be removed from walkways within 12 hours of snowfall.
- Public loitering is prohibited anywhere in the village.
Geography
The western village boundary is the border of New York City.Floral Park is located at (40.722427, -73.703207)[Geographic references#1GR1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 15,967 people, 5,770 households, and 4,258 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,499.9/km² (11,635.9/mi²). There were 5,892 housing units at an average density of 1,660.5/km² (4,293.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.38% of the population.There were 5,770 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the village the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $73,719, and the median income for a family was $87,243. Males had a median income of $56,527 versus $38,592 for females. The per capita income for the village was $31,183. About 2.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Two high schools are located in Floral Park: Floral Park Memorial High School and Sewahnaka High School, both of which are part of the Sewahnaka Central High School District (which also includes schools in the nearby towns of New Hyde Park, Franklin Square and Elmont.) [link]
There are three elementary schools in Floral Park. Two of them, John Lewis Childs School and Floral Park-Bellerose School, are part of the Floral Park-Bellerose School District (the latter school also serves the neighboring village of Bellerose). [link] There is also Our Lady of Victory Elementary School, operated by the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Victory parish. [link]
Additional facts about Floral Park
- The composer John Williams was born in Floral Park [link] (although some sources, including the New York Times, cite Flushing as his birthplace [link].)
- Floral Park is a station on the Long Island Rail Road on the Hempstead line between Stewart Manor (east) and Hollis (west).
- Currently, the village is leading efforts to stop a Long Island Rail Road track expansion project, which would have a severe impact on the village.
- Three newspapers serve Floral Park: The Gateway, The Floral Park Dispatch, and The Bulletin.
- In the Marvel Comics universe, X-Men member Iceman was born in Floral Park.
- Ex-NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde attended Sewanhaka High School, which is partly in Floral Park.
External links
- [Floral Park official website]
- [Floral Park - Bellrose Schools]
- [History of Floral Park]
- [Sewanhaka High School District]
- [Maps and aerial photos]
- * Street map from [Google Maps] or [Yahoo! Maps]
- * Topographic map from [TopoZone]
- * Aerial image or topographic map from [TerraServer-USA]
- * Satellite image from [Google Maps] or [Windows Live Local]
And is known for frequent spottings of the notorious Black-Alyce In Wonderland.
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