West Hempstead, New York
West Hempstead is a community of 20,648 people in Nassau County, New York.
Why visit West Hempstead
Townapedia lists 24 museums and landmarks, 25 parks and trails, 139 places to eat and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Hofstra University, Bow Tie Cinema, A. T. Stewart Era Buildings and African American Museum.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in West Hempstead
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Hempstead
West Hempstead is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 19,835 at the time of the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article West Hempstead, New York (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Hofstra University
School · 3.0 mi
University in Nassau County, New York
Bow Tie Cinema
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
989 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square
Museums and landmarks24
A. T. Stewart Era Buildings
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic district in Garden City, New York
Franklin National Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Former bank in the United States
Haviland-Davison Grist Mill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Mill in New York, United States of America
House at 251 Rocklyn Avenue
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
House at 474 Ocean Avenue
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
House at 73 Grove Street
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
Mitchel Air Force Base
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
US Air Force base in Long Island, New York
Old Nassau County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Courthouse in New York, United States
Pagan-Fletcher House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic house in New York, United States
Rockville Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Cemetery in Lynbrook, New York
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St. Paul's German Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic church and cemetery
12 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds25
Harold Walker Memorial Park
Park · 1.5 mi
Park in Lakeview, Nassau County, New York, United States
Rath Park
Park · 1.1 mi
Playground Area, Basketball Court, Baseball fields, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, and Bocce Ball. Built in 1959 over an old farm.
13 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes139
El Ajicito
Restaurant · Peruvian · 1.5 mi
246 Front Street, Hempstead
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 10:00-22:00
Gino's Pizzaria & Restaurant
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.6 mi
619 Woodfield Road, West Hempstead
Mo-Th 10:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-23:00; Su 11:30-21:30
La Bottega Original
Restaurant · Italian · 1.1 mi
147 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead
Mo-Th 10:00-20:30; Fr 10:00-21:30; Su off
Mi Tierrita
Restaurant · Chicken, Colombian · 1.5 mi
31 North Franklin Street, Hempstead
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Sabor A Colombia Restaurant
Restaurant · Spanish · 1.0 mi
700 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square
Su-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:00
Chuck E. Cheese
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.4 mi
162 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead
Mo-Th 12:00-20:00; Fr 12:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 1.2 mi
579 Peninsula Boulevard, Hempstead
05:00-21:00
China Garden of Hempstead
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.7 mi
108 Main Street, Hempstead
Mo-Th 11:00-22:50; Fr, Sa 11:00-23:20; Su 11:30-22:50
127 more on the map.
History
West Hempstead first appeared on maps as the name of a Long Island Railroad station in 1893. There are three railroad stations within its borders: West Hempstead, Hempstead Gardens, and Lakeview. The line continues to Valley Stream where it joins the Babylon Branch. Halls Pond Park, the main park within West Hempstead, was dedicated by Nassau County in 1961. The smaller Echo Park contains a public indoor pool. Its name is derived from the community's first four little league teams: Eagles, Cardinals, Hawks, and Orioles. In 1962 they represented the east in the Senior League world series beating a team from New London, Ohio 3-2 to advance to the championship against La Habra, California. West Hempstead ended up beating them 8-2. In 1956, the West Hempstead Public Library was founded and chartered by the State in 1967. Its present 28,000 square-foot facility was completed in 2007.
In 2001, residents of West Hempstead held a nonbinding referendum on renaming the community. The vote followed a two-year effort by the West Hempstead Civic Association and the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce to give the community a unique name, distancing itself from the neighboring crime ridden Hempstead. By a 94-vote margin, West Hempstead retained its name over the proposed Mayfair Gardens.
West Hempstead is easily accessed from the Southern State Parkway at Exit 17N and 18
From the History section of West Hempstead, New York on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship64
St. George's Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Paul
Church · Greek Orthodox · 1.3 mi
110 Cathedral Avenue, Hempstead
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.6 mi
619 Pinebrook Avenue, West Hempstead
Shopping36
Gas and EV charging20
Schools, colleges and libraries84
Healthcare15
Family Medical
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
130 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead
Long Island Spine Specialist
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
565 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead
Map of West Hempstead
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 27°F | 3.6 in | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 28°F | 3.0 in | 6.2 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 34°F | 4.4 in | 3.1 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 43°F | 3.8 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 62°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 68°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 66°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 49°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 40°F | 3.4 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 33°F | 4.2 in | 5.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mineola (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Nassau County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-01-30: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-22: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2020-10-02: Tropical Storm Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-20: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Franklin Square 1 mi west, about 2 min by car
- Hempstead 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Garden City 2 mi north, about 3 min by car
- Rockville Centre 2 mi south, about 4 min by car
- Elmont 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Lynbrook 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- North Valley Stream 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- New Hyde Park 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Floral Park 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Uniondale 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 1964 World's Fair Arch; West Hempstead, NY, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mineola post office, Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
- House at 251 Rocklyn Avenue, Lynbrook-1, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hempstead, New York Post Office, DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 73 Grove Street; Lynbrook, NY-1, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USPO Rockville Centre, New York (Front View), DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St- Paul's German Presbyterian Church and Cemetery 2012-09-27 jeh, jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Nassau County Court House, DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bristol & Mexico Monument in Lynbrook's Rockville Cemetery-- Jim Noone Piper, Lynhistory, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mitchel AFB NY 2006 Topo, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Public domain
- House at 474 Ocean Avenue, Lynbrook-2, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pagan-Fletcher House; Full View, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Haviland-Davison Grist Mill-5, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USPO Garden City NY - Front Doors, DanTD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LIRR Hempstead Gardens Platform facing north, Moodygamer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- LIRR Lakeview Station Platform facing south, Moodygamer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Thomas The Apostle Altar - panoramio, BigBear_in_IN, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Manhattan Bridge NY1, Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2013 Nissan Sentra SR front left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2013 Nissan Sentra SR rear left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1985 Mitsubishi Galant base 2.4 (E17A) front, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1985 Mitsubishi Galant base 2.4 (E17A) rear, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mercy Hospital as seen from Southern State Parkway in 2014, Jonathan Schilling, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1983 Hurst-Olds 15th Anniversary, rear left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mercy Hospital as seen from Southern State Parkway in 2021, Jonathan Schilling, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mercy Hospital as seen from Southern State Parkway in 2018, Jonathan Schilling, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inside Blodgett Hall, Adelphi University, Caballero1967, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iglesia Cristiana Unida, Hempstead, New York (021), Carolina araya, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Franklin National Bank; Franklin Square-2, DanTD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Microprinting on the edge of the purple 5 in the United States 5 dollar bill, TheTypoIsIntentoinal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathedral Church of the Intercessor - Malverne, New York, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greyhound Bus Hempstead, Transitsylveonkpop, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adelphi University Quad, Shaunpassaic, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2013 Black Dodge Charger, BigNigFries, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2013 Dodge Charger Rear, BigNigFries, CC BY-SA 4.0
- King Kullen Franklin Square NY, Bonnachoven, CC0
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE 4WD in Wind Chill Pearl, front left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE 4WD in Wind Chill Pearl, rear left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dukes Laws Convention Historic Marker 20240822 143149, XanderAi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1985 Ford Thunderbird in Medium Sand Beige Metallic, rear left, Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0
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