July 4th was the most celebrated holiday, and the custom was to gather in the village square or to cruise to a shore location. An oration by a well known citizen was the focal point of the day's activities, followed by games, athletic contest and finally, in the evening, fireworks. Manhasset from 1800 from 1850 was a tiny community of farmers. Any organized leisure or sports activity continued to be centered in more populated areas, i.e., Flushing, Jamaica, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. In those areas a new phenomenon started to evolve- team competition .
History records teams competing in pigeon shooting, yacht racing, sculling, and boat racing.
Of course, contests between individuals contined stimulated by cash prizes in wrestling, boxing or running. Horse racing continued as the largest spectator sport. Tracks flourished at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, and in the more populated cities. Cricket matches between Americans and Englishmen were popular and well attended. After 1850 teams started to be identified by the communites they represented.