East Hills, New York

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**East Hills** is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Village of Roslyn. The population of the village was 6,955 at the 2010 census.

The **Incorporated Village of East Hills** is located primarily within the Town of North Hempstead, spare for a small section of the village's northeast corner which is within the Town of Oyster Bay.

## History

### Before the village

In 1643, John Carman and Robert Fordham sailed across the Long Island Sound from Stamford, Connecticut and purchased the land that is now occupied by the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead from the Marsappeaque, Matinecock, Mericock, and Rockoway Native Americans. This land included what is now East Hills.

For a long time, much of what now is East Hills was home to a few wealthy families. In 1898, Clarence and Katherine Mackay settled in present-day East Hills and would eventually commission Stanford White to design their mansion, Harbor Hill. In 1924, the Prince of Wales, who later abdicated the throne of England to marry Mrs. Simpson, was entertained at the Mackay estate. Aviation pioneer Charles A. Lindbergh even rested at the Mackay estate in 1927 after returning to the United States following his historic solo flight to Paris, France.

### Village of East Hills: 1931 – present

#### Incorporation, 1931

The Village of East Hills was incorporated on June 24, 1931, and its first election was held a couple weeks later on July 8 in barns at the Mackay estate.

Mr. Willets was elected as Mayor and John Mackay, Stephen Willets, Ellen A. Hennessy, and Catherine Hechler were elected as the Village Trustees. Charles Hechler, the husband of Mrs. Heckler, was appointed as the Village Clerk.

The name of East Hills was chosen based on its geography and location. The "East" reflects the village's geographic location adjacent to and east of Roslyn, and the "Hills" reflects the hilly geography of the village.

#### Postwar-era housing boom, mid-20th Century

The post-war era ushered in a huge population boom and suburbanization throughout the United States, which led to the construction of many new developments in the Village of East Hills. One of these developments, Strathmore, was developed by Levitt & Sons in the late 1940s.

Another notable development built during this time, the Country Estates subdivision, was developed by Country Estates, Incorporated over Clarence Mackay's former estate. Prior to building the Country Estates in East Hills, the firm developed the Flower Hill Country Estates subdivision in nearby Flower Hill.

A third notable development, Norgate, was developed by Gustav A. Mezger and the Homeguard Realty Corporation.

Additionally, in order for the Roslyn Union Free School District to adequately serve the influx of families, the Moore & Hutchins-designed East Hills Elementary School was opened between the Canterbury Woods and Fairfield Park developments in 1953.

#### The Park at East Hills

On Labor Day 2006, The Park at East Hills opened on the land previously occupied by the Roslyn Air National Guard base. It has a pool, nature walks, senior facilities, and tennis and basketball courts. The construction of the park was financed through the sale of bonds; carrying and operating costs are paid through taxes.

## Geography

 File:East-hills-ny-map.png
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.

The portions of the village on Harbor Hill, the former site of Clarence Mackay's estate of the same name, are among the highest areas in Nassau County and Long Island, as a whole.

Additionally, the Harbor Hill Moraine is named for this hill, as it is one of the terminal moraine's most prominent and famous topographic features.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,955 people residing in the village. The racial makeup of the village was 89.85% White, 0.95% African American, 7.40% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.

### Census 2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,842 people, 2,245 households, and 2,029 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,991.5 people per square mile (1,153.6/km2). There were 2,275 housing units at an average density of 994.7 per square mile (383.6/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 92.94% White, 0.8% African American, 0.01% Native American, 4.82% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 2,245 households, out of which 46.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 84.4% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.6% were non-families. 8.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $149,726, and the median income for a family was $159,316. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $52,115 for females. The per capita income for the village was $59,297. About 1.5% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

### Village government

As of June 2021, the Mayor of East Hills is Michael R. Koblenz. Koblenz has held this position for roughly 20 consecutive years. He previously lived in nearby Flower Hill and served as one of its Village Trustees in the 1980s. Also as of June 2021, the Deputy Mayor of East Hills is Emmanuel Zuckerman, and the Village Trustees of East Hills are Brian Meyerson, Clara Pomerantz, Stacey Siegel, and Emmanuel Zuckerman.

### Representation in higher government

As of June 2021, the part of East Hills located within the Town of North Hempstead is represented on the Town Board by one of its former trustees, resident Peter J. Zuckerman.

As of June 2021, the Village of East Hills is represented in the Nassau County Legislature by Legislator Joshua Alexander Lafazan.

### Politics

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the majority of East Hills voters voted for Hillary Clinton (D).

## Education

East Hills is primarily within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Roslyn Union Free School District. However, some of the southeastern portions of the village are served by the East Williston Union Free School District and the small portion within the Town of Oyster Bay is served by the Jericho Union Free School District. As such, children who live in East Hills and attend public schools will go to school in one of these three districts depending on where they live within the village.

## Landmarks

Despite the fact that the Mackay family's Stanford White-designed mansion was demolished prior to the construction of Country Estates, three remaining buildings from the former Harbor Hill estate still stand, and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991:

* Mackay Estate Dairyman's Cottage
* Mackay Estate Gate Lodge
* Mackay Estate Water Tower

Additionally, another home from the estate remains: the John Mackay III House, which is located at 2A Melby Lane.

## Notable people

* James V. Forrestal – First United States Secretary of Defense, serving between 1947 and 1949. Forrestal lived in his East Hills Home, "Old Brick" until his sudden death in 1949.
* Wendy Liebman – Comedian.
* Clarence H. Mackay – Financier. Mackay Lived in Harbor Hill.
* Katherine Duer Mackay – Suffragist and socialite; Clarence's ex-wife.

## External links

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* Official website

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Template:OysterBayNY

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Village of East Hills History. villageofeasthills.org.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite book
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 East hills anniversary 090216 (en).
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite news
5. ↑ 28 May 1939, Page 45 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle at Newspapers.com (en).
6. ↑ East Hills School, Roslyn, New York. View from southwest, to south facade.
7. ↑ Park History | Village of East Hills.
8. ↑ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2011-02-12).
9. ↑ Garvies Point Museum and Preserve - Geology of Long Island.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau.
11. ↑ East Hills, NY Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Village Officials | Village of East Hills.
13. ↑ Template:Cite news
14. ↑ Town of North Hempstead - Councilman Peter J. Zuckerman (2nd District).
15. ↑ District 18 - Joshua A. Lafazan | Nassau County, NY - Official Website.
16. ↑ Welch, Will (2017-11-08). How Long Island Voted (en-US).
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Long Island Index: Interactive Map.
18. ↑ Template:NRISref
19. ↑ Zahn, Max (2017-05-02). Residents fight demolition of historic Mackay home - News (en-US).
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Old Brick | Profiles | Roslyn Landmark Society.
21. ↑ James V. Forrestal (1944–1945) | Miller Center (en) (2016-10-04).
22. ↑ "Women in Comedy Festival presents Wendy Liebman". JewishBoston.com. Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Retrieved December 23, 2015.