Franklin Square, New York
Franklin Square is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. The hamlet is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 29,320 at the 2010 census. The area was originally known as Trimming Square and then as Washington Square. History. What is now Franklin Square was near the center of the Hempstead Plains, and used as grazing land, and later farmland, by the first white settlers. The southern portion included oak and dogwood forests. In late 1643, Robert Fordham and John Carman made a treaty with  members of the Massapequak, Mericoke, Matinecock and Rockaway tribes to buy roughly 100 square miles upon which they intended to start a new settlement. They purchased this tract, including much of what are now the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead. In 1790, George Washington passed through the town while touring Long Island. He wrote in his diary that the area was "entirely treeless except for a few scraggly fruit trees." Walt Whitman spent three months in the spring of 1840 as the schoolmaster of the Trimming Square school district, in the area where Franklin Square, Garden City South and  West Hempstead intersect. In 1852, one Louis Schroeher built a hotel near a tollgate (by what is now Arden Boulevard) of the Hempstead-Jamaica Turnpike (toll road). The hotel attracted an increasing number of visitors and immigrants (the latter often German) from New York City to the formerly rural hamlet. Population grew steadily until the sudden intensified surge of suburbanization into post-World War II Long Island reached the village. By 1952, the farms were all gone, replaced by newly built houses full of emigrants from nearby New York City. Name. It is rumored that the original name for the  area, Trimming Square, reflected the fact that farms once dominated the area's landscape (as was common for areas all across the Hempstead Plains), and because many sheep were brought to the area by local farmers for separation during the latter parts of the 18th Century. The Trimming Square name was used between the early 19th Century and 1851, when the name was changed to Washington Square after George Washington. The name of the community was again changed in the 1870s when locals made strides to establish a local U.S. post office. The United States Postal Service would not use  the name Washington Square, as they felt that there were too many other places within New York which had Washington in their names. This led to locals again changing the name, and they ultimately chose the name Franklin Square. It is rumored that the name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Failed incorporation attempt. In February 1929, locals tried incorporating their community as the Incorporated Village of Franklin Square. However, the plans were scrapped that April when the Town of Hempstead denied the petition, due to the fact that too few residents were in favor of incorporation. Geography. According to  the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land. Franklin Square is bordered on the north by Stewart Manor, northeast by Garden City and Garden City South, southwest by North Valley Stream, east by West Hempstead, and west by Elmont. Demographics. 2010 census. As of the 2010 United States Census the population was 29,320. The makeup of the population was 75.1% Non-Hispanic White, 3.2% African American, 0.11% Native American, 7.2% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.3% of  the population. 2000 census. As of the 2000 United States Census there were 29,342 people, 10,187 households and 7,833 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 10,169.2 per square mile (3,920.1/km). There were 10,364 housing units at an average density of 3,591.9/sq mi (1,384.6/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.97% White, 0.99% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.79% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.89% of the population. There were 10,187 households, out of which 31.4% had  children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. Of all households 19.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.30. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65  years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $80,164, and the median income for a family was $87,485 as of a 2007. Males had a median income of $50,805 versus $35,207 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,149. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age  18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over. Franklin Square has large Italian-American (40%), Irish-American (16%) and German-American (11%) populations. The growing Jewish population is served by one Conservative and seven Orthodox synagogues. An eruv surrounds most of Franklin Square and adjoining West Hempstead. Arts and culture. Landmarks. Franklin Square was the home of the Franklin National Bank, once the nation's 20th largest bank. Under the leadership of Arthur T. Roth, the Franklin National Bank introduced many banking innovations, such as the bank credit card, the drive up teller window (1950), junior savings accounts (1947 ), and a no-smoking policy on banking floors (1958). Today, the building is a Chase bank. On October 8, 1974, the Franklin National Bank was declared insolvent due to mismanagement and fraud, involving losses in foreign currency speculation and poor loan policies. This caused massive losses for its stockholders, resulted in jail and disgrace for its management; Italian financier and CEO Michele Sindona was poisoned in his cell in 1986, while serving a life-sentence for his part in this affair. It was at the time the largest bank failure in the history of the country, and forced US banking  policymakers to reexamine and reassess regulation of international banking. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Community organizations. There is an active Chamber of Commerce and a historical society. The Community League of Garden City South, Inc. Established in 1929 is the oldest acting Civic Association that serves the entire Franklin Square School District #17. The Community League of Garden City South, Inc. Is a direct liaison between the residents/merchants and the State and Local Government as well as other Organizations. It is their honor to act on behalf of the people to  maintain and preserve the quality of life within the district. Franklin Square Civic Association, established in 2016 by a group of residents within the community, serves to maintain and improve the quality of life within the community. The organization sponsors several events to bring the community together. Franklin Square has the Franklin Square Warriors youth football program, Franklin Square Raiders youth soccer program, the Franklin Square Little League, and Franklin Square Seminoles II baseball and softball club. Library. Franklin Square residents are served by two public libraries, the Elmont Public Library and the Franklin Square Public Library. Government. As part  of the Town of Hempstead, Franklin Square is represented by 3rd District Councilman Bruce Blakeman. As part of New York's 4th congressional district, the hamlet is represented by Kathleen Rice. Education. Franklin Square is served by two elementary school districts (the Valley Stream 13 Union Free School District and the Franklin Square Union Free School District) and two central high school districts (the Valley Stream Central High School District and the Sewanhaka Central High School District). The Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 covers the four public elementary schools in Franklin Square (Willow Road School is located in  Franklin Square under Valley Stream District) and two public high schools (North Valley Stream H.S. is located in Franklin Square under Valley Stream District). The Franklin Square Union Free District 17 covers Washington Street School, John Street Elementary School, H. Frank Carey High School, and Polk Street School. District 16 (Elmont School district), covers the western part, with most students attending Covert Ave School and Sewanhaka High School. The private St. Catherine of Sienna elementary school closed in June 2012. Below are the schools in Franklin Square, and their respective grade levels and districts. Media. Franklin Square has a print  weekly newspaper, the "Franklin Square Bulletin", and is covered by another local print and online newspaper, the "Three Village Times". Infrastructure. Franklin Square has a volunteer fire department and is served by the Nassau County Police Department's Fifth Precinct. Sanitation and recycling services are provided by Town of Hempstead District 6. The Town of Hempstead department of Parks and Recreation operates and maintains Rath Park, which includes Rath Park Pool, basketball, handball, and tennis courts, football and baseball fields, and a playground. There is a snack commissary and recreational equipment rental facility that operate during the summer, while the  pool is operational.