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Subject: [NYNASSAU] Towns v. Hamlets v. Villages 1920 changes
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 14:57:26 EDT
On 5/11/01 (1:15:36 PM EDT), Dave (in PA) () asked,
"1910 census lists 'village" of East Meadow under Hempstead "Twsp" ... In
1920 the name of Smithville South was changed to North Bellmore. When in
1920 I do not know. I tend to believe that part or all of East Meadow was
brought into North Bellmore ... I am unable to locate that section of East
Meadow (1910), in the 1920 census rolls T625 1127, 1128, 0r 1129 ... Can you
or anyone else bail me out? ... Also fill me in on the changes that took
place at that time?"
First, the forms were pre-printed with the words "village" and "twsp"; thus,
even though East Meadow is a hamlet and not a village and Hempstead is a town
and not a township, they are listed as village and township, respectively.
Second, since the 1920s, there have been many changes in hamlet names and
borders as many various areas incorporated as villages (many areas became
villages out of fear that Robert Moses, head of the LI Park Commission was
going to put a parkway through their area and a village government could
prevent this).
According to Historical Population of Long Island Communities, 1790-1980 by
the Long Island Regional Plannng Board, the first population numbers for the
Hamlet of East Meadow (3,145) begin with the 1940 census, as do the Hamlet of
North Bellmore (3,519); there is no mention of Smithville South or any
Smithville in this publication.
The Nassau County Planning Commission might have in their archives maps that
may be of some help and the best advice I can offer is to check with them:
Nassau County Planning Commission
400 County Seat Drive
Garden City (Mineola P.O.), NY 11501
tel: 516/571-5844
Good luck.
Regards,
Walter Greenspan
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