NASSAU COUNTY, NY HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Nassau County, New York: A Genealogical Overview
Occupying the central portion of Long Island, Nassau County was formed from the eastern towns of Queens County in the late 19th century. Its history is a dramatic transformation from a region of farms and large estates to one of America’s first and most famous suburban areas. Its post-World War II development, exemplified by Levittown, defined modern suburbia. For genealogists, research involves both early colonial records and the records of a massive 20th-century population boom.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Nassau County was created when the western part of Queens County was absorbed into New York City.
- 1899: County Formed: Nassau County was established on January 1, 1899.
- Parent Entity: It was formed from the three eastern towns (Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay) of Queens County that did not become part of New York City in the 1898 consolidation.
- Subsequent Formations: The towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead were later subdivided, creating the cities of Glen Cove and Long Beach.
- Name Origin: An old name for Long Island, which was named in honor of William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, who later became King William III of England.
- County Seat History: Mineola was chosen as the county seat after the county’s formation.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The area was inhabited by several bands of Algonquin-speaking peoples, including the Massapequa, Matinecock, and Merrick.
- English Settlement: The towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay were settled in the mid-17th century by English colonists from Connecticut and New England, who established agricultural communities.
- American Revolution: Long Island was occupied by the British for most of the war. A key intelligence network for George Washington, the Culper Spy Ring, operated in the area.
- Key Historical Events:
- The Gold Coast: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the North Shore of Long Island became the “Gold Coast,” where wealthy industrialists and financiers built magnificent country estates.
- Aviation History: The flat, open Hempstead Plains were ideal for early aviation. Roosevelt Field was the starting point for Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo transatlantic flight in 1927.
- Suburbanization: After World War II, Nassau County experienced an unprecedented population explosion. William Levitt’s mass-produced community, Levittown, built on former potato fields, became the symbol of American suburbia.
- United Nations: The temporary headquarters of the United Nations Security Council was located in Lake Success from 1946 to 1951.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
- County Courthouse: The Nassau County Clerk’s Office is located in Mineola, NY.
- Vital Records:
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1880. Records prior to the county’s 1899 formation are held by the individual town clerks of Hempstead and Oyster Bay and are some of the oldest town records in the country.
- Essential Records and Archives:
- Queens County records (prior to 1899) at the New York City Municipal Archives may contain relevant court and other records.
- Nassau County Division of Museum Services and the County Historian can provide guidance.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Long Island Studies Institute: A cooperative venture between Hofstra University and Nassau County, it is a major research center for Long Island history.
- Nassau County Historical Society: Located in East Meadow.
- Many local public libraries have excellent local history collections.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Suffolk County (east)
- Queens County (west)