FREEPORT, LONG ISLAND

Freeport, Long Island

Freeport is a village in the Town of Hempstead located in the southwestern section of Nassau County, Long Island, New York. The southern part of the village is infiltrated by several canals that allow access to the Atlantic Ocean by means of passage through salt marshes; the oldest of these canals is the late 19th century Woodcleft Canal. The village is only a 45 minute ride by the Long Island Rail Road to Manhattan, making an easy commute to New York City. The village is also the second largest in the State of New York.

As of 2010 census, there were 42,860 people, 14,224 households, and 9,923 families residing in the area. The median income for a household in the village was $69,081, and the median income for a family was $79,625. Males had a median income of $46,383 and $42,076 for females. The latitude of Freeport is 40.657N. The longitude is -73.583W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 20 feet.

During colonial times, the community was part of an area called "the Great South Woods". In the mid 1600s, it was renamed to Raynor South and ultimately Raynortown, after the name of Edward Raynor who had moved to the area from Hempstead in 1659 and built a cabin. In 1853, the residents voted to rename the village Freeport which adopts an alternative of a nickname used by ship captains during colonial times because they were not charged customs duties to land their cargo. Freeport became incorporated in 1892. Oystering became a booming industry after the Civil War, although declined at the beginning of the 20th Century because of changing salinity in the bay.

The incorporated village has its own Police Station, Fire Station, Electric and Water Departments. Freeport's government is made up of four Trustees and a Mayor. When it comes to shopping, Freeport was also one of the few villages to hold a sizeable open market area, known as the Freeport Mall. Many local businesses objected when the mall area became neglected. The Nautical Mile is famous for its restaurants with live music that makes it very relaxing to the ears. The promenade-style sidewalk lined with antique-style light posts, potted plants and benches are a plus to encourage people planning to visit the area.

Freeport schools offer an excellent education that is among one of the community’s best assets. Aside from it, there are still development projects that have to be made to fix the area's flooding problems by installing new drains ensuring the safety of their residents. Houses in Freeport are very affordable with many single-family homes, condos and co-ops, while renters have an abundant selection as well. The median price of a home in Freeport was $262,500 in the last quarter of 2012 with about 320 homes for sale.

--- Freeport, NY - Official Website --- Freeport's Nautical Mile --- Freeport Real Estate