LEVITTOWN, LONG ISLAND

Levittown, Long Island

Levittown is a hamlet and unincorporated political subdivision of New York State which is located in Nassau County, Long Island, New York. It is famous as a post-World War II suburban development and an absolute symbol of modern day suburbia. As of 2000 census, there are 53,067 people, 17,207 households, and 14,109 families residing in the area. The median income for a household in the community is $69,923, and the median income for a family is $73,851. Males have a median income of $50,603 and only $35,962 for females. The latitude of Levittown is 40.725N. The longitude is -73.514W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 82 feet.

The area was named after William J. Levitt , a developer. It was headed by him and his two sons, William and Alfred that built the four planned communities called "Levittown". It was used to be a potato farms in an area previously known as Island Trees because it contained a tall group of pine trees on which many local farmers depended for survival. By 1945 and the end of World War II, Island Trees farmers began looking to sell off affected land as quickly as they could. The war had created a shortage of construction materials and the housing industry had fallen off rapidly. Then, Lieutenant William Levitt realized that the urgent need for post-war housing and the availability of cheap farmland provided a golden opportunity for his family to capitalize on their Island Trees property. He proposed to his father and brother that Levitt & Sons divide the former potato field into small lots and build simple, inexpensive mass-produced homes for veterans and their families. Today, houses of Levittown have been thoroughly expanded and modified with very affordable rates that had become one of the largest mass-produced suburbs.

Levittown is served by two public school districts; the Island Trees Union Free School District which serves the Eastern third of the community and the Levittown Union Free School District which serves the other two thirds of the community, as well as large portions of adjacent Wantagh and Seaford. With good schools, low crime, and easy access to where every person needs to go, Levittown is a perfect place to live. The Levittown Historical Museum that had opened in 1997 offers an engaging sight of Levittown's history, beginning with recollections, photographs, and personal belongings of the First World War II veterans to return to Long Island in search of affordable housing. The original ranches where purchased for just under $8,000. Today the average Levitt house can be purchased for around $135,000, with some valued at over $200,000. But with the new high-end houses are going up now a days, it seems the rate become much expensive than before which normally ranges between $900,000 up to $1,000,000. There are also several shops, restaurants that can be found in the area especially along Hempstead Turnpike. Plus a few parks and South Shore beaches nearby.