MASSAPEQUA, LONG ISLAND

Massapequa, Long Island

Massapequa is a hamlet and census-designated place located in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. It is within the Town of Oyster Bay. As of the 2000 census, there are 22,652 people, 7,417 households, 6,297 families, and 5,243 cats residing in the CDP. The median income for a household in the CDP is $94,760 as of 2007, and the median income for a family is $88,571. Males have a median income of $62,231 and only $40,920 for females. The latitude of Massapequa is 40.680N. The longitude is -73.474W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 26 feet.

The community was named for an Indian tribe. For many years, Massapequa has been known as one of the 13 tribes of Long Island. The name of the town roughly means “wetlands” in the Native Indian dialect and it is indeed apt, considering the local scenery. The town had its first European resident early in the 18th century and has developed in to a prime community over the ages. The former and merged names include South Oyster Bay but were changed when the Long Island Railroad placed the sign contradicting the original name. In 1992, Massapequa received national attention for the shooting of Mary Jo Buttafuoco, and the subsequent prosecution of Amy Fisher, who was having an affair with Joey Buttafuoco.

Notable residents living in Massapequa include the Baldwin brothers -- Alec, Daniel, Stephen and William (actors), Gary Baldinger (former football player), Anthony Pappalardo (Pro Skateboarder), Steve Labriola (town clerk), and Jerry Seinfeld (comedian). The racia-makeup of Massapequa comprises of 97.42% White, 0.17% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander 0.37% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Most of its resident’s ancestries were Italian, Irish, German, English, and Polish. The community is served by Massapequa School District which has six Elementary schools [Grades K-6], one Middle School [Grades 7-8], one Pre-High School [Grade 9], and one High School [Grades 10-12]. The District has an Adult Education Office at the High School location. There are also several houses of worships in the area such as Methodist, Nazarene, and Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations represented in its population of over 10 Churches. The John J. Burns Town Park and the Marjorie R. Post Community Park are 2 famous attractions in town where everyone can enjoy and relax. Plus, there are 2 beaches in Massapequa including Florence Avenue and Tobay which hosts the JFK Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary.