WEST HILLS, LONG ISLAND

West Hills, Long Island

West Hills is a hamlet and census-designated place located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. It is within the Town of Huntington. As of the 2000 census, there were 5,607 people, 1,978 households, and 1,647 families residing in the CDP. The median income for a household in the CDP was $87,295, and the median income for a family was $94,363. Males had a median income of $61,919 and only $45,134 for females. The latitude of West Hills is 40.816N. The longitude is -73.432W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 348 feet.

A sign in a park in West Hills - photo by Stephen Takacs

The Whitmans were one of the most prominent families to live in West hills. They emigrated from England to New England and then to Long Island which they owned a property here. In 1810, Walter Whitman constructed a house in the area. His second of nine children named Walt Whitman, a writer and teacher that was born in the house on May 31, 1819.

The Whitman family left their home in West Hills and moved to Brooklyn but returned very often. In his own words: “West Hills is a romantic and beautiful spot. The ‘high hill’ affords an extensive and pleasant view of thirty or forty, or even fifty miles, especially to the east and south and southwest; the Atlantic Ocean to the latter points in the distance—a glimpse or so of Long Island Sound to the north.” Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon often called the “father of free verse”. The Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum, a state historic site, attracts many visitors.

The racial-makeup of West Hills comprises of 94.40% White, 0.89% African American, 0.02% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Most of its resident’s ancestries were Italian, Irish, German, English, and Polish. Schools in West Hills really help students to maximize their potential by teaching them the necessary academic skills, developing social and moral skills as well as self-directed learners.

Excellent educational facilities are available in the South Huntington School District. West Hills is known for its horses in which the area has many open spaces and horse stables. It has also plenty of unique shops, fine restaurants, and services that line Route 110 and Jericho Turnpike.

West Hills County Park is an 855-acre tract that comprises forested hills and valleys as well as stables, picnic, and campgrounds. The park has a youth group camping area, picnic area, trap and skeet facility, campgrounds and rest rooms. West Hills offers quiet neighborhoods and the houses are of different styles including capes, ranches, split-levels, high ranches, Colonials, contemporaries, and Victorians. A few post-modern homes have been built along Round Swamp Road recently but there is no more room for further development. Price range starts at $350,000 up to $1M+ on high-end houses.

---West Hills Montessori School