Perhaps Hempstead’s story begins not with grand monuments, but with a simple rowboat. Imagine two men, The Reverend Robert Fordham and John Carman, crossing Long Island Sound in 1643. They sought to negotiate with local Native American tribes for land. This marked the start of Hempstead.
The Massapequak, Mericoke, Matinecock, and Rockaway tribes met them. This meeting occurred slightly west of the current Denton Green. The Native Americans sold about 64000 acres. This land comprised the present-day Towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead. The price was items worth less than $100 today.
Hempstead’s name might evoke images of England or the Netherlands. Some say it was named after Hemel Hempstead. John Carman, a founder, was born there. Others believe it honors Heemstede in the Netherlands. Many Dutch settlers of New Netherland came from there.
In 1664, Hempstead adopted the Duke’s Laws. These austere laws became the basis for laws in many colonies. Hempstead even earned the nickname “Old Blue” because of these Blue Laws.
Hempstead steadily grew in population and importance. By 1703, St. George’s Church received a silver communion service. Queen Anne of England gifted it. George Washington and other prominent leaders often stayed in Hempstead during the Revolution.
In the 1800s, Hempstead became a crucial trading center. It became the first self-governing incorporated village in 1853. The Vanderbilts and Belmonts built homes here. Hempstead became a Long Island society hub.
During the Spanish-American War, Camp Black was established in Hempstead. It served as a training facility and embarkation point for troops. After World War I, the population surged. City dwellers sought suburban life. Hempstead offered established services, convenient shopping, and proximity to Manhattan.
Tom Saltzman, a former town historian, used postcards to visually chronicle Hempstead’s evolution. He found an early picture of Hempstead Town Hall on a postcard. Before a dedicated town hall existed, official business occurred in meeting houses, hotels, and taverns. The first Hempstead Town Hall was purchased in 1874.
A new town hall was built in 1919. Its iconic clock tower became a landmark. By 1929, extensions were needed due to population growth. The town hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 2018.
Another postcard shows the United Methodist Church. Its white spire has hardly changed since 1855. The churchyard once held at least 120 people. During the 1920s, the tombstones were buried. United Methodist Church was awarded Landmark Status in May of 2000.
Today, the Incorporated Village of Hempstead remains a full-service community. It has a population exceeding 53000 people. It encompasses an area of 3.7 square miles. Hempstead continues to evolve while cherishing its rich past.