In 1910 Elmont hosted an unforgettable event. The first ever air race in the United States took place right here at Belmont Park.
Elmont New York a vibrant community nestled in Nassau County boasts a rich history. It started as Foster’s Meadow in 1650. Dutch settlers controlled the land then. Christopher and Thomas Foster bought a large plot intending to raise cattle and sheep.
For two centuries it remained Foster’s Meadow. Descendants of Sephardic Jews settled there for farming. In 1664 control shifted to England. English Protestant farmers and their families arrived. A cultural shift began. In 1683 Long Island was divided into three counties. Foster’s Meadow was initially part of Queens County. Even George Washington passed through during his 1790 tour of Long Island.
The mid-1800s saw another cultural change. Roman Catholic and Ashkenazi Jewish farmers from Brooklyn and Middle Village arrived. Many were of German and Italian descent. The Catholic population grew significantly. The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was built in 1852. It was rededicated as Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Parish in 1857. Rev Peter Hartraub became the first resident pastor in 1858. He built a new rectory and a school in 1887. Dominican Sisters taught there. They built a convent on donated land.
In 1882 the area was renamed Elmont. The name replaced Foster’s Meadow. In 1902 a syndicate sought land for a racetrack. August Belmont Jr and William C Whitney led the syndicate. They wanted America’s most elaborate racetrack. It would be modeled after European race courses. They found their location on the border of Queens and Nassau Counties. Belmont Racetrack a significant milestone in Elmont’s development became a reality. It included Oaklands a Tudor-Gothic mansion. The mansion served as the track’s Turf and Field Club until 1956.
Belmont Park opened in 1905. This marked a turning point. Farms were sold and subdivided for houses. Many new homeowners worked at the racetrack. Businesses thrived on Hempstead Turnpike supporting the suburban growth. By 1915 it was open to the public. It drew visitors and workers. Housing and businesses expanded. Elmont shifted from farmland to suburbia.
The 1910 air race drew 150,000 spectators. The race went from Belmont Park to the Statue of Liberty and back. In 1918 Belmont Park became a New York City Air Mail delivery terminal. “War Relief Day” in 1940 and “Back the Attack” Day in 1943 supported the war effort. Millions of dollars were raised.
After World War II attractive suburban homes were built. Many were Cape Cod style especially around Dutch Broadway. Smaller homes near Belmont Park remain. In 2017 a redevelopment plan was approved. The New York Islanders got a new arena. UBS Arena opened in the fall of 2021.
Elmont New York a place of historical significance and remarkable transformation continues to evolve. Its story is one of growth diversity and enduring spirit.