Perhaps you’ve noticed the especially peaceful atmosphere here? That’s what Baxter Estates is known for. It’s a village in Nassau County. Baxter Estates is on the North Shore of Long Island in New York. It is part of the Greater Port Washington area.
Baxter Estates is recognized as a Tree City USA. This village prides itself on its wooded parkland. The Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve is at Baxter’s Pond. You will find it right in the center of Baxter Estates.
The Village of Baxter Estates was incorporated in 1931. But its history goes back further. Much of its history owes to the homestead settlement of “Cow Neck”. John Betts and Robert Hutchings built it in 1673. It still stands at Central Drive and Shore Road. It overlooks Manhasset Bay.
Oliver Baxter purchased this property around 1741. Maps show a wigwam village once stood on Baxter’s land. It belonged to the Matinecock Indians. The Baxters were shipbuilders, whalers, and sea captains. They kept the property until the 19th century. During the Revolutionary War, Hessian troops stayed in the Baxter House.
In 1895, the first library of Port Washington met in the parlor of the Baxter House. The residence was designated as a historic building. However, in the 2010s, the owner planned to demolish the landmarked home. A fire broke out in 2017, heavily damaging the house. The fire’s cause was never determined.
The village is named for the Baxter family. They owned a significant amount of land here. Baxter Estates has a total area of 0.2 square miles. That is all land. Baxter Estates sits on the Harbor Hill Moraine. Glaciers formed this moraine during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode.
The highest point in Baxter Estates is on Hilltop Road. It’s 113 feet above sea level. The lowest point is Manhasset Bay. That is at sea level. Baxter Estates has a humid subtropical climate.
As of 2020, 991 people lived in Baxter Estates. Baxter Estates is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. They are all elected for two-year terms.
The Port Washington Public Library is located within Baxter Estates. Major roads here include Central Drive, Main Street, and Shore Road.
Several notable people have called Baxter Estates home. The actress Tallulah Bankhead once lived in the historic Baxter House. The architect William Landsberg designed his Baxter Estates home. Addison Mizner, another architect, also lived in the Baxter Home. Folk singer Jean Ritchie lived on Locust Avenue.
The Village of Baxter Estates offers a peaceful escape. Its history and natural beauty make it a special place. It is a great place to live.