NASSAU County residents know all about Hempstead Turnpike, one of its main east-west auto routes, synonymous with NY 24 for its entire length from the Queens line to East Farmingdale. Some of Nassau County’s chief attractions are arrayed along its length, from Belmont Park to Hofstra University to the Islanders’ former home, the Nassau Coliseum, to RXR Plaza, where I officially work, for publisher Marquis Who’s Who (but I work from home and have never traveled to headquarters, at least not yet!)
There is some dispute over where the name Hempstead comes from; like Gravesend, some say it’s Dutch in origin, some English. When the region was settled by the white man in the 1640s, proponents of the Dutch orgin say the name comes from the town of Heemstede in Holland; while English boosters say it comes from the home town of co-founder John Carman, who came from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.
While Hempstead Turnpike is entirely contained in Nassau County (after leaving off its NY 24 designation at Broad Hollow Road in Farmingdale, it continues east as Conklin Street and Long Island Avenue as it pushes into Suffolk County, its Queens leg is little remarked on. The busy road begins at Jamaica Avenue and 212th Street at Litchhult Square and pierces through Queens Village until attaining Turnpike status at the cross Island Parkway and Belmont Park.
As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/6/23