Brookville, New York
Encyclopedia
The Village of Brookville is a village located within the town of Oyster Bay
in Nassau County
, New York
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 3,465.
The village is the home of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University
and the Post campus's nationally known cultural venue, the Tilles Center. The Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School
is also located in the village.
BusinessWeek
dubbed Brookville the wealthiest town in America.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
). In the 1950s, the northern portion of the unincorporated area then known as Wheatley Hills was annexed and incorporated into the village, approximately doubling the village's area to its present 2650 acres (1,072.4 ha).
When the town of Oyster Bay purchased what is now Brookville from the Matinecocks in the mid-17th century, the area was known as Suco's Wigwam. Most pioneers were English
, many of them Quakers. They were soon joined by Dutch
settlers from western Long Island
, who called the surrounding area Wolver Hollow, apparently because wolves gathered at spring-fed Shoo Brook to drink. For most of the 19th century, the village was called Tappentown after a prominent family. Brookville became the preferred name after the Civil War
and was used on 1873 maps.
Brookville's two centuries as a farm and woodland backwater changed quickly in the early 20th century as wealthy New Yorkers built lavish mansion
s. By the mid-1920s, there were 22 estates, part of the emergence of Nassau's North Shore
Gold Coast. One was Broadhollow, the 108 acre (0.43706088 km²) spread of attorney-banker-diplomat Winthrop W. Aldrich
, which had a 40-room manor house. The second owner of Broadhollow was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, who was owner of the Belmont
and Pimlico
racetracks. Marjorie Merriweather Post
, daughter of cereal creator Charles William Post, and her husband Edward Francis Hutton
, the famous financier, built a lavish 70-room mansion on 178 acre (0.72034108 km²) called Hillwood. In 1931, estate owners banded together to win village incorporation to head off what they saw as undesirable residential and commercial development in other parts of Nassau County. In 1947, the Post estate was sold to Long Island University for their C. W. Post campus. The campus is noted as the home of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Also in Brookville is the DeSeversky Conference Center
of the New York Institute of Technology
. The center was formerly Templeton, mansion of socialite and businessman Winston Guest
. Templeton was later used as one of the settings for the Dudley Moore
film Arthur.
The Chapelle de St. Martin de Sayssuel, also known as the St. Joan of Arc Chapel
where Joan of Arc prayed prior to engaging the English, was moved from France
to Brookville in the early 20th century. It was acquired by Gertrude Hill Gavin, daughter of James J. Hill, the American railroad magnate. The chapel was dismantled stone by stone and imported from France to her Brookville estate in 1926. The chapel is now located at Marquette University
in Wisconsin
.
The Brookville Reformed Church
, one of the oldest existing church congregations in the country, calls Brookville its home. The Brookville Church was founded by 17th century Dutch settlers.
The James Preserve
is a nature preserve in Old Brookville and is the only tract of land showing the natural appearance of the village before development. Although it is in Old Brookville, it is connected to Greenvale
.
of 2000, there were 2,126 people, 631 households, and 569 families residing in the village. The population density
was 530.5 people per square mile (204.7/km²). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 161.7 per square mile (62.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 89.75% White, 2.16% African American, 6.16% Asian, 0.56% from other races
, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.
There were 631 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.9% were married couples
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.8% were non-families. 7.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was in excess of $200,000 as was the median income for a family. Males had a median income of over $100,000 versus $60,238 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $84,375. None of families or the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 or those age 65 or over.
As of 2009, Brookville topped BusinessWeek's list of America's 25 wealthiest towns based on average income and net worth.http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0317_richest_zips/2.htm
Oyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
in Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. As of the 2010 United States Census, the village population was 3,465.
The village is the home of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is a private institution of higher education located in Brookville in Nassau County, New York, United States...
and the Post campus's nationally known cultural venue, the Tilles Center. The Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School
Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School
Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School is a Lutheran college prep school in Brookville, New York. Built on a 32-acre estate, Lutheran Middle & High School has been serving the educational needs of the community since 1960...
is also located in the village.
BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
dubbed Brookville the wealthiest town in America.
Geography
Brookville is located at 40°48′55"N 73°34′12"W (40.815199, -73.570058).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
History
The geographic Village of Brookville was formed in two stages. When the village was incorporated in 1931, it consisted of a long, narrow tract of land that was centered along Cedar Swamp Road (Route 107New York State Route 107
New York State Route 107 is a state highway located entirely within Nassau County, New York, in the United States. It runs from Merrick Road in Massapequa to Mill Street and Brewster Avenue in the city of Glen Cove near City Hall...
). In the 1950s, the northern portion of the unincorporated area then known as Wheatley Hills was annexed and incorporated into the village, approximately doubling the village's area to its present 2650 acres (1,072.4 ha).
When the town of Oyster Bay purchased what is now Brookville from the Matinecocks in the mid-17th century, the area was known as Suco's Wigwam. Most pioneers were English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, many of them Quakers. They were soon joined by Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
settlers from western Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, who called the surrounding area Wolver Hollow, apparently because wolves gathered at spring-fed Shoo Brook to drink. For most of the 19th century, the village was called Tappentown after a prominent family. Brookville became the preferred name after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was used on 1873 maps.
Brookville's two centuries as a farm and woodland backwater changed quickly in the early 20th century as wealthy New Yorkers built lavish mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
s. By the mid-1920s, there were 22 estates, part of the emergence of Nassau's North Shore
North Shore (Long Island)
The North Shore of Long Island is the area along Long Island's northern coast, bordering Long Island Sound. The region has long been the most affluent on Long Island, as well as the most affluent in the New York metropolitan area, which has earned it the nickname "the Gold Coast." Though some...
Gold Coast. One was Broadhollow, the 108 acre (0.43706088 km²) spread of attorney-banker-diplomat Winthrop W. Aldrich
Winthrop W. Aldrich
Winthrop Williams Aldrich GBE was an American banker and financier, scion of a prominent political family, and US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.-Early years:...
, which had a 40-room manor house. The second owner of Broadhollow was Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, who was owner of the Belmont
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
and Pimlico
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
racetracks. Marjorie Merriweather Post
Marjorie Merriweather Post
-External links:******...
, daughter of cereal creator Charles William Post, and her husband Edward Francis Hutton
Edward Francis Hutton
Edward Francis Hutton was an American financier and co-founder of E. F. Hutton & Co....
, the famous financier, built a lavish 70-room mansion on 178 acre (0.72034108 km²) called Hillwood. In 1931, estate owners banded together to win village incorporation to head off what they saw as undesirable residential and commercial development in other parts of Nassau County. In 1947, the Post estate was sold to Long Island University for their C. W. Post campus. The campus is noted as the home of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Also in Brookville is the DeSeversky Conference Center
DuPont-Guest Estate
DuPont-Guest Estate, now known as the DeSeversky Center of New York Institute of Technology's Old Westbury campus, is a historic estate located at Brookville in Nassau County, New York. It consists of the residence, surrounding landscaping, and garage. It was originally built by Alfred I. du Pont...
of the New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational research university in New York City. NYIT has five schools and two colleges, all with a strong emphasis on technology and applied scientific research...
. The center was formerly Templeton, mansion of socialite and businessman Winston Guest
Winston Frederick Churchill Guest
-Biography:Winston Guest was the son of Frederick Guest, a British politician, and his wife, Amy Phipps, who was the daughter of American businessman and philanthropist Henry Phipps, Jr. Guest was born in 1906. He won the International Polo Cup in 1930, 1936 and 1939. He died in 1982 at Nassau...
. Templeton was later used as one of the settings for the Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
film Arthur.
The Chapelle de St. Martin de Sayssuel, also known as the St. Joan of Arc Chapel
St. Joan of Arc Chapel
St. Joan of Arc Chapel is today located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA on the campus of Marquette University, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. It was dedicated to Joan of Arc on May 26, 1966 after it had been moved from its previous location on Long Island, New York. It was originally built in the...
where Joan of Arc prayed prior to engaging the English, was moved from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to Brookville in the early 20th century. It was acquired by Gertrude Hill Gavin, daughter of James J. Hill, the American railroad magnate. The chapel was dismantled stone by stone and imported from France to her Brookville estate in 1926. The chapel is now located at Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
The Brookville Reformed Church
Brookville Reformed Church
The Brookville Reformed Church, located in Brookville, New York, is one of the oldest existing church congregations in the United States. The Church was founded originally by 17th century Dutch settlers....
, one of the oldest existing church congregations in the country, calls Brookville its home. The Brookville Church was founded by 17th century Dutch settlers.
The James Preserve
James preserve
The James Preserve is a nature preserve located in the Village of Old Brookville in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, but it is connected to Greenvale, Long Island....
is a nature preserve in Old Brookville and is the only tract of land showing the natural appearance of the village before development. Although it is in Old Brookville, it is connected to Greenvale
Greenvale, New York
Greenvale is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 1,094. It is part of both the Roslyn and North Shore School Districts....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,126 people, 631 households, and 569 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 530.5 people per square mile (204.7/km²). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 161.7 per square mile (62.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 89.75% White, 2.16% African American, 6.16% Asian, 0.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.
There were 631 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.8% were non-families. 7.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was in excess of $200,000 as was the median income for a family. Males had a median income of over $100,000 versus $60,238 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $84,375. None of families or the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 or those age 65 or over.
As of 2009, Brookville topped BusinessWeek's list of America's 25 wealthiest towns based on average income and net worth.http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0317_richest_zips/2.htm
Notable residents
Residents have included:- Winthrop W. AldrichWinthrop W. AldrichWinthrop Williams Aldrich GBE was an American banker and financier, scion of a prominent political family, and US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.-Early years:...
, U.S. ambassador to the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... - Marc AnthonyMarc AnthonyMarc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
, singer - Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, musician - Arthur Scott BurdenArthur Scott Burden-Biography:He was born on August 11, 1879. His brother was James A. Burden, who was the President of the Burden Iron Works of Troy, New York.He was married on June 11, 1906 to the Hon...
, president of Burden Iron Works - Joseph E. DaviesJoseph E. DaviesJoseph Edward Davies was appointed by President Wilson to be Commissioner of Corporations in 1912, and First Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission in 1915. He was the second Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg...
, second U.S. ambassador to the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... - Angie DickinsonAngie DickinsonAngie Dickinson is an American actress. She has appeared in more than fifty films, including Rio Bravo, Ocean's Eleven, Dressed to Kill and Pay It Forward, and starred on television as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson on the 1970s crime series Police Woman.-Early life:Dickinson, the second of...
, actress - Alfred I. du PontAlfred I. du PontAlfred Irénée du Pont was an American industrialist, financier and philanthropist. A member of the influential Du Pont family, Alfred du Pont first rose to prominence through his work in his family's Delaware-based gunpowder manufacturing plant, E. I...
, inventor, philanthropist - Prince FelixPrince Félix of LuxembourgPrince Félix of Luxembourg , is the second son of the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. He is currently second in the line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg. His godparents are Prince Jean of Luxembourg and Catalina Mestre...
and the Royal Family of LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south... - C. Z. GuestC. Z. GuestLucy Douglas Cochrane was an American stage actress, author, columnist, horsewoman, fashion designer, and socialite who achieved a degree of fame as a fashion icon. She was frequently seen wearing elegant designs by famous designers like Mainbocher. Her unfussy, clean-cut style was seen as...
, socialite - Cornelia Guest, socialite
- Frederick Edward GuestFrederick Edward GuestFrederick Edward Guest CBE DSO PC , often known as Freddie Guest, was a British politician best known for being Chief Whip of Prime Minister David Lloyd George's Coalition Liberal Party between 1917 and 1921. He was also Secretary of State for Air between 1921 and 1922...
, British Cabinet minister - Edward Francis HuttonEdward Francis HuttonEdward Francis Hutton was an American financier and co-founder of E. F. Hutton & Co....
, co-founder, E. F. Hutton & Co.E. F. Hutton & Co.E. F. Hutton & Co. was an American stock brokerage firm founded in 1904 by Edward Francis Hutton, his brother Franklyn Laws Hutton, and later led by well known Wall Street trader Gerald M. Loeb. Under their leadership, Hutton became one of the most respected financial firms in the United States... - Jennifer LopezJennifer LopezJennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, singer, actress - Mary McFaddenMary McFaddenMary Josephine McFadden is an American fashion designer and writer.-Family:McFadden is the only daughter of Alexander Bloomfield McFadden, a cotton broker, and her mother was the former Mary Josephine Cutting, a socialite and concert pianist. Her father died in 1948, when he was killed in an...
, fashion designer, writer - Dina MerrillDina Merrill-Early life:Merrill was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City, New York, the only child of Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, Wall Street stockbroker Edward Francis Hutton...
, actress - Marjorie Merriweather PostMarjorie Merriweather Post-External links:******...
, philanthropist - Cynthia RocheCynthia RocheHon. Cynthia Burke Roche was a Newport, Rhode Island socialite and an art collector.-Life and work:She was born on April 10, 1884 in London to James Roche, 3rd Baron Fermoy and Frances Ellen Work. Her brothers were Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy, the maternal grandfather of Diana, Princess of...
, socialite - Diego SuarezDiego SuarezDiego Suarez was a garden designer known for his work at James Deering's Villa Vizcaya in Miami, Florida. He also served as a press attaché and minister counselor for Chile in Washington, D.C...
, garden designer - Percy UrisHarold UrisHarold D. Uris was an American builder, real estate investor and philanthropist. After earning a civil engineering degree from Cornell in 1925, Harold joined his brother, Percy, who had a 1920 business degree from Columbia University, and their father, Harris, founder of an ornamental ironwork...
, real estate investor/builder - Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, owner, BelmontBelmont ParkBelmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
and PimlicoPimlico Race CoursePimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
racetracks