The area was originally known as Trimming Square and then as Washington Square.
History
What is now Franklin Square was near the center of the Hempstead Plains, and used as grazing land, and later farmland, by the first white settlers.[2] The southern portion included oak and dogwood forests.[2]
In late 1643, Robert Fordham and John Carman made a treaty with members of the Massapequak, Mericoke, Matinecock and Rockaway tribes to buy roughly 100 square miles upon which they intended to start a new settlement. They purchased this tract, including much of what are now the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead.[2]
In 1790, George Washington passed through the town while touring Long Island. He wrote in his diary that the area was "entirely treeless except for a few scraggly fruit trees." Walt Whitman spent three months in the spring of 1840 as the schoolmaster of the Trimming Square school district, in the area where Franklin Square, Garden City South and West Hempstead intersect.[2]
In 1852, one Louis Schroeher built a hotel near a tollgate (by what is now Arden Boulevard) of the Hempstead-Jamaica Turnpike (toll road). The hotel attracted an increasing number of visitors and immigrants (the latter often German) from New York City to the formerly rural hamlet.[2]
Population grew steadily until the sudden intensified surge of suburbanization into post-World War II Long Island reached the community. By 1952, the farms were all gone, replaced by newly-built houses full of emigrants from nearby New York City.[2]
Etymology
It is rumored that the original name for the area, Trimming Square, reflected the fact that farms once dominated the area's landscape (as was common for areas all across the Hempstead Plains), and because many sheep were brought to the area by local farmers for separation during the latter parts of the 18th Century.[3] The Trimming Square name was used between the early 19th Century and 1851, when the name was changed to Washington Square after George Washington.[3]
The name of the community was again changed in the 1870s when locals made strides to establish a local U.S. post office.[3] The United States Postal Service would not use the name Washington Square, as they felt that there were too many other places within New York which had Washington in their names. This led to locals again changing the name, and they ultimately chose the name Franklin Square. It is rumored that the name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin.[3]
Failed incorporation attempt
In February 1929, locals tried incorporating their community as the Incorporated Village of Franklin Square.[3] However, the plans were scrapped that April when the Town of Hempstead denied the petition, due to the fact that too few residents were in favor of incorporation.[3]
As of the 2000 United States Census[8] there were 29,342 people, 10,187 households and 7,833 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 10,169.2 inhabitants per square mile (3,926.4/km2). There were 10,364 housing units at an average density of 3,591.9 per square mile (1,386.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.97% White, 0.99% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.79% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.89% of the population.
There were 10,187 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. Of all households 19.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $80,164, and the median income for a family was $87,485 as of a 2007.[9] Males had a median income of $50,805 versus $35,207 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,149. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Franklin Square was the home of the Franklin National Bank, once the nation's 20th largest bank. Under the leadership of Arthur T. Roth, the Franklin National Bank introduced many banking innovations, such as the bank credit card, the drive up teller window (1950), junior savings accounts (1947), and a no-smoking policy on banking floors (1958). Today, the building is a Chase bank.
On October 8, 1974, the Franklin National Bank was declared insolvent due to mismanagement and fraud, involving losses in foreign currency speculation and poor loan policies. This caused massive losses for its stockholders, resulted in jail and disgrace for its management; Italian financier and CEO Michele Sindona was poisoned in his cell in 1986,[12] while serving a life-sentence for his part in this affair. It was at the time the largest bank failure in the history of the country, and forced US banking policymakers to reexamine and reassess regulation of international banking.
There is an active Chamber of Commerce[14] and a historical society. The Community League of Garden City South, Inc. Established in 1929 is the oldest acting Civic Association that serves the entire Franklin Square School District #17. The Community League of Garden City South, Inc. Is a direct liaison between the residents/merchants and the State and Local Government as well as other Organizations. It is their honor to act on behalf of the people to maintain and preserve the quality of life within the district. Franklin Square Civic Association,[15] established in 2016 by a group of residents within the community, serves to maintain and improve the quality of life within the community. The organization sponsors several events to bring the community together.[16] Franklin Square has the Franklin Square Warriors youth football program,[17] Franklin Square Raiders youth soccer program,[18] the Franklin Square Little League,[19] and Franklin Square Seminoles II baseball and softball club.[20]
Government
As part of the Town of Hempstead, Franklin Square is located within the town's 3rd council district, through which it is represented on the Hempstead Town Council by Melissa Miller.[21] Furthermore, as part of New York's 4th congressional district, the hamlet is represented by Anthony D'Esposito.[5]
Parks and recreation
The Town of Hempstead Department of Parks and Recreation operates and maintains two parks in Franklin Square: Averill Boulevard Park and Rath Park.[5][22][23]
The Averill Boulevard Park features a playground, a swimming pool, walking paths & nature trails, and sports facilities.[23]
Rath Park includes a swimming pool, a playground, football & baseball fields, and basketball, handball, & tennis courts. Furthermore, there is a snack commissary and recreational equipment rental facility that operate during the summer, while the pool is operational.[22]
The Valley Stream Union Free School District 13 covers the four public elementary schools in Franklin Square (Willow Road School is located in Franklin Square under Valley Stream District) and two public high schools (North Valley Stream H.S. is located in Franklin Square under Valley Stream District). The Franklin Square Union Free District 17 covers Washington Street School, John Street Elementary School, H. Frank Carey High School, and Polk Street School.[25] District 16 (Elmont School district), covers the western part, with most students attending Covert Ave School and Sewanhaka High School.
Below are the schools in Franklin Square, and their respective grade levels and districts.
The private St. Catherine of Sienna Elementary School was once located within the hamlet. It closed in June 2012.[26]
Library districts
Franklin Square residents are served by two public libraries: the Elmont Library District (served by the Elmont Public Library) and the Franklin Square Library District (served by the Franklin Square Public Library).[5][27][28]
Media
Franklin Square had a print weekly newspaper, the Franklin Square Bulletin,[29] and is covered by another local print and online newspaper, the Three Village Times.[30]
Infrastructure
Franklin Square has a volunteer fire department and is served by the Nassau County Police Department's Fifth Precinct.[5][31][32]
Sanitation and recycling services are provided by Town of Hempstead District 6.[5]
Nikki Blonsky, an American actress, singer, and dancer, best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 film Hairspray and as Maggie Baker in the 2008 film Queen Sized.
Randy Gordon (March 11, 1949 in Brooklyn,N.Y), New York State Boxing Commissioner, ESPN Boxing Commentator, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee, Sirius XM radio Host.
Sean Hannity, an American radio and television host, author and political commentator.
Alice Hoffman (born March 16, 1952), novelist and young-adult and children's writer, best known for her 1996 novel Practical Magic, which was adapted for a 1998 film of the same name.
Barbara Rosenthal, the New York avant-garde artist who wrote a weekly column ("A Crack in the Sidewalk") for The Franklin Square Bulletin in 1959–1961, when she was only eleven.[35]
United States
New York
