Thomaston officially became a village on October 1, 1931, after the majority of residents voted in favor of incorporation to preserve home rule.[2] Originally, the incorporation proposal included University Gardens and Russell Gardens.[2] However, University Gardens chose not to be included in the proposal and Russell Gardens decided to incorporate itself separately around that time.[2]
The founders of the Incorporated Village of Thomaston were John W. Weight, Hunter L. DeLatour, Ernest A. Gallagher, and Henry A. Singley.[3]
Thomaston Village Hall was constructed in 1971 in order to provide for more efficient government operations and a permanent home for Thomaston's government.[4] It was designed by the Great Neck-based architectural firm of Blum & Nerzig.[4]
Prior to Village Hall's construction, meetings were typically held in the nearby firehouse and village records were stored in the homes of the Village Clerks.[4]
Thomaston's name
The name Thomaston has been used to describe the area since the middle part of the 19th Century.[3]William R. Grace, a prominent local who would eventually become the Mayor of New York City, acquired a large area of land around the Long Island Rail Road's Great Neck station; the land he acquired included all of present-day Great Neck Plaza. Grace named the area Thomaston after the ancestral home of his wife, Lillian Gilchrist, located in Maine.[3]
At some point, that area's name was changed to Great Neck Plaza, which would ultimately stick and become the name that village incorporated under in 1930.[3]
When the area now known as Thomaston decided to incorporate itself as a village the next year, the residents chose to use this name for their new village since members of the Grace family continued to own land in the area.[3]
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,607 people, 973 households, and 724 families residing in the village. The population density was 6,247.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,412.3/km2). There were 1,000 housing units at an average density of 2,396.6 per square mile (925.3/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 81.09% White, 0.84% African American, 0.04% Native American, 13.69% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 2.38% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.94% of the population.
There were 973 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $92,706, and the median income for a family was $110,502. Males had a median income of $72,656 versus $49,474 for females. The per capita income for the village was $44,760. About 2.7% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Village government
As of September 2021, the Mayor of Thomaston is Steven Weinberg, the Deputy Mayor is James Sharkey, and the Village Trustees are Jill S. Monoson, To-On Pang, James Sharkey, and Burton Weston.[7]
Representation in higher government
Town representation
Thomaston is located in the Town of North Hempstead's 4th district, which as of September 2021 is represented on the Town Board by Veronica Lurvey (D–Great Neck).[8]
In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the majority of Thomaston voters voted for Hillary Clinton (D).[15]
Education
School districts
The majority of Thomaston is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Great Neck Union Free School District, although a small part of the village's northeastern corner is located within the Manhasset Union Free School District (though all homes are in the Great Neck part of Thomaston).[9] As such, all children who reside within Thomaston and attend public schools go to Great Neck's schools.[9]
Library districts
The majority of Thomaston is located within the boundaries of (and is thus served by) the Great Neck Library District, although a small part of the village's northeastern corner is located within the Manhasset Library District (though all homes are in the Great Neck part of Thomaston).[9] The boundaries of both library districts within the village roughly correspond with those of the two school districts[9]
Infrastructure
Transportation
Road
Grace Avenue, one of the busiest roads within Thomaston.
One state-owned road travels through Thomaston: Northern Boulevard (NY 25A); Northern Boulevard forms the southern boundary of Thomaston.[9][16]
Other major roads within the village include Colonial Road, East Shore Road, Grace Avenue, and Shoreward Drive.[9][16] A small portion of Middle Neck Road also passes through the village.[9][16]
Part of the LIRR's Manhasset Viaduct is located within the village's boundaries.[9]
Bus
Thomaston is served by the n20G, n20H, n21, n25, n26, and n57 bus routes, which are operated by Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE).[17] All of these bus routes (excluding the n57) travel through the area via Northern Boulevard and Middle Neck Road.[17]
The n57 bus route briefly passes through the village via. Gilchrest Road and Grace Avenue.[17]
Thomaston is primarily located within the boundaries of the Manhasset–Lakeville Water District, which provides the majority of Thomaston with water.[9] However, some areas of the village north of the Long Island Rail Road's trancks are within the boundaries of (and are thus served by) the Water Authority of Great Neck North.[9]
Additionally, the Manhasset–Lakeville Water District owns and operates a water tower within the village, known as the Thomaston Tank.[22]
Notable person
Thomas P. DiNapoli – Comptroller of the State of New York, former New York State Assemblyman, and a former Democratic candidate for Nassau County Executive.[23]
United States
New York
Nassau County, New York
