Local city information for Oceanside, NY

Oceanside is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the south part of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. The population was 32,733 at the 2000 census.


Walter S. Boardman, who wrote of the history of Oceanside, came to the Oceanside School District in September 1927 as high school principal. He served as Superintendent of Schools from 1940-1960. In 2000, the Oceanside Educational Foundation published a work he wrote on the history of Oceanside from the geological “birth” of Long Island to Oceanside in 1960. Oceanside High School teacher Richie Woods continued this history in his recent book, Images of America: Oceanside, New York.

In Boardman’s book, he starts at the founding…
The English government established a township in 1674 and land development came rapidly. Before that, this territory was called “South Bay,” as a region in the Town of Hempstead. “Christian Hook” came about from the religious connections in the young town.
Very quickly did oyster sales rise in the nearby area and “Mott’s Landing” (name for Mott Street,) was the favored place to buy oysters. A new name had to be found for the town. “Oceanville” sounded better than “Christian Hook” when it came to selling oysters. It was “Oceanville Oysters” that sold, so in 1864, the new name became official. However, there was already an Oceanville in New York, so “Ocean Side” as two words was proposed and in 1890, it became official. The word was condensed to “Oceanside” in 1918, as it is used today.

Oceanside’s first school was built around 1838 on the northwest corner of Oceanside and Foxhurst Roads. It only had one room and an attic. The structure still stood as of 1960, but was moved and stands today as a private dwelling. The land where the school was is now known as the Schoolhouse Green, where many school events are held. The school district was actually established as “Hempstead District #11 at Christian Hook” in 1833 and expanded from there.
Schools adopted numerical names, 1 through 9. Today, schools #2-5, 8 and 9E are elementary schools, school #6 is a kindergarten center, school 7 is the high school and 9M serves as the middle school. School 9 bears the name of Walter Boardman, while various other schools bear names of significant figures in Oceanside history. School #1 was razed in 1981. It stood where it is now the Schoolhouse Green, after the initial school was moved.
Boardman served as principal of what is now school 6, when it was the junior and senior high school. Boardman was principal until June 1940, when Mr. S. Taylor Johnson retired from the Board of Education and Boardman succeeded him. Mr. Charles R. Mosback became the new high school principal.

“There is also a great need for some place or agency whereby the many significant records now scattered about and eventually lots may be preserved…There is also a great need for community action in the preservation of its historic markers.” –Walter S. Boardman, 1960.

The Schoolhouse Green was created to remember scattered documents and the words of Boardman.

Excerpts were used for this page from The Story of Oceanside by Walter S. Boardman and Oceanside, New York by Richard Woods.

The Oceanside Fire Department was established in 1902. The last farm in the community, which was on Mann Place, was destroyed in a fire. Technically, the last farm held its position for years until its demolition in 1997. Located on the corner of Lincoln Ave and Woods Ave, this lot served as Oceanside's finest organic farm-store. Rich tomatoes, peppers and other seasonal crops were harvested by Emilio Oliva, a Cuban-born immigrant.
An old firehouse of Columbia Engine Co #1 still sits at the southwest corner of the triangle where Lincoln Avenue meets Long Beach Road.

Nathan's Famous opened its second restaurant on June 4, 1959, on Long Beach Road in Oceanside. (Many sites incorrectly date this event as 1955.) There was a large Nathan's building with play areas and a big open dining room that had a stage. Shows were great family events. The building was razed and a strip mall anchored by a Waldbaum's supermarket was built. A modern Nathan's franchise opened on the corner of Long Beach Road and Windsor Parkway. Every Wednesday there is a car night at Nathan's.

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