| Official Name: | Massapequa, New York |
| Settlement Type: | Hamlet and census-designated place |
| Nickname: | Pequa; Matzah Pizza |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New York Long Island#New York |
| Pushpin Label: | Massapequa, New York |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location on Long Island##Location within the state of New York |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nassau |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 10.34 |
| Area Land Km2: | 9.22 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.12 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.99 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.56 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.43 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 21355 |
| Population Density Km2: | 2316.90 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 6000.28 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Elevation M: | 8 |
| Elevation Ft: | 26 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 11758 |
| Area Code: | 516, 363 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 36-45986 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0956651 |
| Subdivision Type3: | Town |
| Subdivision Name3: | Oyster Bay |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Code Type: | Area codes |
Massapequa is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 21,355 at the time of the 2020 census.
The name Massapequa or historically Marsapeague means “great water land”.[2]
The first occupants were a band of Algonquian speakers, the Massapequa People, one of the 13 tribes of Long Island, a sub-group of the Lenape people. At first, most of the Massapeque People were friendly and helpful to the Europeans, but then, around 1658, merchants from the Town of Oyster tricked Chief Tackapausha into selling the land, which he tried to rectify this misunderstanding, but remained unsuccessful.[3]
In 1670 (35 Years after the Europeans initially settled there), only a few Native Americans were left on the Island.
At the time of the second World War, the population was about 3,000, and most worked in agriculture, or at nearby aircraft manufacturing plants.
In 1953, the last remains of a fort of the Massapequa, an archeological site, was covered up by a real estate developer.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4sqmi, of which 3.7sqmi is land and 0.4sqmi, or 9.20%, is water.
Massapequa and nearby places with "Massapequa" in their names are sometimes collectively called "the Massapequas".[4]
Massapequa has a temperate climate that is very similar to other coastal areas of the Northeastern United States; it has warm, humid summers and cold winters, but the Atlantic Ocean helps bring afternoon sea breezes that temper the heat in the warmer months and limit the frequency and severity of thunderstorms. However, severe thunderstorms are not uncommon, especially when they approach the island from the mainland (Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut) in the northwest. In the wintertime, temperatures are warmer than areas further inland (especially in the night and early morning hours), often causing a snowstorm further inland to fall as rain on the island. However, measurable snowfalls every winter, and in many winters one or more intense storms called Nor'easters may occasionally produce blizzard conditions with snowfalls of 1–2 feet (30–60 cm) and near-hurricane-force winds. On average, 28" of snow falls each winter in Massapequa.[5] Long Island temperatures also vary from west to east, with the western part of the island warmer on most occasions than the east. This is due to two factors; one because the western part is closer to the mainland and the other is the western part is more developed causing what is known as the urban heat island effect.
This climate is classified as hot-summer humid continental (Dfa) which borders upon a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) on the coast. Average monthly temperatures in the central CDP range from 31.4 °F in January to 74.3 °F in July.[6]
On August 25, 2006, a small F0 tornado struck Massapequa.
On Monday, October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated much of Massapequa – especially south of Merrick Road, where surging flood waters rose both along the shore and along the numerous canals that run a mile inland. Schools were closed for several days and weeks. Many residents remained without power for weeks after the storm because of downed power lines. Hundreds of houses and buildings sustained major flood damage and had to be gutted and renovated during the ensuing year.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 22,652 people, 7,417 households, and 6,297 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 6207.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 7,514 housing units at an average density of 2059.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.42% White, 0.17% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Because it has large Italian and Jewish communities, the town is sometimes referred to as "matzah pizza".[8] [9]
There were 7,417 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.1% were non-families. Of all households, 12.5% were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the CDP, the population was spread, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years . For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $107,181, and the median income for a family was $116,266.[10] Males had a median income of $78,859 versus $57,016 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $42,169. 2.9% of the population and 1.6% of families were below the poverty line.
Massapequa residents originally attended schools in neighboring towns. Even after the creation of the Massapequa Union Free School District (also known as MSD) appropriately aged students were often sent to schools such as Amityville Memorial High School because a high school in Massapequa did not exist. At first students were only went to Amityville, but after 1953 they were given the option of attending schools in towns like Freeport and Baldwin and at Willington Mepham High School in Bellmore.
MSD constructed their first modern multi-room building in the mid 1920s. It was built on Massapequa Avenue, which is why it received the name "Massapequa Avenue School". After the construction of Massapequa High School in 1955 this original school was renamed to "Fairfield School" to avoid confusion with the similar names.
Currently MSD owns and operates 6 elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school; however, this number has changed throughout its history.
Active MSD Schools:
Former Names of Active MSD Schools:
Former Schools Not Used by MSD:
The Massapequa station on the Long Island Rail Road's Babylon Branch is located within the hamlet.[11]
Several NICE bus routes also serve Massapequa.