As of 2012, the city of Great Neck Plaza, New York, had the oldest median-aged population in the United States, with the median age of residents hovering around 48. This village has had its share of fame, with many celebrities either born or raised here, as well as many who call this area home.
The ambiance of this city is quite desirable -- it's cozy, comfortable and artsy; the area invokes the artist in all of us
As of 2012, the city of Great Neck Plaza, New York, had the oldest median-aged population in the United States, with the median age of residents hovering around 48. This village has had its share of fame, with many celebrities either born or raised here, as well as many who call this area home.
The ambiance of this city is quite desirable -- it's cozy, comfortable and artsy; the area invokes the artist in all of us. Great Neck and Great Neck Plaza are suburbs of the larger city of Hempstead. University Gardens, King's Point and Saddle Rock are also very close. Great Neck Plaza has just over 6,700 residents within the 0.31 square miles of the city limits. Weather in Great Neck Plaza showcases the changing of the seasons quite dramatically, with snow in the winter and blazing sunny days in the summer, and average temps range from the mid-30s during winter months to the low 80s during the summer.
Great Neck's first inhabitants were Native Americans. The Mattinecock Indians, which were a branch of the better-known Algonquin Indians, called this area home for many centuries. They spoke the traditional Algonquin language. They were hunters, farmers and fishermen. This tribe was very similar to the Europeans in that they loved to party and had celebrations for occasions, such as weddings, birthdays and other special events. This is the tribe that came into first contact with the exploring Europeans in the area. Both the Europeans and the Mattinecock must have had quite the celebration that day, huh?
The first European settlers brought with them African slaves for various farming positions. By 1799, the state of New York had ended slavery with the stipulation that all remaining slaves were to be freed by 1827. There's nothing quite like being told you are free, only to have to wait 28 years for your absolution.
Of the Europeans that settled here, there were the Allens, who were both shopkeepers and farmers and passed the land they owned on to their children. One of the other first settlers, Mr. Cutter, who was both a farmer and a poet, just happened to be very close friends with Mr. Mark Twain and took a steam trip with him in 1867. He also is the namesake of Cutter Mill Road. There isn't much contrast between the settlers of yore and the inhabitants of today; both were starkly creative compared to their counterparts in other areas of the nation.
By the time the roaring '20s rolled around, Great Neck Plaza was already evolving into the great arts district that it has now become, with several theaters and night clubs.
Rental homes, rental condos and apartments for rent in Great Neck Plaza are some of the most beautiful pieces of property in New York State. Situated on a slice of Long Island, Great Neck Plaza is the "neck" that keeps the head of New York bobbing.
Apartment rentals in Great Neck Plaza are difficult to come by, and when you can find one, hold on for dear life. No, really. When people move to Great Neck Plaza, they don't move away. Laffey Fine Homes is a commercial real estate agency that specializes in finding dream homes -- the kind that you can find in Great Neck and the surrounding area of Hempstead and North Hempstead -- and they can help you find what you seek.
Many cities have that magical time of year when rental prices pleasantly decrease ever so slightly and new residents arrive at the rate of move-in day in college. However, Great Neck Plaza is nothing like other cities. The great majority of people who have found homes in this area have done so for life. This isn't a come-and-go city. It is more like a come-and-settle-down city. It's for those people who have seen the rest of the country and simply want to relax and settle in. This is not to say it is impossible to find rental properties here, just that it is more difficult than most areas. To qualify for rentals in Great Neck Plaza, you must have proof of employment, a very good credit history and, of course, all of your personal identifying information.
Picking the right neighborhood to call home is as important. Great Neck Plaza and its surrounding areas offer a variety of neighborhoods, and you're sure to find one that fits the bill.
Saddle Rock: Just to the west of Great Neck Plaza is Saddle Rock and Saddle Rock Estates, a quiet little village very much like that of Great Neck Plaza. The homes, median incomes, and other statistics are very much the same as Great Neck Plaza and the population is very low, around 800 people.
University Gardens: With a population just over 4,000 individuals, this hamlet is a very desirable place to reside.
Manhasset: The name Manhasset is Native American and translates to "the island neighborhood." This hamlet of North Hempstead is located in the northern region of Long Island. Manhasset has enjoyed many references in popular culture, such as movies, television and literary works. For example, the CBS drama "The Good Wife" filmed some of its episodes within Manhasset for its debut season in 2009.
Munsey Park: This village, located near Long Island, was incorporated in 1930, just eight years after the village's founding. All of the homes that are built in this area must conform to Munsey Park's specific codes, which mainly consist of everything having to be above average. It has to be great if it's going to fly in Munsey Park.
King's Point: This village is also on the northern end of Long Island. This area is well known as F. Scott Fitzgerald's stomping grounds, and it is rumored that he modeled the towns of West Egg and East Egg in "The Great Gatsby" after King's Point and Sands Point, respectively.
The village as a whole has a high walkability score. Parking is not difficult for residents with wheels -- most residences are homes with driveways, and apartment complexes offer parking for residents, unlike many cities in which parking is a major issue for those without their own driveway. Take note, however, that parking tickets in this village can be quite expensive. Putting extra quarters in the parking meters is a lot cheaper than having to pay a Great Neck Plaza parking ticket.
If you don't have a vehicle, have no fear -- public transportation is here! No, really. There is a subway, train and bus system that travels between all of the major points in and around this area; in fact, many residents work in New York City and travel by public transit rather than drive.
If you desire the quality of life and beauty that living in an old-style, Art Deco-inspired town can give you, Great Neck Plaza could be where you spend the rest of your life. Sure, it can be somewhat difficult to find apartments in Great Neck Plaza. But keep with it -- once you find what you like, you will soon discover why so many other people decide to stay. This city is just one of those places that people consistently find attractive and inviting.