Albertson

Alberston is a small hamlet with 5,200 residents in the Town of North Hempstead, occupying less than one square mile. Its small size and relative isolation, by Long Island standards, means many people have never heard of it. The town’s name comes from Townsend Albert, who settled in the area and started a farm and a grist mill.

The hamlet is primarily residential. Willis Avenue, which leads drivers to the Northern State Parkway, is the main commercial area with shops, eateries, banks and other services. To the north and the south, there are ample shopping opportunities, most notably the Roosevelt Field Mall. Albertson has its own LIRR station, which makes the trip to Penn Station in about fifty minutes. Permits are not required to park at the station.

Three school districts serve Albertson, with the majority split of students between Herricks and Mineola. A small number of students attend school in the East Williston district. Meadow Drive, which is part of the Mineola district, is located in Albertson. Herricks and East Williston are both very highly regarded, with excellent results on state exams and graduation rates.

Caemmerer Park is one of two parks. It has tennis and basketball courts, and a playground. Clark Botanic Garden is a park located on the grounds of Grenville Clark, an attorney and advisor to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The garden features about 5,000 species of plants, along with ponds and streams.

Home prices begin in the mid-$300,000 range. The small size of Albertson means inventory is limited. Many people who settle there are initially looking to be in one of the three school districts. Many of the homes, when constructed, were small. However, many of the homes have been expanded, and knocking down homes and rebuilding from scratch became a popular choice in recent years. Willis Terrace is a condo complex for seniors over 62, and there are usually a few units on the market.