About Albertson
Tucked away in western Nassau County, Long Island, Albertson started as an agricultural village, taking its name from Townsend Albertson, who ran a grist mill. The hamlet’s population expanded when William Levitt developed it into a suburb in 1946. Today, Albertson has a population of 1,589, a median household income of $111,479, and a median home value if $572,089. Albertson is a diverse, intimate community that borders the communities of East Williston, Herricks, Roslyn Heights, Searingtown, and Williston Park.
Depending on the neighborhood in which they live, Albertson’s students are served by three school districts: Mineola, Herricks, or East Williston. The Eastern part of Albertson is served by Mineola, the Western part by Herricks, and the Southeast corner known as Albertson Downs is served by East Williston. Property values tend to be higher in the highly-coveted neighborhoods zoned for the particularly well-regarded Herricks Union Free School District. The residents of Albertson have a history of civic engagement; one of the schools in the Herricks Union Free School District, Searingtown School, was involved in the Supreme Court case Engele v. Vitale (1962), which outlawed prayer in public schools.
These schools aren’t the only educational institutions in Albertson. Founded in 1962, Henry Viscardi School is a state-supported school that provides a rigorous curriculum for students who, according to the school website, have “severe physical disabilities and who often require life-sustaining medical treatment throughout the day.” 82% of their students go on to college. The school is part of the larger Viscardi Center campus, which provides services to empower people with disabilities. For after-school activities, Long Island Conservatory of Music, located in a 3,000 square foot building, offers music lessons, SAT prep, and English as a Second Language classes.
The hamlet has its own LIRR station, founded in 1864, making for a convenient commute into Manhattan that takes 50 minutes, with one transfer at Jamaica Station.
Although many residents choose to commute to New York City for work, the economy of Albertson employs 2,450 people, many of whom work in such industries as healthcare, technology, and education.
Despite its small size of 0.7 square miles, Albertson has opportunities to get active and enjoy the great outdoors. John D. Caemmerer Park has a playground, as well as tennis and basketball courts and ball fields. The 12-acre Clark Botanic Garden is a horticultural education and research center with an organic focus. It’s also open to the public year-round for strolls through this “living museum.” Its verdant gardens feature over 1000 different kinds of flora—from trees and shrubs to flowers and plants. It also sponsors special events, like a community trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show. If you have a green thumb, you’ll find the Clark Botanic Garden to be pretty close to paradise.
Albertson and its surrounding environs boast unique venue options for hosting unforgettable social events. The best wedding venue in Albertson is arguably the Clark Botanic Garden, with its picaresque garden perfect for both photographs and the ceremony. Albertson’s intimate size means that you won’t find many event venues within the hamlet itself, but its proximity to Roslyn and Roslyn Heights is a great perk. Named for the Billy Joel song and located at the site of the former Roslyn Chalet, VIENNA Roslyn opened in October 2017. It’s a lively venue to host a birthday party, bar or bat mitzvah, corporate or social event, or to just enjoy a date night. Also on the premises is Uncle Steve’s Tavern, a sports bar open many nights until 4 AM. The upstairs event space can accommodate 200 people, while the tavern can host 40.
Dining options abound. Many Albertson restaurants are located on the hamlet’s main thoroughfare, Willis Avenue, making them conveniently located in close proximity to one another. Some options include:
GRILLMARK: Mediterranean grilled meat and fish, as well as salads
Sakaya Japanese Restaurant: a chic spot featuring a tranquil waterfall; known for its hibachi and sushi
Vincent’s Pizzeria: a casual spot for classic Italian dinners
Da-Angelo Pizzeria & Ristorante helped pioneer the “grandma pizza”, a Long Island specialty
Over the years, distinguished individuals have been connected with Albertson. These people include:
Richard Rocco "Rick" Pasqualone: Born in 1966; voice actor; known as the voice of Vito Scaletta, the main character in the 2010 action-adventure video game Mafia II
• Isaac Underhill Willetts: Born in 1819; Albertson was built on the lands of this prominent landowner, the namesake for I.U. Willets Road, which still stands today; famously complained that Long Island had too many roads
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertson,_New_York" target="_blank
http://www.city-data.com/city/Albertson-New-York.html#ixzz5c2zi8oaf
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/realestate/living-in-albertson-long-island-tucked-away-in-the-middle-of-everything.html
https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/grandma-pizza-the-full-story-1.825269
http://www.henryviscardischool.org/
http://lipulse.com/2017/10/27/vienna-kitchen-and-social-house/
http://viennaofroslyn.com
https://www.albertsoncivic.com/history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engel_v._Vitales