Discover Elwood
Elwood is a small hamlet located within the town of Huntington on Long Island in the State of New York. It covers about 4.8 square miles of land and borders the towns of East Northport, Commack and neighboring Dix Hills. According to the national census of 2010, Elwood has a population of approximately 11,200 people living in this small, middle class community.
History
Not much is officially recorded about the history of Elwood, but local sources indicate that settlers began moving into the Elwood area in the mid 1600’s after leaving the Oyster Bay area in search of more land. Land was purchased from Native American tribes in the Elwood and East Northport areas. In the 1700’s and 1800’s, Elwood was mostly a farming community. Continuing with its agricultural roots, Elwood is also the home to Mediavilla Farms, an orchard and farm stand that was established in the early 1900’s. Although in recent years this property has been the site of local disagreement about whether the land should be sold to developers. Elwood was also home to the Oaktree Dairy, a plant that pasteurized and homogenized milk at the site since 1941. Three generations of one family managed the dairy plant which was closed and the land was subsequently sold to developers in 2015.
The Elwood School District
The Elwood School District is highly accredited and consists of Harley Avenue Primary School (kindergarten - 2nd grade), James H. Boyd Intermediate School (3rd - 5th grade), Elwood Middle School (grades 6th - 8th) and Elwood-John H. Glenn High School. The high school has received several awards and recognitions including being recognized as a New York State Reward School in 2016, named one of "America's Most Challenging High Schools" by the Washington Post in 2016 and a as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2018.
The Elwood Public Library
The Elwood Public library is a considerably new library system. Established in 2004, residents of this small community did not have a library of their own and had to pay a fee to use neighboring libraries in the towns of East Northport, Commack and Dix Hills. The original, temporary site was located at 3027 Jericho Turnpike in Elwood. As the need for more space and services increased, the library moved into its permanent home on the corner of Elwood Road and Jericho Turnpike in Elwood in March, 2009. This larger facility offers a full array of services including books, audio and video materials, educational programs, computers and IT equipment, study rooms and a large community room that is often utilized by local organizations.
Parks and Recreation
Elwood Park
Elwood Park is located on Cuba Hill Road in Elwood. This popular, local park features soccer fields, soft ball fields, a playground, a covered picnic area and acres of grassy, shady areas to play or relax. A recent addition to Elwood Park is the Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park which opened in July, 2018. The 2,500 foot spray park features active play and water features for kids. The park was built and dedicated in memory of Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, a nearby Greenlawn native, who was tragically killed in the line of duty in 2016.
Elwood Cinemas
Elwood Cinemas has been the neighborhood movie theater for over fifty years. Family owned and operated, it grew from a one screen theater into a four screen quad and it is often referred to as the “Elwood Quad.” This is a great place for a local night out or to host a terrific birthday party for your child. The owners of the cinema are very community oriented and offer many specials to local charities and members of the Elwood community.
The Seasons at Elwood
The Seasons at Elwood is a recently constructed “Over 55 Community” that features 265 residential units. Built on the land that was previously home to the historic Oak Tree Dairy plant, this beautiful residential community is the newest addition to Elwood. This brand new community features many different options in housing as well as a clubhouse with an indoor pool pavilion, an outdoor pool and hot tub, several outdoor walking paths, a playground and tennis courts.
Northwell Health Urgent Care
In addition to private physicians and medical practices, Elwood also has an urgent care healthcare clinic. Northwell Health Urgent Care
Located in the Elwood Shopping Center on Jericho Turnpike, this walk-in health care clinic is open every day from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. No appointment is necessary.
Restaurants and Shopping
Miko Japanese & Hibachi Steakhouse
Miko offers fresh sushi, contemporary and trendy cocktails and a full menu of authentic Japanese fare. It also has private hibachi rooms for a fun-filled hibachi cooking and eating experience.
Dix Hills Diner
Located on the border of Elwood and Dix Hills, the Dix Hills Diner has been a staple in the Elwood community for many years. Family owned and operated they offer delicious burgers, fresh salads, many Greek specialties and the best breakfast around.
Thai Greenleaf
Thai Greenleaf has a full menu of authentic Thai dishes. From spicy to mild, they have many flavorful dishes to please any palette. The restaurant offers dine in, take-out and delivery options.
Bagel Boss
Located on the corner of Elwood Road and Jericho Turnpike, Bagel Boss offers fresh, warm bagels on a daily basis. They also feature delicious homemade cream cheese, fresh smoked salmon, chopped salads, a full bakery and hot items from the grill. They also offer a large catering menu with many kosher items.
Wayback Burgers
Jake’s Wayback Burgers is located in the Elwood Shopping Center. This throwback hamburger joint offers savory, made-to-order burgers, sizzling French fries and creamy milkshakes.
Shopping:cc
Elwood has a small shopping district that includes a Pet Supplies Plus store, Denny’s Clothes Store, Graffiti Boutique and the Wine Doc – Wine & Spirits. For groceries, Stop and Shop is located on Jericho Turnpike in neighboring East Northport. Elwood is also home to several franchised establishments including McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.
Sources:
https://newyork.hometownlocator.com/ny/suffolk/elwood.cfm#demographic
https://mommypoppins.com/long-island-kids/parks-playgrounds/new-spray-park-splashes-into-elwood
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/25/realestate/in-the-region-long-island-downtown-village-center-proposed-for-huntington.html
https://patch.com/new-york/huntington