Lawrence, Nassau County, New York
Encyclopedia
Lawrence is a village in Nassau County
, New York
in the USA
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 6,483.
The Village of Lawrence is in the southwest corner of the Town of Hempstead
, adjoining the border with the New York City
borough of Queens
to the west and near the Atlantic Ocean
to the south. Lawrence is one of the "Five Towns
", which consists of the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst
, the hamlets (unincorporated areas) of Woodmere
and Inwood
, and "The Hewletts", which is made up of the hamlet of Hewlett
together with the villages of Hewlett Bay Park
, Hewlett Harbor
and Hewlett Neck
, along with Woodsburgh
.
s, beachside luxury villas and former plantation
s with very large property (and corresponding prices), some dating back to the time of the American Revolution
. One of the finest pre-Revolutionary homes on Long Island, Rock Hall
, was home to two prominent families, the Martins and Hewletts and is now an active museum. The huge golf courses, vast wetland
s and nature preserves with historic battlefields enrich this beautiful area making it one of the most exclusive areas in all of Long Island.
Old Lawrence is commonly referred to by historians as the "First Hamptons." During the second half of the 19th century, it was a main vacation spot
for the rich families of the highest social scale until the 1890s. A series of hurricanes and nor'easter
s altered the coastline considerably and destroyed a large beachfront hotel. Lawrence could no longer boast direct access to the sands along the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, Lawrence began to become more like a modern suburb
, a village with schools, public facilities, better roads and a large town area that expanded into what is now today.
Lawrence, or most notably Old Lawrence, was formerly home to a large upper class of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
families that lived there since the time of the American Revolution
. From the 1940s to 1980s, it became a center of Reform
and Conservative
Jewish life that included the largest Reform synagogue on Long Island (Temple Israel). Many noteworthy residents grew up in Lawrence during this period.
In the late 1980s, it saw a large migration of Modern Orthodox
Jews. The Orthodox Jewish communities are close to the more Haredi
nearby center of Far Rockaway
which has more yeshiva
s for the children and younger members as well as a variety of kosher restaurants and communal organizations. Central Avenue
in Lawrence (and its continuation in Cedarhurst) has a large and growing number of kosher restaurants and other business catering to the Orthodox community.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.1 km2), of which, 3.8 square miles (10.0 km2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.2 km2) of it (17.91%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,522 people, 2,113 households, and 1,629 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,694.6 people per square mile (654.1/km2). There were 2,287 housing units at an average density of 594.2 per square mile (229.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.19% White, 1.13% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.
There were 2,113 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $104,845, and the median income for a family was $129,779. Males had a median income of $99,841 versus $41,094 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $51,602. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
, School District 15, serve the communities of Atlantic Beach
, Cedarhurst
, Inwood
, Lawrence, and sections of Woodmere
and North Woodmere
.
The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway
, is a K-12 Modern Orthodox
school where students study Jewish and secular subjects in a dual curriculum. The Pre-School, Kindergarten and Elementary schools are located on one campus on Frost Lane and Washington Avenue.
The Brandeis School is a conservative Jewish Day School located in Lawrence.
Mesivta Ateres Yaakov
is a yeshiva located in Lawrence.
Rambam Mesivta is also located in Lawrence on Frost ave. It is for grades 9-12 where students learn a dual curriculum of Jewish and Secular studies.
Lawrence is also home to the Shor Yoshuv Institute , a Rabbinical College with several hundred students.
station provides Long Island Rail Road
service on the Far Rockaway Branch
to Penn Station
in Midtown Manhattan
and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn
with connections at Jamaica
to other parts of Long Island.
The N31 and N32 (Long Island bus) buses of MTA Long Island Bus
(Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority) runs down Central Avenue extending southwest into Far Rockaway (with a connection to the Line of the New York City Subway
) and northeast to the Hempstead Transit Center
in central Nassau County with connections to other parts of Long Island.
A short drive (about 5 miles) up Rockaway Turnpike takes you to the Belt Parkway
, the Van Wyck Expressway
, the Cross Island Parkway
, Southern State Parkway
and John F. Kennedy International Airport
.
Lawrence is connected to Atlantic Beach
to the south, across Reynolds Channel
via the Atlantic Beach Bridge
.
provides police services in Lawrence and most of Nassau County. Lawrence is part of the force's Fourth Precinct.
Lawrence is served by the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. The LCFD consists of 85 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians and provides fire protection to the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, as well as the North Lawrence Fire District and East Lawrence Fire District. The LCFD also responds to alarms such as car accidents and aided cases on the Atlantic Beach Bridge
.
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 6,483.
The Village of Lawrence is in the southwest corner of the Town of Hempstead
Town of Hempstead, New York
Hempstead is one of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, United States, occupying the southwest part of the county. There are twenty-two incorporated villages completely or partially in the town. Hempstead's combined population was 759,757 at the 2010 Census, the majority of the population...
, adjoining the border with the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
to the west and near the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the south. Lawrence is one of the "Five Towns
Five Towns
The Five Towns is an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County, New York, United States on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the border with Queens County in New York City. Despite the name, none of the communities is a town...
", which consists of the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst
Cedarhurst, New York
Cedarhurst is a village in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York, in the USA. The population was 6,592 at the 2010 United States Census. The village is named after a grove of trees that once stood at the post office....
, the hamlets (unincorporated areas) of Woodmere
Woodmere, New York
Woodmere is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 17,121 at the 2010 census.Woodmere is one of the Long Island communities known as the Five Towns, which is usually said to comprise the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, the hamlets of Woodmere and Inwood, and...
and Inwood
Inwood, New York
Inwood is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 9,792 at the 2010 census.Inwood is included among the Five Towns, an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the...
, and "The Hewletts", which is made up of the hamlet of Hewlett
Hewlett, New York
Hewlett is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 6,819....
together with the villages of Hewlett Bay Park
Hewlett Bay Park, New York
Hewlett Bay Park is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA, on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the village population was 404....
, Hewlett Harbor
Hewlett Harbor, New York
Hewlett Harbor is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA. The population was 1,263 at the 2010 census.The Village of Hewlett Harbor is inside the Town of Hempstead.-Geography:Hewlett Harbor is located at ....
and Hewlett Neck
Hewlett Neck, New York
Hewlett Neck is a village in Nassau County, New York in the USA. The population was 445 at the 2010 census.The Village of Hewlett Neck is inside the Town of Hempstead....
, along with Woodsburgh
Woodsburgh, New York
Woodsburgh is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 778 at the 2010 census.The mayor of the village is Susan Schlaff.Deputy Mayor:Edmond MukamalTrustees:Carl Cayne, Edmond Mukamal, Barry Sporer, Lee A...
.
Back Lawrence/Old Lawrence
Old Lawrence or Back Lawrence is a part of the Village of Lawrence, comprising many enormous mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
s, beachside luxury villas and former plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s with very large property (and corresponding prices), some dating back to the time of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. One of the finest pre-Revolutionary homes on Long Island, Rock Hall
Rock Hall (Lawrence, New York)
Rock Hall is a historic home located at Lawrence in Nassau County, New York. It was built about 1767 and stands on a manorial, park like setting overlooking Jamaica Bay. It is a -story, Georgian-style frame dwelling, with a T-shaped frame wing. It is five bays wide, with a central portico...
, was home to two prominent families, the Martins and Hewletts and is now an active museum. The huge golf courses, vast wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s and nature preserves with historic battlefields enrich this beautiful area making it one of the most exclusive areas in all of Long Island.
Old Lawrence is commonly referred to by historians as the "First Hamptons." During the second half of the 19th century, it was a main vacation spot
Resort town
A resort town, sometimes called a resort city or resort destination, is a town or area where tourism or vacationing is a primary component of the local culture and economy...
for the rich families of the highest social scale until the 1890s. A series of hurricanes and nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
s altered the coastline considerably and destroyed a large beachfront hotel. Lawrence could no longer boast direct access to the sands along the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, Lawrence began to become more like a modern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
, a village with schools, public facilities, better roads and a large town area that expanded into what is now today.
Lawrence, or most notably Old Lawrence, was formerly home to a large upper class of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant or WASP is an informal term, often derogatory or disparaging, for a closed group of high-status Americans mostly of British Protestant ancestry. The group supposedly wields disproportionate financial and social power. When it appears in writing, it is usually used to...
families that lived there since the time of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. From the 1940s to 1980s, it became a center of Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
and Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Jewish life that included the largest Reform synagogue on Long Island (Temple Israel). Many noteworthy residents grew up in Lawrence during this period.
In the late 1980s, it saw a large migration of Modern Orthodox
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
Jews. The Orthodox Jewish communities are close to the more Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
nearby center of Far Rockaway
Far Rockaway, Queens
Far Rockaway is a neighborhood on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens in the United States. It is the easternmost section of the Rockaways. The neighborhood starts at the Nassau County line and extends west to Beach 32nd Street. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community...
which has more yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s for the children and younger members as well as a variety of kosher restaurants and communal organizations. Central Avenue
Central Avenue (Five Towns)
Central Avenue is a road mainly in Nassau County on Long Island, New York, that spans four of the Five Towns along the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, to which it runs parallel. About a third of it is a popular business district that plays a central role in the social life of the...
in Lawrence (and its continuation in Cedarhurst) has a large and growing number of kosher restaurants and other business catering to the Orthodox community.
Geography
Lawrence is located at 40.609566°N 73.726543°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12.1 km2), of which, 3.8 square miles (10.0 km2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.2 km2) of it (17.91%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,522 people, 2,113 households, and 1,629 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,694.6 people per square mile (654.1/km2). There were 2,287 housing units at an average density of 594.2 per square mile (229.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.19% White, 1.13% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.42% of the population.
There were 2,113 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the village the population was spread out with 32.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $104,845, and the median income for a family was $129,779. Males had a median income of $99,841 versus $41,094 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $51,602. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Village of Lawrence is governed by an elected Mayor and Board of Trustees. The present Mayor is Martin Oliner, elected in 2010. The Board of Trustees consists of 5 members including the Mayor. Members of the Board of Trustees are as follows:- Martin Oliner - Mayor
- Joel A. Mael - Deputy Mayor
- Edward I. Klar - Trustee
- Michael A. Fragin - Trustee
- C. Simon Felder - Trustee
Representation within wider government
- Township - Town of Hempstead, Kate MurrayKate MurrayKate Murray is the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, New York, United States. Murray is the first woman to be elected supervisor since the position was created in 1918.-Education and early career:...
, Town Supervisor - County - Nassau CountyNassau County, New YorkNassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, Ed ManganoEd ManganoEdward P. Mangano is the County Executive and was a county legislator in Nassau County, New York. He was elected in 1995 and served seven terms. He defeated incumbent Thomas R...
, County Executive - New York State Legislature - SenateNew York State SenateThe New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, 9th District, Dean SkelosDean SkelosDean G. Skelos is an American politician and the Republican Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate. Skelos represents District 9 in the State Senate, which comprises the southwest region of Nassau County. He is the second Long Islander to hold the position of Majority...
, Senator - New York State Legislature - AssemblyNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, 20th District, Harvey WeisenbergHarvey WeisenbergHarvey Weisenberg is a Democrat and the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the New York State Assembly. He represents the 20th assembly district, encompassing Atantic Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach, Island Park, Oceanside, East Rockaway, The Five Towns and parts of Lynbrook and Rockville...
, Assemblyman - United States Congress - New York's 4th districtNew York's 4th congressional districtThe 4th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in west-central Nassau County...
, Carolyn McCarthyCarolyn McCarthyCarolyn McCarthy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in central Long Island in west-central Nassau County and includes Mineola, the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Garden City, Hempstead,...
, Representative
Education
The Lawrence Public SchoolsLawrence Public Schools
The Lawrence Public Schools, Union Free School District 15, is a comprehensive community public school district, serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in the southwest section of Nassau County, New York and borders the New York City borough of Queens...
, School District 15, serve the communities of Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach, New York
Atlantic Beach is an affluent village off the South Shore of Long Island in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. It is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, one of the outer barrier islands which it shares with Long Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, Lido Beach and Point...
, Cedarhurst
Cedarhurst, New York
Cedarhurst is a village in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York, in the USA. The population was 6,592 at the 2010 United States Census. The village is named after a grove of trees that once stood at the post office....
, Inwood
Inwood, New York
Inwood is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 9,792 at the 2010 census.Inwood is included among the Five Towns, an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the...
, Lawrence, and sections of Woodmere
Woodmere, New York
Woodmere is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 17,121 at the 2010 census.Woodmere is one of the Long Island communities known as the Five Towns, which is usually said to comprise the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, the hamlets of Woodmere and Inwood, and...
and North Woodmere
North Woodmere, New York
North Woodmere is an unincorporated area section of Valley Stream, located in Nassau County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. North Woodmere is directly north of Woodmere, but separated from it by Mott's Creek. Access to Woodmere is available via Branch Boulevard and a footbridge over...
.
The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway
Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway
The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, or HAFTR, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school on the South Shore of Long Island in New York serving male and female students in preschool through twelfth grade. It is a private school in the Five Towns...
, is a K-12 Modern Orthodox
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
school where students study Jewish and secular subjects in a dual curriculum. The Pre-School, Kindergarten and Elementary schools are located on one campus on Frost Lane and Washington Avenue.
The Brandeis School is a conservative Jewish Day School located in Lawrence.
Mesivta Ateres Yaakov
Mesivta Ateres Yaakov
Mesivta Ateres Yaakov is an all-male Ultra Orthodox Jewish high school, located in the Five Towns community of Lawrence in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is named after Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky....
is a yeshiva located in Lawrence.
Rambam Mesivta is also located in Lawrence on Frost ave. It is for grades 9-12 where students learn a dual curriculum of Jewish and Secular studies.
Lawrence is also home to the Shor Yoshuv Institute , a Rabbinical College with several hundred students.
Transportation
The LawrenceLawrence (LIRR station)
Lawrence is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Far Rockaway Branch in Lawrence, in Nassau County, New York, United States. The station is officially located at Lawrence Avenue and Bayview Avenue, two blocks west of Central Avenue, however the actual location is two blocks north of Central...
station provides Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
service on the Far Rockaway Branch
Far Rockaway Branch
The Far Rockaway Branch is an electrified rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch begins at Valley Interlocking, just east of Valley Stream station; the Long Beach Branch also begins there, heading east and south to Long Beach,...
to Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with connections at Jamaica
Jamaica (LIRR station)
Jamaica is a major hub station of the Long Island Rail Road, and is located in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. It is the largest transit hub on Long Island and is one of the busiest railroad stations in the country with over 200,000 daily passengers...
to other parts of Long Island.
The N31 and N32 (Long Island bus) buses of MTA Long Island Bus
MTA Long Island Bus
MTA Long Island Bus is the name used by MTA Regional Bus for its bus network serving primarily Nassau County. It also serves parts of western Suffolk County as well as parts of Queens. Long Island Bus is the trading name of Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority, a name which has not been used...
(Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority) runs down Central Avenue extending southwest into Far Rockaway (with a connection to the Line of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
) and northeast to the Hempstead Transit Center
Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center
The Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center is the Long Island Bus system's indoor customer facility between Jackson and West Columbia Streets in Hempstead, New York. It is also the terminus for the Hempstead Branch of the Long Island Rail Road. Serving 19 routes, the transit center is the major...
in central Nassau County with connections to other parts of Long Island.
A short drive (about 5 miles) up Rockaway Turnpike takes you to the Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
, the Van Wyck Expressway
Interstate 678
Interstate 678 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that extends for through two boroughs of New York City. The route begins at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Jamaica Bay and travels north through Queens and across the East River to the Bronx, where it ends at...
, the Cross Island Parkway
Cross Island Parkway
Cross Island Parkway, also known as the 100th Infantry Division Parkway, is a parkway within New York State. The parkway is a part of the Belt Parkway system that runs along the perimeter of the borough of Queens in New York City...
, Southern State Parkway
Southern State Parkway
The Southern State Parkway is a long limited-access highway on Long Island, in the U.S. state of New York...
and John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
.
Lawrence is connected to Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach, New York
Atlantic Beach is an affluent village off the South Shore of Long Island in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. It is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, one of the outer barrier islands which it shares with Long Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, Lido Beach and Point...
to the south, across Reynolds Channel
Reynolds Channel
Reynolds Channel is a strait in Nassau County, New York which separates a barrier island that contains the City of Long Beach and the villages of Atlantic Beach and Lido Beach from Long Island and Barnum Island. The channel begins at the East Rockaway Inlet and ends at Point Lookout where it merges...
via the Atlantic Beach Bridge
Atlantic Beach Bridge
The Atlantic Beach Bridge is a long toll drawbridge connecting Lawrence and Atlantic Beach , NY while passing over the west end of Reynolds Channel. The bridge also provides direct access to the Rockaway Peninsula via Seagirt Boulevard....
.
Emergency services
The Nassau County Police DepartmentNassau County Police Department
The Nassau County Police Department is the law enforcement agency of Nassau County, New York.-History:In 1925, concerned about rising crime rates, the County Board of Supervisors voted to create the Nassau County Police Department, replacing a scattered system of constables and town and village...
provides police services in Lawrence and most of Nassau County. Lawrence is part of the force's Fourth Precinct.
Lawrence is served by the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. The LCFD consists of 85 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians and provides fire protection to the villages of Lawrence and Cedarhurst, as well as the North Lawrence Fire District and East Lawrence Fire District. The LCFD also responds to alarms such as car accidents and aided cases on the Atlantic Beach Bridge
Atlantic Beach Bridge
The Atlantic Beach Bridge is a long toll drawbridge connecting Lawrence and Atlantic Beach , NY while passing over the west end of Reynolds Channel. The bridge also provides direct access to the Rockaway Peninsula via Seagirt Boulevard....
.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Lawrence include:- Benjamin BrafmanBenjamin BrafmanBenjamin "Ben" Brafman is a criminal defense attorney based in New York. He maintains a firm focused on criminal defense, Brafman Associates, in New York City and has handled cases for clients including Jacob Arabo, James Patino, Peter Gatien, Plaxico Burress, Michael Jackson, Carl Kruger, Charles...
, prominent criminal defense attorney - Norman Braun, investor and philanthropist
- Karen BursteinKaren BursteinKaren Burstein is a politician and former judge from New York. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General in 1994.-Biography:...
, politician and former judge who was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney GeneralNew York State Attorney GeneralThe New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
in 1994 - Mark Dreier
- Henry Hill and his wife, Karen (the subjects of the film GoodfellasGoodfellasGoodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese...
) moved in with Karen's parents when the Hills were newlyweds - Donna KaranDonna KaranDonna Karan is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels.-Early life:...
(born 1948), fashion designer - Peggy LiptonPeggy LiptonPeggy Lipton is an American television actress. She played "Julie Barnes" in The Mod Squad, and Norma Jennings in Twin Peaks.- Personal life and background :...
(born 1946), actress best known for her role in The Mod SquadThe Mod SquadThe Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews... - Steve MaddenSteve MaddenSteve Madden is the founder and former CEO of Steve Madden Ltd., a footwear company.Born in Far Rockaway, Queens, Madden grew up in adjoining Lawrence in Nassau County, New York....
(born 1958), shoe designer - Alana NewhouseAlana NewhouseAlana Newhouse is a writer and editor.Newhouse grew up in Lawrence, New York.She is a graduate of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, a 1997 graduate of Barnard College, and a 2002 graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.After college, Newhouse worked for...
, editor of Tablet MagazineTablet MagazineTablet Magazine is a two-time National Magazine Award-winning online publication of Jewish life, arts, and ideas. Sponsored by Nextbook, it was launched in June 2009. Its Editor in Chief is Alana Newhouse.... - Peter Shulman, Well known artist (born 1937 Lawrence)
- Israel SingerIsrael SingerIsrael Singer was secretary general of the World Jewish Congress from 2001 to 2007.- Life :Singer grew up in Brooklyn, the son of Austrian refugees...
, a rabbi and professor who has held leadership posts in several international Jewish organizations - Rob WeissRob WeissRob Weiss is an American television and film producer, screenwriter, actor, and director. His break came in 1993 when he wrote and directed the 1993 film Amongst Friends. The film was well received at film festivals and scored Weiss a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film...
, director/producer of Amongst FriendsAmongst FriendsAmongst Friends is a 1993 film written and directed by Rob Weiss. The film portrays the conspicuous consumption and aggressive upward mobility among the mobsters and drug dealers living among the affluent communities in the Five Towns in southwestern Nassau County, New York...
and EntourageEntourage (TV series)Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons... - Leslie WestLeslie WestLeslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
(born 1945), of the hard rock group MountainMountain (band)Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...