Cow Neck Peninsula

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The Cow Neck Peninsula is a peninsula in Nassau County, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, in the United States.

The peninsula, as seen on a map from 1917.

Description

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An aerial photo of the North Shore of Nassau County on Long Island, looking west. The Cow Neck Peninsula is visible as the first peninsula at the center, with Manhasset Bay immediately above it and Hempstead Harbor immediately below it.

The Cow Neck Peninsula was named Cow Neck in the 17th century, in large part due to the fact that it served as a common pasture at the time.[1] The Cow Neck Peninsula is famous for its affluence and historic communities, and was famous for its sand mines along Hempstead Harbor throughout the 20th century.[2][3][4][5]

It is believed that 90% of the concrete that built the foundations of New York City came from the Port Washington sand mines, and that over 100 million tons of sand were shipped to Manhattan.[3]

The Cow Neck Peninsula is also known as Manhasset Neck[6][7] or simply as Cow Neck.[8]

Geography

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On its west side, the Cow Neck Peninsula is bordered by Manhasset Bay.[9] On its east side, it is bordered by Hempstead Harbor. To the north, it is bordered by the Long Island Sound.[9] The peninsula's southern border is roughly defined as following Northern Boulevard (NY 25A) between Manhasset Bay to the west and Hempstead Harbor to the east.[10]

Some places on the Cow Neck Peninsula – notably in Flower Hill and Manhasset – reach elevations high enough for the skyline of New York City to be seen from ground level.[11]

List of communities

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An 1873 Beers map, showing the Town of North Hempstead. The Cow Neck Peninsula is shown at top. Note that this map was made prior to the incorporation of many villages, and as such, certain villages are not shown on this map.

The following towns are located on the Cow Neck Peninsula – either in part or in whole:[2][12]

The Cow Neck Peninsula is located entirely within the Town of North Hempstead.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Williams, George L. (March 30, 1987). "Shifting Names Is a Tradition For LI Villages". Newsday.
  2. ^ a b Rather, John (1996-11-17). "Solid Comfort, in Distinct Enclaves". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  3. ^ a b "Sand Mining". Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  4. ^ "Tape Recaptures Life in Cow Neck". Newsday. April 7, 1964.
  5. ^ "The Sand That Built New York City". The New York Times. May 9, 1993.
  6. ^ "Manhasset Neck". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  7. ^ "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  8. ^ Seyfried, Vincent F. (1956). New York & North Shore Traction Company; Trolleys in: Whitestone, Flushing, Bayside, Roslyn, Pt. Washington, Mineola [and] Hicksville. Orlando, Florida: F. E. Reifschneider.
  9. ^ a b Palmer, Helen Camp (1977-08-14). "Cow Neck Peninsula Boasts No Cows and Only One 'Working' Farm to Link It With Historic Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  10. ^ "Home Rules". The Port Washington News. December 12, 1996. pp. 2, 4. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  11. ^ "Manhasset Estate Divided for Homes; Builders Planning 300 Houses on Former d'Oench Land at Flower Hill". The New York Times. 1938-04-03. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  12. ^ "A Place With Unique Qualities: Waterfront, parks make area special". Newsday. May 17, 1992.
  13. ^ 1873 Beers Map of North Hempstead.
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  • Media related to Cow Neck Peninsula at Wikimedia Commons

40°50′25″N 73°41′13″W / 40.84028°N 73.68694°W / 40.84028; -73.68694