On 2/20/04 (9:29:01 PM MST), in a private posting, Greg (gregwalsh@verizon.net) posted some information about the history/geography of the Village of Bellerose and immediate area. Among the items posted were: "As you may be aware, Nassau County dates from 1898 when (present day) Queens County was absorbed into NYC. Nassau consists of the three (3) townships (Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay) and two (2) cities (Glen Cove, and Long Beach) that chose not to join NYC (at least not as a contiguous group, which was required for merger into the City)." My comment: The break-up of Queens County was a two-stage process. On January 1, 1898, the western-quarter of Queens County became coterminous with the newly formed Borough of Queens (this included what had been the City of Long Island City, the Towns of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica, and the Rockaway peninsula of the Town of Hempstead) and it's the Borough (administrative district of NYC) of Queens, not the County (political sub-dvision of NYS) of Queens, that was and still is within the jurisdiction of NYC. The larger, eastern three-quarters of Queens County had no political connection to NYC. A year later, on January 1, 1899, the Towns, not Townships, of North Hempstead (now excluding the Rockaway peninsula), Hempstead and Oyster Bay -- the eastern three-quarters of Queens County -- seceded from Queens County and formed Nassau County. The two cities: Glen Cove and Long Beach, were not yet cities. The Hamlet of Glen Cove seceded from Town of Oyster Bay and became a city in 1918. The Hamlet of Long Beach first became a village in the Town of Hempstead in 1918 and then seceded from the Town of Hempstead and became a city in 1922. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) "Long Island's (arguably) greatest historian - and still alive - is Vincent F. Seyfried. Although I've never met him, I am a great fan of his writings, especially those devoted to the Long Island Rail Road, and the extensive trolley system that existed here in the early 1900's. I am told he lives in Garden City." My comment: I have had several telephone conversations with Vincent Seyfried. He may have a good knowledge of history, but his knowledge of geography is somewhat fuzzy because like many, he has a tendency to confuse postal zone borders with community borders, especially in regard to the borders of hamlets. "Pat, as I indicated, I don't know Vince personally, nor do I have his address or phone number." My comment: The last time I spoke with Vincent Seyfried (a few years ago) he was living in the Village of Garden City and he was the Village of Garden City historian. Thus, you may be able to obtain his contact information by contacting the Village Clerk for the Village of Garden City (that's how I was able to obtain his telephone number): Village Clerk Village of Garden City Garden City Village Hall 351 Stewart Avenue Garden City, New York 11530 Tel: 516/465-4053 Fax: 516/???-???? eMail: ?????? http://www.gardencityny.net/gcvillage.htm I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Sincerely, Walter Greenspan . Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.