This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/lRB.2ACE/904.1 Message Board Post: On 7/24/05 (1:27:53 PM MDT), in a posting to the Nassau County Ancestry Board that was 'gatewayed' to NYNASSAU-L@rootsweb.com, H Trump (htrump6704@aol.com) asked, "Looking for the Best Genealogical Libraries in Queen County, Nassau County. I'll be doing some research ( Sept ) in the Microfilm records of local libraries for year to year records of 3 residences of Edgemere, Island Park and Far Rockaway,NY ie: City Directories and Phone books( circa 1910-1985 ) Does anyone recommend which library has the best resources for such a research trip." Edgemere and Far Rockaway are adjoining neighborhoods on the eastern end of the Rockaway peninsula in Queens County, while Island Park is a village (municipal corporation) in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County. For Island Park, you may want to contact the Island Park Public Library (the library can suggest which local newspaper might have this information and other possible sources of information): Island Park Public Library 176 Long Beach Road Island Park, NY 11558 Tel: 516/432-0122 Fax: 516/???-???? eMail: ilandpk@lilrc.org http://www.nassaulibrary.org/islandp/ Island Park is one of those communities on Long Island where the majority of places with an Island Park mailing address are not in Island Park. The pertinent geography: Island Park is a village (incorporated in 1926) in the southwest part of the Town of Hempstead, in the southwest part of Nassau County. There are 22 villages (municipal corporations) and 36 hamlets (unincorporated areas) all or partly within the Town of Hempstead. There are 2 cities and 3 towns in Nassau County. (I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone.) Beginning on its northern border and proceeding clockwise, the Village of Island Park in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the offshore islands and the Hamlet of Barnum Island; on the east by the Hamlet of Barnum Island; on the south by the City of Long Beach (directly across Reynolds Channel); and, on the west by the Hamlet of Harbor Isle. And, as occurs in all but one of Nassau County's 136 communities (2 cities, 64 villages and 70 hamlets), the Village of Island Park has a different border than does the "Island Park, NY 11558" postal zone (i.e., a place can have an Island Park mailing address and not be in Island Park). ......................................acres ....Village of Island Park.....270 ....Island Park, NY 11558...849 Thus, you can readily see that the majority of places -- more than 2 of every 3 places -- are not in the Village of Island Park (most of these places are either in the Hamlet of Barnum Island or the Hamlet of Harbor Isle). For those who have their copy of the 2004 or earlier edition of the LI Population Survey or have already downloaded the report from the Long Island Power Authority web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access and download the report), you'll find the Village of Island Park (incorporated in 1926) in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County on pages 5 & 8 (map) and 9 (population estimate). I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, 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.