This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/lRB.2ACE/526.1 Message Board Post: On 3/12/03 (4:10:00 AM MST), in a posting to the Nassau County Board that was 'gatewayed' to [email protected], Barbara Pon ([email protected]) asked, "Would anyone know who would hold the marraige records, deeds, wills, etc. if the individual lived in Freeport, which is considered a Village, but is located in Nassau County. Would it be the Town Hall in Freeport, or would they be found in Mineola, which handles (I think), Nassau's records? If I'm going to go in person, I want to go to the right place. Although they are close enough that I could go to both. Perhaps the records are split between the two? Thank you for any help." Depending on the record, the record would be kept by either the Village of Freeport, the Town of Hempstead or the County of Nassau as Freeport is a village (municipal corporation) in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County. HOWEVER 1: be aware that not all places with a "Freeport, NY" mailing address are actually in the Village of Freeport. Records for those places would be with either the Town of Hempstead or the County of Nassau. HOWEVER 2: be aware that prior to January 1, 1899, the Village of Freeport was in the Town of Hempstead and the Town of Hempstead then was in Queens County, and if you are seeking certain records held by the county, then those records prior to January 1, 1899 might be with Queens County. You may want to check with the Village Clerk for the Village of Freeport: Office of the Village Clerk Village of Freeport Village Hall 46 North Ocean Avenue Freeport, NY 11520 Tel: 516/377-2205 eMail: [email protected] http://www.freeportny.com/ The pertinent geography: Freeport is a village (incorporated in 1892) in the south-center part of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County. There are 22 villages and 36 hamlets all or partly in the Town of Hempstead. There are 2 cites 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 the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Village of Freeport is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Roosevelt; on the east by the Hamlet of Merrick; on the south by the off shore islands; and, on the west by the Hamlets of Baldwin Harbor and Baldwin. And, as occurs in all but one of Nassau County's 136 communities (2 cities, 64 villages and 70 hamlets), the Village of Freeport has a different border than does the "Freeport, NY 11520" postal zone (i.e., a place can have a Freeport, NY mailing address and not be in Freeport). .............................................acres .....Village of Freeport..............3,174 .....Freeport, NY 11520............3,618 A little more than 1 out of every 10 places with an "Freeport, NY" mailing address are NOT in the Village of Freeport. These places with a "Freeport, NY" mailing address that are not in the Village of Freeport may be in either the Hamlets of Merrick or Roosevelt, also in the Town of Hempstead. For those who have their copy of the 2002 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 Freeport (incorporated in 1892) 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.