Editing East Rockaway, New York (section)

==History==
Originally named Near Rockaway, the village began as a shipping and trading center for the South Shore of Long Island. The village's location was desirable for ships because of its deep channels inland. Eventually a [[grist mill]] was built on the [[Mill River (Hempstead, New York)|Mill River]] by Joseph Haviland through a land grant in 1688. The [[Haviland-Davison Grist Mill]], located in Memorial Park, was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1998.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> Later, an oven was purchased to make bread for the surrounding population. The village prospered in shipping and milling over the years, even after several sales of the land.<ref>[http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-historytown-hist001c,0,5934395.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation Long Island History: East Rockaway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311060310/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-historytown-hist001c,0,5934395.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation |date=March 11, 2007 }} at Newsday.com, 2006.<!--retrieved July 1, 2008--></ref>

The village's name was changed in 1869 to East Rockaway.<ref name=":812">{{Cite book |last=Winsche |first=Richard |title=The History of Nassau County Community Place-Names |date=October 1, 1999 |publisher=Empire State Books |isbn=978-1557871541 |location=[[Interlaken, New York]] |pages=}}</ref>

The village was incorporated in 1900, and Floyd Johnson was president.<ref name=":812"/>

At the time of incorporation the village had a population of 969.<ref>[http://www.nassaulibrary.org/eastrock/history.htm EAST ROCKAWAY & LOCAL HISTORY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060712010831/http://www.nassaulibrary.org/eastrock/history.htm |date=July 12, 2006 }} by Jenkins, James. Nassau Daily Star - Thursday, August 10, 1933. Additional section written by Mr. M. Douglas Sackman in 1950. Hosted at nassaulibrary.org.<!--retrieved July 1, 2008--></ref>