Editing Elmont, New York (section)

==History==
In 1650, Christopher and Thomas Foster purchased a large plot of land. The Fosters' land was controlled by [[Netherlands|Dutch]] settlers. The Fosters intended to raise [[cattle]] and [[sheep]] on their newly settled land, the [[Hempstead Plains]] of [[Long Island]]. They named this place "[[Foster's Meadow]]"—a name which would remain for the next 200 years of the village's history.

By the mid-17th century, descendants of [[Sephardic Jews]] were settling on the [[Hempstead Plains]] for [[agriculture]]. Control of the Dutch colony of [[New Amsterdam]] shifted to [[England]] in 1664. This marked the first gradual cultural shift in Foster's Meadow with the establishment of a community of predominantly [[English people|English]] [[Protestant]] [[farmers]], and their families. In 1683, [[Long Island]] was divided into three counties, Kings, Queens, and [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]]. Under this new structure, Foster's Meadow was originally part of [[Queens|Queens County]]. During 1790 [[George Washington]] passed through the town while touring to the east on [[Long Island]]. The current boundaries of Elmont were decided upon in 1898; at this point, [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]] was created, leading to conflict over land, and monies owed as a result of Elmont's boundary shift from Queens.

It was during the mid-19th century that Foster's Meadow experienced its second cultural shift. There was an influx of [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Ashkenazi Jewish]] [[farmers]] from Brooklyn and [[Middle Village, Queens|Middle Village]] to the west. These ethnic groups were largely of [[Germans|German]] and [[Italian people|Italian]] descent, practicing both [[Roman Catholicism]] and [[Judaism]].

Indeed, the Catholic population in Foster's Meadow grew to an extent. The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was built in 1852, during the [[Wittelsbach Dynasty]]. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] was re-dedicated as [[Saint Boniface]] [[Roman Catholic]] [[Parish]], in honor of the [[Patron Saint]] of [[Germany]], in 1857. The Parish provided a focal point for the gradual development of a Catholic population base. Rev. Peter Hartraub was the founding pastor, and was appointed the first resident pastor of Foster's Meadow in 1858. Rev. Peter Hartraub built a new rectory and, in 1887, a new school with four classrooms on the first floor and an auditorium on the second. The [[Dominican Sisters]] were invited to teach in the [[Catholic School]], and they built a [[convent]] on parish land donated to them.

The community underwent its next political reshuffling in 1882, being subdivided into districts with unique names and boundaries (including [[Alden Manor]] and [[Locustwood]]); it was at this time that Foster's Meadow was renamed Elmont. In 1902, a syndicate headed by [[August Belmont Jr.]] and former [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[William C. Whitney]] sought land on Long Island to build the most elaborate racetrack in America, one modeled after the great race courses of Europe. They found what they were looking for on the border of Queens County and Nassau County. [[Belmont Racetrack]], was arguably the most significant milestone in the development of modern-day Elmont. Originally known as Foster's Meadow, the 650 acres of land included [[Oaklands (mansion)|Oaklands]], a turreted Tudor-Gothic mansion owned by [[William de Forest Manice]], which was to serve as the track's Turf and Field Club until 1956.

With the opening of [[Belmont Park]] in 1905, Elmont reached a turning point in its history. The farms were sold, and subdivided for houses. Most of the new homes were owned by people, who worked at Belmont Racetrack. Many businesses were formed on [[Hempstead Turnpike]], to support the blooming suburban location. By 1915, the Racetrack was opened to the public, attracting both visitors and migrant workers to the area. Housing developments, and businesses grew in the area surrounding the racetrack to meet the needs of these workers; this process of development to meet the workers' needs continued in successive waves, ultimately representing a shift in Elmont from rural farmland to suburbia.

In 1910, [[Belmont Racetrack]] hosted the first [[air race]] ever in the [[United States|United States of America]]. [[Wright brothers|Wilbur and Orville Wright]] staged an international aerial competition at Belmont Park that drew 150 000 spectators. The race ran from Belmont Park to the [[Statue of Liberty]], and back to Belmont Park.

In 1918, the [[United States Postal Service]] delivered their first inter-city [[Air Mail]] Service between [[New York City]] and [[Washington, D.C.]] [[Belmont Park]] was designated as the delivery terminal for New York.

Belmont Park was the site of "War Relief Day" in 1940 to benefit the [[American Red Cross]] and in 1943 hosted "Back the Attack" Day, wherein fans had to buy a war bond to gain admission to the track. Total receipts that day were between $25 million and $30 million.

After the [[Second World War]], Elmont hosted widespread development of attractive suburban tract homes. Many of these homes were constructed with a brick-veneer ground story in variations of the [[Cape Cod (house)|Cape Cod style]], particularly around Dutch Broadway. On [[Hempstead Turnpike]], older smaller shingled homes cluster near [[Belmont Park]].

In 2017, New York State's Development Corporation ([[Empire State Development Corporation|Empire State Development]]) issued a Request for Proposals for a part of the Belmont Park Property to redevelop land on the property that would enhance the Park and surrounding communities. The two bidders for the site were [[New York City FC]] and the [[New York Islanders]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/public-meeting-sunday-on-belmont-park-plans-1.15311800|title=Public meeting Sunday on Belmont plans|work=Newsday|access-date=2017-12-07|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070644/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/public-meeting-sunday-on-belmont-park-plans-1.15311800|archive-date=December 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 19, 2017, various news reports surfaced, indicating that the state of New York had selected the Islanders' bid. On December 20, 2017, a news conference was held confirming those reports and a deal had been secured. Speakers included NHL Commissioner [[Gary Bettman]]. The result was construction of [[UBS Arena]] to become the new home arena for the Islanders. The arena opened in fall 2021.

=== Failed incorporation attempts ===
Elmont has made many attempts over the years to incorporate itself as a village.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=November 18, 1949|title=Elmont Debates Village Status|work=[[Newsday]]|via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref> It first attempted incorporating in 1931 but was unable to do so. The same thing happened again in 1940 and again in 1949. By then, the Nassau County charter had changed (it was amended in 1938) so as to mandate that any new village incorporated after 1938 adhere to Nassau County's zoning laws.<ref name=":0" />