Editing Plainedge, New York (section)

== History ==
Plainedge was originally acquired from [[Massapequa, New York|Marsapeque]] Indian chiefs Sowwamacus, Wm Choppy, Soureekenny, Wamassum, Sascomoma and Ruampass land as part of the [[Bethpage Purchase]] of 1687 by [[Thomas Powell (American landowner)|Thomas Powell]] of the Huntington settlement. At the time, initial purchases from various settlers would occupy the "Plain Edge District" within various districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Long Island Genealogies |url=https://longislandgenealogy.com/LIGenealogies.html |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=longislandgenealogy.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Gibbs |first=Iris and Alonzo |title=Plain Edge: An Account of its History |pages=}}</ref> The first of note came in 1690, through the efforts of eighteen joint ventures, with the purchase of the "West Neck" that occupied the western arena of Plainedge. In 1694, William Frost purchased all land south of Boundary Avenue, which was gifted to him by Indians Chippie, Maomie and Seruckon. There was still a remainder of land yet to be obtained, however. Through the efforts of Powell, the "Rim of the Woods Purchase"<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Iris and Alonzo |title=Plain Edge An Account of its History |url=https://plainedgelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/anacctof.pdf |access-date=February 11, 2025 |website=Plainedge Library}}</ref> of 1699 acquired the remaining land in the northern section of Plainedge (Boundary Avenue, north to Old Motor Parkway, and Hicksville Road east to Cedar Drive).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gibbs, Iris and Alonzo |title=Harking Back – An Account of the Bethpage Purchase and Sundry Long Island Events, Persons, and Places |publisher=Kinsman Publications |year=1984 |edition=2nd |pages=297}}</ref>

The earliest developments of Plainedge past these purchases would manifest through the efforts of landowners and their African slaves.<ref name=":2" /> In the late eighteenth century to early nineteenth century, landowners would facilitate and oversee the development of roads, highways, and offices. Meanwhile, in the Township of Oyster Bay, slaves would tend to agriculture, tailoring, and [[whaling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slavery on Long Island |url=https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/library/libspc_soli.pdf |access-date=February 11, 2025 |website=hofstra.edu}}</ref> As for the females, they were the designated homemakers, whose duties pertained to cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. These practices would persist until 1817, when New York legislators enforced the gradual emancipation within the next ten years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landy |first=Craig |date=June 7, 2017 |title=When Did Slavery End in New York? |url=https://history.nycourts.gov/when-did-slavery-end-in-new-york/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |website=Historical Society of the New York Courts}}</ref> By 1823, slavery had fully ceased in Plainedge.<ref name=":2" />

Plainedge would continue to flourish as a hotbed for agriculture. Amidst the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and [[World War I]], residents were relied upon to farm cabbages, cucumbers, and potatoes. Towards the middle of the twentieth century, these industries would slowly cease operations as a blight fell upon the soil, and the State Department of Agriculture placed agricultural restrictions against areas with the presence of [[Globodera rostochiensis|Golden Nematodes]].

Historian Richard Winsche notes that the "Plain Edge" area was alternatively called "Turkeyville" in the early 1800s, with the area becoming known for its thriving poultry farms; particularly, the inhabitants and their efficiency to raise turkeys.<ref name=":1" /> By 1845, with official maps being drafted for school districting, "Turkeyville" fell out of use.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Winsche |first=Richard A. |title=The History of Nassau County Community Place-Names |publisher=Long Island Studies Institute |year=1999 |isbn=1-55787-154-X |editor-last=Naylor |editor-first=Natalie A. |location=Interlaken |pages=79–80 |language=en-US |lccn=99-47636}}</ref> The current name, "Plainedge", is of English origin and stems from the geographical description of the [[Hempstead Plains]] edge, which stemmed from [[Massapequa, New York|Massapequa]] to [[Westbury, New York|Westbury]].