Editing Russell Gardens, New York (section)

== History ==
Russell Gardens was originally developed by Francis H. Knighton, who had previously played a small role in the Rickert–Finlay Realty Company, which developed the nearby community of [[Kensington, New York|Kensington]].<ref name=":81">{{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=90}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://0d257649-6164-421b-9cbc-5b5e904fdafc.filesusr.com/ugd/74c85e_560a15046a92489e8ed1efc9ef5d6798.pdf|title=Russell Gardens: The Golden Anniversary, 1931–1981: The Origins of the Village of Russell Gardens and the Russell Gardens Association|publisher=Incorporated Village of Russell Gardens, New York|year=1981}}</ref> The land was largely pastoral, and games of polo were often played in the open fields.<ref name=":1" />

The majority of the 135-acre (55 ha) area now encompassing the village was originally part of the estate of Captain Frederick Russell.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" /> The estate had previously been owned by the Schenck family and subsequently by the Haviland family.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" /> Other areas were purchased from Arthur Cushman, as well as from others. After purchasing the land, Knighton quickly started to develop it, and chose to name his development after Captain Russel by naming it Russell Gardens; the name would become Russell Gardens, Incorporated when Knighton opted to incorporate the syndicate which had been assisting him in the financing of his endeavors.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" />

The group would continue developing the community, laying out streets, utilities, and parkland. They opted to place all of the community's wiring underground and had landscaper J.J. Levinson landscape for the community.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" />

In 1931, around the same time when neighboring [[Thomaston, New York|Thomaston]] proposed incorporating itself and potentially taking in this development as part of their village, the residents felt that in order to maintain the character of their community, it would be imperative for them to incorporate Russell Gardens as a separate village in order to create and pass their own zoning ordinances.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Hirschhorn|first=Susan|date=1987|title=A History of Thomaston|work=The Great Neck Record|url=https://www.villageofthomaston.org/Forms%20and%20Apps/A%20History%20of%20Thomaston.pdf|access-date=June 18, 2020}}</ref> Subsequently, the majority of Russell Gardens residents ultimately voted in favor of incorporation that year, and Russell Gardens officially became its own incorporated village on September 23, 1931.<ref name=":81" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1931 |title=OPPOSE INCORPORATING OF ROSLYN HARBOR; Three Property Owners Object to Plan--Plea of Russell Gardens Is Granted. New Sewer Section Starts Soon. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/08/18/archives/oppose-incorporating-of-roslyn-harbor-three-property-owners-object.html |access-date=July 9, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 1981, Russell Gardens established its own Village Justice Court; its establishment allowed for the village to begin handling traffic- and municipal code-related issues locally.<ref name=":1" />