Lake Success, New York

Lake Success, New York
Name	Lake Success
Settlement type	Village
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	New York
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Nassau
Subdivision type3	Town
Subdivision name3	North Hempstead

Lake Success, New York. Lake Success is an incorporated village located within the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. It is best known for serving as the temporary headquarters of the United Nations from 1946 to 1951. The village is a primarily residential community with significant corporate presence, situated adjacent to the Long Island Expressway.

History

The area was originally part of the Town of North Hempstead's common lands and saw early development with the construction of the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line. Its modern identity was shaped in the 1920s with the development of the Lake Success Estates by the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company. The village's pivotal historical moment came post-World War II, when the Security Council and Secretariat established their interim headquarters in the former Sperry Corporation plant, a facility vacated after the war. During this period, key diplomatic events occurred, including early debates on the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Partition of Palestine. Notable figures like Trygve Lie, Andrei Gromyko, and Eleanor Roosevelt were frequent visitors. After the UN relocated to its permanent Headquarters of the United Nations in Manhattan, the site transitioned to a major corporate office park, anchoring the village's economy.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.0 square miles, all of it land. It is bordered by Great Neck to the west, Manhasset to the south, and the Village of North Hills to the east. The area is part of the Great Neck Peninsula and lies within the Hempstead Harbor watershed. The village's namesake, Lake Success, is a small body of water located within the adjacent Lake Success Park.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 2,828. The village has consistently been one of the wealthiest communities in the United States, with a high median household income. A significant portion of the population identifies as Jewish, and there is a notable presence of residents with ancestry from Iran and other parts of the Middle East. The racial makeup is predominantly White, with growing Asian and multiracial communities.

Government and infrastructure

Lake Success operates under a village government with a mayor-trustee system within the larger jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead. The village is patrolled by the Nassau County Police Department's Third Precinct. Critical infrastructure includes proximity to the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) and the Long Island Rail Road's Great Neck station. The North Shore University Hospital part of the Northwell Health system, is a major regional medical center located just outside village boundaries. The village is also home to the corporate headquarters of Cantor Fitzgerald and 1-800-Flowers.

Education

Lake Success is served by the Great Neck Public Schools district. Students typically attend Lakeville Elementary School, one of the district's several elementary schools, before progressing to North Middle School and then Great Neck South High School. The village is also near several private institutions, including the North Shore Hebrew Academy and the All Saints' Episcopal Church Day School. Higher education resources are accessible at nearby Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.

Notable people

Notable current and former residents include businessman and philanthropist Charles B. Wang, co-founder of CA Technologies; television personality Kelly Ripa; actor and comedian Andy Kaufman; and former New York Giants player and executive Chris Mara. Famed attorney Johnnie Cochran also resided in the village.

Category:Villages in Nassau County, New York Category:Populated places on Long Island