Real Estate For Sale: Search Baxter Estates, NY

Baxter Estates is a Village in the Town of North Hempstead, located in Nassau County New York.

Baxter Estates is graced by the beautiful vista of Manhasset Bay, and is known for its park-like setting, wooded parkland areas and the watershed Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve at Baxter's Pond which lies in the center of the Village. Residents prize the village’s peaceful and friendly atmosphere and its stock of oaks and other majestic trees which give the village its special character. The village was incorporated in 1931 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006.

The history of Baxter Estates dates back to the days before the arrival of the first settlers when the Matinecock Indians lived on the entire Port Washington peninsula. The Indians were hunters and fishermen and being of a peaceful nature, caused the early settlers little difficulty. Eventually, many were employed by the Cow Neck seafarers as sailors.

By the mid 17th century the permanent settlement of Cow Neck was established. The area was so named because the land was enclosed as common pasture for cattle belonging to farmers owning large tracts of land. Its growth was very slow in pre-Revolutionary days.

One of the earliest homesteads on Cow Neck was built in 1673 by John Betts and Robert Hutchings and still stands on its original site at the corner of Central Drive and Shore Road, overlooking Manhasset Bay. In 1741 or 1743 the home was purchased by Oliver Baxter. An early survey of the Baxter land shows an Indian wigwam located near Baxter’s Pond, evidence that an entire wigwam village probably existed on the very site of this house.

Today one of Baxter Estates’ biggest assets is the beautiful, hilly nature of the Village that was partially carved from a sandbank. In 1910 Charles (Buck) Hyde, one of the leading realtors of Baxter Estates’ home sites, described the Village as “… a private estate divided into home sites of exceptional desirability…in natural beauty, in location, this property is extremely fortunate.” The residents today would agree with those words from that early Hyde and Baxter promotion pamphlet. The pamphlet went on to describe Baxter Estates as “…an all year round home place, delightful in summer – yet the winter season holds much charm…the long rolling grades afford fine coasting, the lakes excellent skating.” Those were the days of sleighing down Central Drive and north onto Shore Road right to the Mill Pond.

Today many of the turn-of-the-century and older buildings still exist on the northern, or "Village side" of lower Main Street, and many owners have maintained the charm and character of these structures by preserving their original facades as much as possible. The history of Baxter Estates is linked to many of these historic structures and locations. In 2003, the Board of Trustees enacted a Landmark Preservation Law to enable the Village to ensure that worthy structures are preserved.

The Village of Baxter Estates was incorporated in 1931. In 1930, the nearby Village of Manorhaven was formed after it became dissatisfied with the Zoning Code of the Town. The residents of Baxter Estates feared being annexed by Manorhaven, and so incorporated to avoid substantial taxes that would have been incurred if annexation had been allowed.

The growth of the Village over the many years since its incorporation has been carefully monitored through strict zoning and other ordinances. Preserving the distinctive residential area and the historical charm of the small business district are the primary concerns for the Boards of Trustees and Zoning Appeals, as well as the majority of the residents living there.

Map of Baxter Estates, New York