LibGuides: Local History Resources: Village Incorporation and Municipal History

Village Incorporation

Original Incorporation Document
Freeport became an incorporated village in 1892. Freeport was the third town to incorporate in what would later become Nassau County (1899). Hempstead incorporated in 1853 and Sea Cliff did the same in 1883. Carman Cornelius served as Freeport's first President (mayor). Attached is the original record of incorporation. This document is archived at Village Hall. Photographed by Bob Moltzen.
Village Incorporation Preliminary Meeting Minutes, 1892
Original meeting minutes - scanned copy.
Village Incorporation Preliminary Minutes, 1892
Original meeting minutes - transcribed copy.

History of Freeport's Municipal Government

Village of Freeport, New York: The Municipal Government in Its Formative Years, 1892-1897, by Anna Jean Cacciatore
This document, written in 1964, was transcribed in 2012. The original copy of this paper is available at the Freeport Memorial Library ([Freeport Author] LI R 974.721 C). Anna Jean Cacciatore was a social studies teacher at Freeport High School. She also served as a Village Trustee (the second woman in Freeport to hold that position). Ms. Cacciatore later ran unsuccessfully for mayor. She died in 2012 at the age of 85.
Some Aspects of the Development of Freeport, Long Island 1897-1900, by Anna Jean Cacciatore
This paper, written in 1967, was scanned in 2016. The original copy is available at the Freeport Memorial Library ([FREEPORT AUTHOR] LI R 974.7211 C).

History of the Municipal Power Station

A Story of Freeport Municipal Power Station #1
By Clinton E. Metz, Village Historian

Police Court of the Incorporated Village of Freeport Nassau County, N.Y.

Police Court of the Incorporated Village of Freeport Nassau County, N.Y.
In 1962, Freeport celebrated its 70th anniversary of incorporation. On October 28, 1962, a program honoring past Freeport justices was held at Village Court. This document is a transcription of the presentation.
Biographies of Freeport's Police Court Justices
This document contains the biographies of Village Justices from 1894 to 1988. It was compiled by Cynthia J. Krieg, Village Historian

Village Newsletters

The newsletters of the Village of Freeport were originally sent to residents in their monthly electric bills. These newsletters chronicled events in the Village of Freeport and highlighted past historical events and noteworthy individuals. In 2012, the newsletters were scanned as part of a grant for government document. This publication began in May 1952.

Click here to access these newsletters.

Incorporation History

Freeport Was the Third Village Incorporation in Nassau County

1853 Hempstead
1883 Sea Cliff
1892 Freeport
1893 Rockville Centre
1897 Lawrence
1900 East Rockaway
1904 Farmingdale
1906 Mineola
1908 Floral Park
1910 Cedarhurst
1911 Lynbrook
1912 Woodsburgh
1913 Long Beach*
1919 Garden City
1921 Malverne
1922 Long Beach*
1924 Bellerose
1925 Hewlett Harbor
1925 South Floral Park
1925 Valley Stream
1926 Island Park
1927 Hewlett Neck
1927 New Hyde Park
1927 Stewart Manor
1928 Hewlett Bay Park
1962 Atlantic Beach

* Long Beach was first incorporated as a Village. It later became a City.

Click here for a list of Villages in the State of New York.

Local History Resources: Village Incorporation and Municipal History