Elmont is an unincorporated residential community and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Hempstead Hempstead, Nassau County Nassau County, in the U.S. state of New York New York. It lies along the western border of Nassau County, adjoining the New York City borough of Queens Queens, and forms part of the suburban eastern extension of the New York metropolitan area on Long Island Long Island.

Geography and character

Elmont is primarily a low-rise, residential neighborhood with single-family houses, small apartment buildings and local retail corridors. Its location immediately east of Queens gives it an urban-suburban transition character: many residents commute to jobs in the city while preserving a neighborhood feel. The community is compact and largely developed, with parks, schools and small commercial strips serving daily needs.

History and development

Settlement and suburban growth in Elmont followed the broader expansion of Long Island in the late 19th and 20th centuries as transportation links improved. The area developed from farmland into housing tracts and local businesses. A defining element of Elmont's history is Belmont Park, the horseracing complex located within the community's vicinity; the park and its signature event, the Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes, have shaped local identity and land use for more than a century.

Community, population and services

At the 2010 census the population was recorded as 33,198, reflecting a diverse community of long-term residents and newer arrivals. Local services include public and parochial schools, community centers, places of worship and neighborhood parks. Small businesses and service-oriented shops provide day-to-day commerce; residents also rely on nearby commercial centers in Nassau County and adjacent Queens for wider shopping and employment options.

Transportation and landmarks

Elmont is accessible via regional roads and public transit connections that serve Long Island and New York City. While not a large transit hub itself, the community benefits from bus routes and proximity to Long Island Rail Road corridors and several major parkways. Notable places in and near Elmont include:

  • Belmont Park — the prominent horseracing venue and home of the Belmont Stakes (race).
  • Local schools and community parks that serve families and seniors.
  • Shopping corridors and small-business districts linking Elmont to neighboring Nassau and Queens communities.

Elmont's borderline location next to Queens has made it a crossroads of suburban living and metropolitan access, giving residents quick routes into New York City while retaining many suburban amenities. For civic information and statistical summaries see municipal and county resources about the CDP census-designated place, the Town of Hempstead local government, and Nassau County county services. General New York state context is available through state information pages New York state, and regional planning or transportation resources often reference the community's place on Long Island and its relationship with neighboring Queens.