Levittown, New York
Encyclopedia
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island
in Nassau County, New York
. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead
and Farmingdale
. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881.
Levittown gets its name from its builder, the firm of Levitt & Sons, Inc. founded by William Levitt
, who built the district as a planned community
between 1947 and 1951. William Levitt is considered the father of modern suburbia. Levittown was the first truly mass-produced suburb
and is widely regarded as the archetype for postwar suburbs throughout the country.
and Alfred, built four planned communities called "Levittown" (in New York
, Pennsylvania
, New Jersey
, and Puerto Rico
), but Levittown, New York, was the first. Additionally, Levitt and Sons designs feature prominently in the older portion of Buffalo Grove, Illinois
, Vernon Hills, Illinois, Willingboro, New Jersey, and the Belair section of Bowie, Maryland
.
The Levitt firm began before World War II, as a builder of custom homes in upper middle-class communities on Long Island. During the war, however, the homebuilding industry languished under a general embargo on private use of scarce raw materials. William "Bill" Levitt served in the Navy, and developed expertise in mass-production building of military housing using uniform and interchangeable parts. During this same period, he was insistent that a postwar building boom would require similar mass-production housing, and was able to purchase options on large swaths of onion and potato fields in undeveloped sections of Long Island.
Returning to the firm after war's end, Bill Levitt persuaded his father and brother to embrace the utilitarian systems of construction he had learned, and with his architect-brother, Alfred, designed a small house on one floor and an unfinished "expansion attic" that could be rapidly constructed and as rapidly rented out to returning GIs and their young families. Levitt and Sons built the community with an eye towards speed, efficiency, and cost-effective construction; these methods led to a production rate of 30 houses a day by July 1948.
They used pre-cut lumber and nails shipped from their own factories in Blue Lake, California
, and built on concrete slabs, as they had done in a previous planned community in Norfolk, Virginia
. This necessitated negotiating a change in the building code, which prior to the building of this community, did not permit concrete slabs. Given the urgent need for housing in the region, the town agreed. Levitt and Sons also controversially utilized non-union
contractors in the project.
The planned 2,000 home rental community was quickly successful, with the New York Herald Tribune
reporting that half of the properties had been rented within two days of the community being announced on May 7, 1947. As demand continued, exceeding availability, the Levitts expanded their project with 4,000 more homes, as well as community services, including schools and postal delivery. With the full implementation of federal government supports for housing, administered under the Federal Housing Administration
(FHA
), the Levitt firm switched from rental to sale of their houses, offering ownership on a 30-year mortgage with no down payment and monthly costs the same as rental. The resulting surge in demand pressed the firm to further expand its development, which changed its name from Island Trees to Levittown shortly thereafter.
From the first, the Levitt development was racially segregated; a "restrictive covenant"
in the original rental agreement, which migrated to the sales agreement, stipulated that houses could not be rented or sold to any but members of the "Caucasian" race. Only well after the 1954 racial integration decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education
, was Levittown racially integrated, and even as late as the 1990 census only a tiny fraction of the community was non-white, a stigma that still exists till this day.
While the Levitts are generally credited with designing a postwar "planned community", with common public amenities such as swimming pools and community centers, they were quick to release these high-maintenance, low-profit elements to the surrounding towns; the development sprawled across municipal boundaries, causing legal and administrative difficulties and requiring major initiatives within those existing municipalities to provide for and fund schools, sewage and water systems, and other infrastructure elements.
In 1949, Levitt and Sons changed focus, unveiling a new plan which it termed a "ranch
" house. Larger, 32 by, and more modern, these homes were only offered for sale, with a planned price of $7,990. The ranch homes were similar to the rental properties in that they were built on concrete slabs, included an expandable attic but no garage, and were heated with hot-water radiant heating
pipes. Five models were offered that were substantially identical with differences in details such as exterior color and window-placement. Again, demand was high, requiring that the purchasing process be streamlined as the assembly process had been, reaching the point that a buyer could walk through the process of selecting a house through contracting for its purchase in three minutes. This ranch model was altered in 1950 to include a carport and a built-in television. In 1951, a partially finished attic was added to the design.
Levittown proved successful. By 1951, it and surrounding regions included 17,447 homes constructed by Levitt and Sons.
"Levittown on the Sound" and Fire Island's Dunewood "Levittown on the Bay." Oddly enough, although Levittown is remembered largely for its homogeneity, the majority of houses in Levittown have by now been so thoroughly expanded and modified by their owners that their original architectural form can be somewhat difficult to see; however, with diligent observation, several original examples can still be seen today.
Levittown has become so ingrained in American culture that the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington would like to put on display an entire Levittown house. Bill Yeingst, a historian with Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Domestic Life Division said "An original ranch model would be ideal. We would like someone to donate their Levittown house, or we would like to find a donor to provide the funds so that we could secure a Levittown house." He noted that "The stories played out in suburban Levittown are the stories of America. They are stories important to everyone." Although "None of this is set in concrete," according to Mr. Yeingst, "the Levittown house would be dismantled at the site, transported to Washington and reconstructed. Then it would be exhibited along with other innovations in American home life."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the community has a total area of 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²). All of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Because of non-conforming postal codes, Levittown has a different border from the "Levittown, NY 11756" postal zone. There are several areas of Levittown that have a "Bethpage
, NY 11714", "Seaford
, NY 11783", "Wantagh
, NY 11793", "Hicksville
, NY 11801" or "Westbury
, NY 11590" mailing address.
is 7,717.5 per square mile (2,978.1/km²). There are 17,447 housing units at an average density of 2,531.9/sq mi (977.0/km²). The racial makeup of the area is 94.9% White, 0.01% African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.6% Asian, and 1.7% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In the community the population is spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the community is $79,923, and the median income for a family is $83,851 (these figures had risen to $95,979 and $99,845 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males have a median income of $94,803 versus $79,962 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP is $45,917. 1.0% of the population and 0.1% of families are below the poverty line
. Out of the total population, 0.2% of those under the age of 18 and 0.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
with 2,851 students and the Levittown Union Free School District
with 7,987 students. A small portion of the northwest corner of the hamlet is served by the East Meadow Union Free School District.
The Island Trees Union Free School District serves northeastern Levittown and hosts Island Trees High School
, Island Trees Memorial Middle School, Michael F. Stokes Elementary School,
and J. Fred Sparke Elementary School
In 1982, Island Trees gained national attention from the United States Supreme Court case Board of Education v. Pico
. The case determined that students' first amendment rights were violated when the school board removed several books it found objectionable from the high school's library.
The Levittown Union Free School District, which also serves North Wantagh and the northern portion of Seaford, has two high schools: Division Avenue
and General Douglas MacArthur, two middle schools: Wisdom Lane and Jonas Salk, and six elementary schools: Abbey Lane, East Broadway, Gardiners Avenue, Lee Road, Northside, and Summit Lane. The Levittown School District dates back to the 19th century, originally called the Jerusalem School District of the Town of Hempstead.
Private schools include the Maria Montessori School, The Progressive School of Long Island, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, and the South Shore Christian Elementary and Secondary School located in the former Geneva M Gallow Elementary School building. Vocational schools available are the Brittany Beauty School, Hunter Business School, and the New York Chiropractic College
.
provides service on its Main Line
from a station
in the neighboring hamlet of Bethpage
. The LIRR's Port Jefferson Branch
serves Hicksville station
to the north, while the Montauk Branch
stops at several closely spaced stations to the south. All three lines run from New York City
(usually Pennsylvania Station
) to points east on Long Island.
The Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps provides paramedic
level of care.
Fire:
Levittown is protected by three volunteer fire department
s, the Levittown Fire Department
with 231 members operating out of 3 stations, Station 3 of the East Meadow Fire Department
which covers portions of Levittown west of Division Avenue, and Station 2 of the Wantagh Fire Department
which serves portions of Levittown South of Abbey Lane School.
Police:
Levittown is patrolled by the eighth precinct of the Nassau County Police Department
post office, located at 180 Gardiners Ave.
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
and Farmingdale
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881.
Levittown gets its name from its builder, the firm of Levitt & Sons, Inc. founded by William Levitt
William Levitt
William Jaird Levitt was an American real-estate developer widely credited as the father of modern American suburbia. He came to symbolize the new suburban growth with his use of mass-production techniques to construct large developments of houses selling for under $10,000...
, who built the district as a planned community
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
between 1947 and 1951. William Levitt is considered the father of modern suburbia. Levittown was the first truly mass-produced suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and is widely regarded as the archetype for postwar suburbs throughout the country.
History
The building firm, Levitt and Sons, headed by Abraham Levitt and his two sons, WilliamWilliam Levitt
William Jaird Levitt was an American real-estate developer widely credited as the father of modern American suburbia. He came to symbolize the new suburban growth with his use of mass-production techniques to construct large developments of houses selling for under $10,000...
and Alfred, built four planned communities called "Levittown" (in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Pennsylvania
Levittown, Pennsylvania
Levittown is a census-designated place and planned community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 52,983 at the 2010 census. It is above sea level...
, New Jersey
Willingboro Township, New Jersey
Willingboro is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 31,629....
, and Puerto Rico
Levittown, Puerto Rico
Levittown, Puerto Rico, a suburb of the San Juan MSA and part of the municipality of Toa Baja, is one of the largest planned communities in Puerto Rico. It was developed by Levitt and Sons in 1963....
), but Levittown, New York, was the first. Additionally, Levitt and Sons designs feature prominently in the older portion of Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Buffalo Grove is an affluent village located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and in Cook and Lake counties in Illinois, United States. The town was named for Buffalo Creek, which was itself named for bison bones found in the area....
, Vernon Hills, Illinois, Willingboro, New Jersey, and the Belair section of Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
.
The Levitt firm began before World War II, as a builder of custom homes in upper middle-class communities on Long Island. During the war, however, the homebuilding industry languished under a general embargo on private use of scarce raw materials. William "Bill" Levitt served in the Navy, and developed expertise in mass-production building of military housing using uniform and interchangeable parts. During this same period, he was insistent that a postwar building boom would require similar mass-production housing, and was able to purchase options on large swaths of onion and potato fields in undeveloped sections of Long Island.
Returning to the firm after war's end, Bill Levitt persuaded his father and brother to embrace the utilitarian systems of construction he had learned, and with his architect-brother, Alfred, designed a small house on one floor and an unfinished "expansion attic" that could be rapidly constructed and as rapidly rented out to returning GIs and their young families. Levitt and Sons built the community with an eye towards speed, efficiency, and cost-effective construction; these methods led to a production rate of 30 houses a day by July 1948.
They used pre-cut lumber and nails shipped from their own factories in Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Blue Lake is located on the Mad River northeast of Eureka, at an elevation of 131 feet...
, and built on concrete slabs, as they had done in a previous planned community in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. This necessitated negotiating a change in the building code, which prior to the building of this community, did not permit concrete slabs. Given the urgent need for housing in the region, the town agreed. Levitt and Sons also controversially utilized non-union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
contractors in the project.
The planned 2,000 home rental community was quickly successful, with the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
reporting that half of the properties had been rented within two days of the community being announced on May 7, 1947. As demand continued, exceeding availability, the Levitts expanded their project with 4,000 more homes, as well as community services, including schools and postal delivery. With the full implementation of federal government supports for housing, administered under the Federal Housing Administration
Federal Housing Administration
The Federal Housing Administration is a United States government agency created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934. It insured loans made by banks and other private lenders for home building and home buying...
(FHA
FHA
FHA may mean:* Federal Housing Administration. See also FHA loan.* Federal Highway Administration* Civil Rights Act of 1968 -- In particular, Title VIII of the Act, also known as the Fair Housing Act* Forced Hot Air heating...
), the Levitt firm switched from rental to sale of their houses, offering ownership on a 30-year mortgage with no down payment and monthly costs the same as rental. The resulting surge in demand pressed the firm to further expand its development, which changed its name from Island Trees to Levittown shortly thereafter.
From the first, the Levitt development was racially segregated; a "restrictive covenant"
Restrictive covenant
A restrictive covenant is a type of real covenant, a legal obligation imposed in a deed by the seller upon the buyer of real estate to do or not to do something. Such restrictions frequently "run with the land" and are enforceable on subsequent buyers of the property...
in the original rental agreement, which migrated to the sales agreement, stipulated that houses could not be rented or sold to any but members of the "Caucasian" race. Only well after the 1954 racial integration decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
, was Levittown racially integrated, and even as late as the 1990 census only a tiny fraction of the community was non-white, a stigma that still exists till this day.
While the Levitts are generally credited with designing a postwar "planned community", with common public amenities such as swimming pools and community centers, they were quick to release these high-maintenance, low-profit elements to the surrounding towns; the development sprawled across municipal boundaries, causing legal and administrative difficulties and requiring major initiatives within those existing municipalities to provide for and fund schools, sewage and water systems, and other infrastructure elements.
In 1949, Levitt and Sons changed focus, unveiling a new plan which it termed a "ranch
Ranch-style house
Ranch-style houses is a domestic architectural style originating in the United States. First built in the 1920s, the ranch style was extremely popular amongst the booming post-war middle class of the 1940s to 1970s...
" house. Larger, 32 by, and more modern, these homes were only offered for sale, with a planned price of $7,990. The ranch homes were similar to the rental properties in that they were built on concrete slabs, included an expandable attic but no garage, and were heated with hot-water radiant heating
Radiant heating
Radiant heating is a technology for heating indoor and outdoor areas. Heating by radiant energy is observed everyday, the warmth of the sunshine being probably the most commonly observed example. Radiant heating as a technology is typically more narrowly defined...
pipes. Five models were offered that were substantially identical with differences in details such as exterior color and window-placement. Again, demand was high, requiring that the purchasing process be streamlined as the assembly process had been, reaching the point that a buyer could walk through the process of selecting a house through contracting for its purchase in three minutes. This ranch model was altered in 1950 to include a carport and a built-in television. In 1951, a partially finished attic was added to the design.
Levittown proved successful. By 1951, it and surrounding regions included 17,447 homes constructed by Levitt and Sons.
Place in American culture
As the first and one of the largest mass-produced suburbs, Levittown quickly became a symbol of postwar suburbia. Although Levittown provided affordable houses in what many residents felt to be a congenial community, critics decried its homogeneity, blandness, and racial exclusivity (the initial lease prohibited rental to non-whites). Today, "Levittown" is used as a term to describe overly sanitized suburbs consisting largely of identical housing. Similarly, places have earned names like "Levittown-of-X" or "Levittown-on-the-X" as seen in Long Island's BayvilleBayville
Bayville may refer to a community in the United States:* Bayville, Maine* Bayville, New Jersey* Bayville, New York...
"Levittown on the Sound" and Fire Island's Dunewood "Levittown on the Bay." Oddly enough, although Levittown is remembered largely for its homogeneity, the majority of houses in Levittown have by now been so thoroughly expanded and modified by their owners that their original architectural form can be somewhat difficult to see; however, with diligent observation, several original examples can still be seen today.
Levittown has become so ingrained in American culture that the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington would like to put on display an entire Levittown house. Bill Yeingst, a historian with Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Domestic Life Division said "An original ranch model would be ideal. We would like someone to donate their Levittown house, or we would like to find a donor to provide the funds so that we could secure a Levittown house." He noted that "The stories played out in suburban Levittown are the stories of America. They are stories important to everyone." Although "None of this is set in concrete," according to Mr. Yeingst, "the Levittown house would be dismantled at the site, transported to Washington and reconstructed. Then it would be exhibited along with other innovations in American home life."
Geography
Levittown is located at 40°43'28" North, 73°30'40" West (40.724468, -73.511191).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the community has a total area of 17.8 km² (6.9 mi²). All of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Because of non-conforming postal codes, Levittown has a different border from the "Levittown, NY 11756" postal zone. There are several areas of Levittown that have a "Bethpage
Bethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
, NY 11714", "Seaford
Seaford, New York
Seaford is a census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 15,294 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Seaford is located at ....
, NY 11783", "Wantagh
Wantagh, New York
Wantagh is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States...
, NY 11793", "Hicksville
Hicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
, NY 11801" or "Westbury
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
, NY 11590" mailing address.
Demographics
As of the U.S. Census Estimate of 2009, there are 53,017 people, 17,207 households, and 14,031 families residing in the community. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 7,717.5 per square mile (2,978.1/km²). There are 17,447 housing units at an average density of 2,531.9/sq mi (977.0/km²). The racial makeup of the area is 94.9% White, 0.01% African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.6% Asian, and 1.7% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In the community the population is spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the community is $79,923, and the median income for a family is $83,851 (these figures had risen to $95,979 and $99,845 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males have a median income of $94,803 versus $79,962 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP is $45,917. 1.0% of the population and 0.1% of families are below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
. Out of the total population, 0.2% of those under the age of 18 and 0.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
Levittown is served primarily by two public school districts, the Island Trees Union Free School DistrictIsland Trees Union Free School District
Island Trees Union Free School District is a school district in central Nassau County on Long Island, approximately 31 miles east of New York City. The district includes parts of the following hamlets; Levittown, Bethpage and Seaford....
with 2,851 students and the Levittown Union Free School District
Levittown Union Free School District
Levittown Union Free School District is a school district in central Nassau County on Long Island, approximately ten miles east of New York City. The district approximately includes parts of the following hamlets; Levittown, North Wantagh, and Seaford...
with 7,987 students. A small portion of the northwest corner of the hamlet is served by the East Meadow Union Free School District.
The Island Trees Union Free School District serves northeastern Levittown and hosts Island Trees High School
Island Trees High School
The Island Trees High School is a coeducational 9-12 high school located at 59 Straight Lane, Levittown, New York, 11756 on Long Island. It is a part of the Island Trees Union Free School District, 31.0 miles east of Manhattan. The school offers various clubs, electives, and AP courses.The Island...
, Island Trees Memorial Middle School, Michael F. Stokes Elementary School,
and J. Fred Sparke Elementary School
In 1982, Island Trees gained national attention from the United States Supreme Court case Board of Education v. Pico
Island Trees School District v. Pico
Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 , was a case in which the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment limits the power of local school boards to remove library books from junior high schools and high schools.-Facts:...
. The case determined that students' first amendment rights were violated when the school board removed several books it found objectionable from the high school's library.
The Levittown Union Free School District, which also serves North Wantagh and the northern portion of Seaford, has two high schools: Division Avenue
Division Avenue High School
Division Avenue High School is a four-year public high school located at 120 Division Avenue in Levittown, New York. It is one of two traditional high schools in the Levittown Union Free School District and one of four high schools in the hamlet of Levittown in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau...
and General Douglas MacArthur, two middle schools: Wisdom Lane and Jonas Salk, and six elementary schools: Abbey Lane, East Broadway, Gardiners Avenue, Lee Road, Northside, and Summit Lane. The Levittown School District dates back to the 19th century, originally called the Jerusalem School District of the Town of Hempstead.
Private schools include the Maria Montessori School, The Progressive School of Long Island, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, and the South Shore Christian Elementary and Secondary School located in the former Geneva M Gallow Elementary School building. Vocational schools available are the Brittany Beauty School, Hunter Business School, and the New York Chiropractic College
New York Chiropractic College
New York Chiropractic College is a leading natural healthcare academic institution located in Seneca Falls, NY. It is one of 18 Chiropractic Colleges in the United States. The school was founded in New York City as Columbia Institute of Chiropractic by Dr. Frank Dean in 1919...
.
Transportation
Although there is no passenger rail service in Levittown proper, the Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
provides service on its Main Line
Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)
The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
from a station
Bethpage (LIRR station)
Bethpage Station is a station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at Stewart Avenue and Jackson Avenue, in Bethpage, New York, and serves Ronkonkoma Branch trains...
in the neighboring hamlet of Bethpage
Bethpage, New York
Bethpage is a hamlet located on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, as well as a census-designated place with borders slightly different from those of the hamlet...
. The LIRR's Port Jefferson Branch
Port Jefferson Branch
The Port Jefferson Branch is a rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch splits from the Main Line just east of Hicksville and runs northeast and east to Port Jefferson...
serves Hicksville station
Hicksville (LIRR station)
Hicksville is a station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road located in Hicksville, New York. It is the busiest station east of Jamaica by combined weekday/weekend ridership...
to the north, while the Montauk Branch
Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
stops at several closely spaced stations to the south. All three lines run from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(usually Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
) to points east on Long Island.
Emergency services
Ambulance:The Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps provides paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
level of care.
Fire:
Levittown is protected by three volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
s, the Levittown Fire Department
Levittown Fire Department
Levittown Fire Department is a volunteer fire department that is responsible for over in Levittown, New York. The Levittown Fire Department has 240 members operating out of 3 stations....
with 231 members operating out of 3 stations, Station 3 of the East Meadow Fire Department
East Meadow Fire Department
The East Meadow Fire Department is a volunteer fire department headquartered in East Meadow, New York. As one of the larger fire districts in Nassau County , it is responsible for parts of neighboring hamlets and unincorporated communities of Levittown, Westbury, Uniondale, and East Garden City...
which covers portions of Levittown west of Division Avenue, and Station 2 of the Wantagh Fire Department
Wantagh Fire Department
The Wantagh Fire Department is a volunteer fire department headquartered in Wantagh, New York. As one of the largest fire districts in Nassau County , it is responsible for parts of neighboring Bellmore, Levittown and Seaford hamlets as well as Jones Beach Island...
which serves portions of Levittown South of Abbey Lane School.
Police:
Levittown is patrolled by the eighth precinct of the Nassau County Police Department
Post office
Levittown has one main USPSUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
post office, located at 180 Gardiners Ave.
Notable residents
- Brand NewBrand NewBrand New is an American rock band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 2000, the band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Jesse Lacey, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Vincent Accardi, bassist Garrett Tierney, drummer Brian Lane, and guitarist/keyboardist Derrick Sherman.In the late...
band (fl. 2000–) members Jesse LaceyJesse LaceyJesse Thomas Lacey is an American musician from Levittown, New York. He is the frontman of the band Brand New.-Musical career:...
(1978), Vin Accardi, Brian Lane, and Garrett Tierney - BrimstoneBrimstone (wrestler)William M. Kucmierowski is an American professional wrestler, actor, author, and philanthropist who is better known by his shortened name Will Kaye or his ring name, Brimstone....
(1974), professional wrestler, actor, author - "Irish" Bobby CassidyBobby CassidyBobby Cassidy, born April 19, 1944, is a former professional boxer who fought from 1963 to 1980. Although born and raised in New York, Cassidy is of Irish lineage and fought under the name, "Irish" Bobby Cassidy....
(Apr. 19, 1944), world-rated junior middleweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiser weight boxer. In 1975, he was ranked number one in the world as a light heavyweight by the World Boxing CouncilWorld Boxing CouncilThe World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo... - High School Football HeroesHigh School Football HeroesHigh School Football Heroes were a ska punk band from Long Island, New York. HSFH blended the sound of 3rd wave ska with indie rock, drawing comparisons to acts such as Less Than Jake, Taking Back Sunday and Sublime. The band released two records with Asbestos Records and Orange Peel Distribution...
members: David Solomon, George Argyrou, Joe Masterson, Chris Askin, Rob Kirkner - Kevin CovaisKevin CovaisKevin Patrick Covais is a fifth-season American Idol finalist from Levittown, New York. He was the second finalist eliminated from the competition on March 22, 2006, making him the eleventh-place finalist. He is also an actor in the movie College....
(1989), 2006 American Idol finalist - John A. GamblingJohn A. GamblingJohn Alfred Gambling was an American radio personality. He was member of the Gambling family, three generations of whom - John B., John A. and John R...
(1930–2004), morning radio host on WOR 710 - Ellie GreenwichEllie GreenwichEleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
(1940), Hall of Fame Songwriter, "Brill Building" pop composer - Bill Griffith (Jan. 20, 1944), cartoonist Zippy the PinheadZippy the PinheadZippy is an American comic strip created by Bill Griffith. The character of Zippy the Pinhead initially appeared in underground publications during the 1970s...
- Peter Gruenwald (1912–1979), 1978 Lufthansa heistLufthansa heistThe Lufthansa heist was a robbery at John F. Kennedy International Airport on December 11, 1978. An estimated $5 million in cash and $875,000 in jewels were stolen, at the time making it the largest cash robbery ever committed on American soil...
conspirator - Marc Kantor (October 3rd, 1986), Guitarist for Patent Pending, Rode a bicycle from Levittown to San Diego California for American Heart Association
- Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
(May 9, 1949), singer/songwriter, grew up on Meeting Lane in a Levitt built section of Hicksville, New YorkHicksville, New YorkHicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census... - Brian KilcommonsBrian KilcommonsBrian Kilcommons is an American dog trainer. He is a protégé of the late Barbara Woodhouse and the only North-American to have studied under Woodhouse in Great Britain.Kilcommons grew up in Levittown, New York...
(1953), famous American dog trainer - Donnie KlangDonnie KlangDonald Joseph Klang, better known as Donnie Klang, is an American singer, songwriter, producer and model. He won Making the Band 4 and was awarded his own solo contract by Diddy. He released his debut album, Just a Rolling Stone in late 2008....
(1985), hip-hop singer - Cyril M. KornbluthCyril M. KornbluthCyril M. Kornbluth was an American science fiction author and a notable member of the Futurians. He used a variety of pen-names, including Cecil Corwin, S. D. Gottesman, Edward J. Bellin, Kenneth Falconer, Walter C. Davies, Simon Eisner and Jordan Park...
(1923–1958), author - Miss UnderstoodMiss UnderstoodMiss Understood is an American drag queen originally from Levittown, New York, who has been based in New York City since the late 1980s. She was a prominent figure in the East Village drag scene of the early 1990s which revolved around the legendary Pyramid Club and Wigstock, an annual open air...
(Alex Heimberg,), drag artist, actor and businessperson. - Eddie MoneyEddie MoneyEddie Money is an American rock guitarist, saxophonist and singer-songwriter who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums...
(Mar. 3, 1949), musician of "Two Tickets to Paradise" fame attended Island Trees High School though he lived in adjacent Plainedge, New YorkPlainedge, New YorkPlainedge is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 8,817 at the 2010 census.Plainedge is a census-designated place located in the Town of Oyster Bay, residents are served by the Bethpage , Massapequa , and Seaford Post Offices, with a small number of residents... - Sterling MorrisonSterling MorrisonHolmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
(1942–1995), guitarist with The Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet UndergroundThe Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited... - Bill O'ReillyBill O'Reilly (political commentator)William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
(Sep. 10, 1949), political commentator, was raised in a Levitt-built part of the adjacent community of SalisburySalisbury, Nassau County, New YorkSalisbury is a hamlet and census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 12,093 at the 2010 census. Many but not all are housed in Levitt style homes adjacent to Eisenhower Park, formerly Salisbury Park. The region is also known by locals as South Westbury,...
(sometimes identified as WestburyWestbury, New YorkWestbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
) - Tom KapinosTom KapinosTom Kapinos is a Greek-American television executive producer and screenwriter best known for his creation of the television series Californication....
(1969) Screenwriter Dawson's CreekDawson's CreekDawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series which debuted on January 20, 1998, on The WB Television Network and was produced by Sony Pictures Television. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Capeside, Massachusetts, and in Boston, Massachusetts, during the later seasons...
and Creator, Executive Producer CalifornicationCalifornication (TV series)Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend... - Maureen TuckerMaureen TuckerMaureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
(Aug. 26, 1944), drummer for The Velvet Underground - Damian MaffeiDamian MaffeiDamian Paul Maffei is an American actor known for his work on stage and in independent movies. Maffei is especially heralded for his work in horror films, including the highly-touted Closed for the Season.-Early Life:...
(June 27, 1977), actor (Closed for the Season) - Brian KennyBrian KennyBrian Kenny may refer to:*Brian Kenny , MLB Network personality and journalist*Brian Kenny , Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick*Brian Kenny , British Army General...
(born October 18, 1963) is a sportscaster for the MLB Network. He previously worked for ESPN, where he most recently anchored the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter for ESPN, served as the host of ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. and had his own show on ESPN Radio named The Brian Kenny Show.
In the media
- PBS series "Race: The Power of an Illusion," 3-part video by California Newsreel, features the towns Levittown and nearby Roosevelt in documenting systemic racism in the development of the suburbs and the impact of seemingly color-blind policy. They show the actual page of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) manual explicitly redlining families of color from being able to buy in Levittown-like suburbs until 1966, as well as other policies having to do with Levittown and similar suburbs. The series is available in libraries.
- A popular song by the Famous Long Island band Patent Pending "The L-Town Shakedown" formally "Levittown is for Lovers" is about this town.
- The 1954 Levittown documentary A City Is Born featured an interview with creator William J. Levitt, aerial views of the development, and a 45-second time-lapse sequence showing one of the houses being constructed.
- In 1962, singing comedian Allan ShermanAllan ShermanAllan Sherman was an American comedy writer and television producer who became famous as a song parodist in the early 1960s. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer , became the fastest-selling record album up to that time...
(famous for his novelty hit of life at summer camp, Hello Muddah, Hello FadduhHello Muddah, Hello Fadduh"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh " is a Grammy Award-winning novelty song by Allan Sherman, based on letters of complaint he received from his son Robert while Robert attended Camp Champlain in Westport, New York. The song is a parody that complains about the fictional "Camp Granada" and is set to the...
) poked fun in his album My Son, the Folk SingerMy Son, the Folk SingerMy Son, the Folk Singer is an album by Allan Sherman [monophonic W-1475/stereophonic WS-1475], released by Warner Bros. Records in 1962. On the album sleeve, the title appears directly below the words "Allan Sherman's mother presents."- Side One :...
with a parody of Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
's Jamaica FarewellJamaica Farewell"Jamaica Farewell" is a calypso about the beauties of the West Indian Islands.The lyrics for the song were written by Lord Burgess . Lord Burgess was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926. His mother was from Barbados and his father was from Virginia. The song first appeared on Harry Belafonte's...
: "I'm upside down. My head is turning around. Cause I've got to sell the house, in Levittown." - The Lockhorns of Levittown — later simply The LockhornsThe LockhornsThe Lockhorns is a United States single-panel cartoon created in 1968 by Bill Hoest and distributed by King Features Syndicate to 500 newspapers in 23 countries. It is continued today by Bunny Hoest and John Reiner.-Characters and story:...
— sprang from the pen of cartoonist Bill HoestBill HoestBill Hoest was an American cartoonist best known as the creator of the gag panel series, The Lockhorns, distributed by King Features Syndicate to 500 newspapers in 23 countries, and Laugh Parade for Parade...
on newspaper funny pages in 1968. A graduate of Cooper Union in Manhattan, Hoest moved to Long Island, where he created the suburban couple Leroy, tippling girl watcher, and Lorretta, wisecracking roast burner. The strip lived on when John ReinerJohn ReinerJohn Reiner is a cartoonist who collaborates with writer Bunny Hoest on three cartoon series: The Lockhorns, syndicated by King Features, and Laugh Parade and Howard Huge ....
and Hoest's widow, BunnyBunny HoestBunny Hoest , sometimes labeled The Cartoon Lady, is the writer of several cartoon series, including The Lockhorns, Laugh Parade and Howard Huge, all of which she inherited from her late husband Bill Hoest...
, took over after Hoest's death in 1988. - "Former high school teacher Gene Horowitz bodice-ripping 1980 novel, The Ladies of Levittown, featured a titillating account of America's most famous suburb, scandalizing many residents, who recognized their own lives depicted in the pages. The saga — taking place between 1947 and 1978 — pushes back the drapes, offering insight into the passions and disappointments of middle-class women as they struggle to reconcile their relationships with husbands, lovers and children."
- In the 1982 musical, Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
, AudreyAudreyAudrey is a given name. It is also the name of Saint Audrey or Saint Æthelthryt, a 7th century saint. Audrey was the 51st most popular name for girls born in 2007 in the United States and was the 173rd most common name for females in the United States in the 1990 census. It was also ranked in the...
, the slum dwelling heroine, dreams of a home "Somewhere that's Green" but "Not fancy like Levittown. Just a little street in a little suburb...[where] all the houses are so neat and pretty, 'cause they all look just alike." - 1985 W. D. Wetherell published short story, The Man Who Loved Levittown, in a collection of the same name. The Library JournalLibrary JournalLibrary Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
reviewed the story (an O'Henry prizewinner) as "a World War II vet buys a house in Levittown where he spends the best years of his life. His wife has died, his grown children have left, and one by one his neighbors are selling out and moving to Florida. Beneath the talky, narrative voice of this story you discover the internal logic of a man pushed beyond reason to a desperate act". - Stewart Bird's 1994 documentary Building The American Dream: Levittown, NY explores Levitt's vision of rapidly constructing inexpensive tract homes, featuring rare archival footage and photos, an interview with Levitt, and the reminiscences of numerous Levittown residents (including singer Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
). - October 24, 1997, Wonderland, a satirical documentary about Levittown (produced and directed by John O'Hagan) premiered at TriBeCaTriBeCaTribeca is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. Its name is an acronym based on the words "Triangle below Canal Street", and is properly bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street...
. A New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
review described it as follows: "The collective picture that emerges suggests a smug city slicker's condescending view of what could be almost any American small town." - In 2003, Helen Harvey published a remembrance Eating Corn through a Picket Fence of which she writes "My mom and dad were Veterans of WWII. I consider myself a veteran of having lived with them. Levittown was a community of veterans where we all soothed our pains with sex, drugs and rock and roll."
- Anna Shapiro published a 2006 teen oriented book Living on Air. It's described by the publisher as about "Maude Pugh...(who)...was raised in Levittown, Long Island. By the time she attended high school she concluded her parents were colossal failures who hid in a community in which all exterior houses were identical to one another."
- In 2006, Marc Palmieri's play Levittown was performed at the Axis Theater in New York. As reviewed by The Village VoiceThe Village VoiceThe Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
: "We don't typically quibble with Leo TolstoyLeo TolstoyLev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
, but are unhappy families really so different? Or are they rather like the endless rows of postwar homes that William Levitt built on Long Island?" - On April 16, 2007, Levittown man Marc Kantor began riding his bicycle from Levittown, New York to San Diego, California. His mission was to help raise money and awareness for The American Heart Association. A portion of the proceeds were also donated to the Rhiannon Chloe Foundation, a foundation started to help children in need with leukemia. He successfully completed this on June 7, 2007.
- On Friday, November 9, 2007, Levitt and Sons of Fort Lauderdale became the nation's largest builder to file for bankruptcy as the housing market boom of the early 21st century continued to crumble.
- An aerial view of Levittown appears on the inner sleeve of the Billy Joel LP, The Nylon CurtainThe Nylon CurtainThe Nylon Curtain is the eighth studio album by Billy Joel. It was released by Columbia Records on September 23, 1982 and produced by Phil Ramone....
. - Levittown was featured on the February 2, 2010, episode entitled "Home Wrecked Home" of Life After People: The Series on the History Channel.
- In July 2009 a to-scale original Levitt house was constructed at the Theatre at Saint Clement's in New York City for a revival of Marc Palmieri's play "Levittown." The set was designed by Michele Spadaro. Steven McElroy of the New York Times wrote a feature article in the Sunday Arts and Leisure section, "That Family Room? It Has a Certain Star Quality" on July 8, 2009.
- Levittown is paralleled by the fictional "Bloomtown," the suburban community featured in author Michael ChabonMichael ChabonMichael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. - Levittown is featured in the Planet P ProjectPlanet P ProjectPlanet P Project is a science-fiction themed, progressive rock band; it is run as a side venture by frontman Tony Carey, for his more experimental music. It has released five albums: Planet P ; Pink World ; Go Out Dancing, Part I ; Go Out Dancing, Part II ; and, Go Out Dancing, Part III ...
album "Levittown (Go Out Dancing, Vol. II)", an album based upon life in post-war America and the early space ageSpace AgeThe Space Age is a time period encompassing the activities related to the Space Race, space exploration, space technology, and the cultural developments influenced by these events. The Space Age is generally considered to have begun with Sputnik...
and atomic ageAtomic AgeThe Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is a phrase typically used to delineate the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear bomb Trinity on July 16, 1945...
. The title song paints Levittown as an "American Dream" of conformity. - "Is There Life After Levittown?", comic story about growing up in Levittown by Bill Griffith, "Lemme Outa Here Comics", 1978
See also
- Levittown, PennsylvaniaLevittown, PennsylvaniaLevittown is a census-designated place and planned community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 52,983 at the 2010 census. It is above sea level...
- Levittown, Puerto RicoLevittown, Puerto RicoLevittown, Puerto Rico, a suburb of the San Juan MSA and part of the municipality of Toa Baja, is one of the largest planned communities in Puerto Rico. It was developed by Levitt and Sons in 1963....
- Willingboro Township, New JerseyWillingboro Township, New JerseyWillingboro is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 31,629....
- another Levittown which has since reverted to its original name
External links
- Levittown: Documents of an Ideal American Suburb Peter Bacon HalesPeter Bacon HalesPeter Bacon Hales is an American historian, photographer, author, and musician specializing in American spaces and landscapes, the history of photography, and contemporary art.-Biography:...
, Art History Department, University of Illinois at Chicago - Levittown Historical Society
- Little Boxes, Little Boxes: The Levittown Story from FreeEnterpriseLand.com