Ranked as the best place to live in New York in 2017, Valley Stream is a village that many people find ideal to raise a family and put down roots in the local community. The village is serviced by the Long Island Rail Road and is a stone’s throw away from an easy commute into the city.
But what makes Valley Stream so appealing? Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about the history of Valley Stream and why you should consider moving to one of the best places to live in New York.
The area we know today as Valley Stream was inhabited by Native Americans of the Lenape tribe before Dutch colonists arrived in the mid-1600s. The area remained undeveloped for nearly 200 years as only 20 families lived in Valley Stream as of the 1840 United States Census.
By the 1830s, Robert Pagan and his family emigrated from Scotland to Valley Stream and bought a large plot of farmland–now known as the Pagan-Fletcher House. Pagan was the largest landowner in the area and realized that the town needed a name. He settled on “Valley Stream” due to its geographical features and is credited with naming the town.
Following Pagan’s death in 1870, Valley Stream started to begin its development and the South Side Railroad added a stop and was renamed the Far Rockaway Branch. This new stop and construction of major roadways kickstarted the growth and development of Valley Stream in the early 1900s.
Areas in Valley Stream like Hendrickson Park became vacation destinations for wealthy people from Queens and Brooklyn. Several hotels opened in Valley Stream to accommodate visitors to this bustling new town. In fact, many tourists who visited in the early 1900s ended up staying and becoming residents of Valley Stream.
Developer William Gibson is largely responsible for the early development of Valley Stream. After developing over 2,500 homes in Queens, Gibson arrived in Valley Stream and purchased 500 acres of land where he built homes on Avondale, Derby, Cambridge, and Berkeley streets. Gibson petitioned for the Long Island Railroad to add a stop in Valley Stream, which they did in 1929–named the Gibson station.
Real estate
Valley Stream has come a long way since its early days. In fact, real estate values in Valley Stream have risen significantly in recent years. The median sold price of homes in Valley Stream is $610,000–up 10% since September of 2021. While the real estate market in Valley Stream may be too rich for some homeowners, real estate investors may find that they can get a great deal on distressed homes that make for an excellent fix-and-flip or rental property.
Final thoughts
Valley Stream continues to be one of the best places to live in New York. The summers are generally mild and seasonal, while autumn brings out the beautiful colors of the leaves falling from trees. We’re confident that you’ll love Valley Stream whether you’re visiting or planning on making this historic village your home.
Find out why Kaya Homes is the leader in Long Island real estate and are your go-to realtor in the Lynbrook, Oceanside, Malverne, Hewlett, Valley Stream, Baldwin, East Rockaway, Woodmere, Cedarhurst, Hewlett Harbor, and Freeport area.
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