Wantagh

Before the first wave of European settlers arrived in the mid-17th century, the Merokee (or Merikoke) tribe of Metoac Indians lived in the Wantagh area. The Merokee belonged to the larger Montauk tribe, which dominated the Native Americans of Long Island in a loose manner. Wantagh served as the great sachem of the Montauk tribe from 1651 to 1658 after serving as the sachem (leader) of the Merokee tribe in 1647. English settlers arrived from towns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, while Dutch settlers arrived from their New Amsterdam colony to the east. The Dutch partition of Long Island covered all territories west of Oyster Bay, which included the Wantagh region, when the English and Dutch settled their conflicting claims to the island in the 1650 treaty negotiated in Hartford. 

In early settler records, Wantagh is referred to as “Jerusalem”. The Jerusalem River once flowed through the area that is now the Wantagh Creek, which is still visible between the Wantagh Parkway and the housing projects west of Wantagh Avenue despite being mostly covered over. Although mail delivery from Brooklyn started about 1780, the first post office was constructed in 1837 for Jerusalem. The first school in the community opened its doors in 1790. Ridgewood was the new name given to Jerusalem sometime in the 1880s, and “Ridgewood Station” was the inaugural LIRR station in the town. Subsequently, Wantagh replaced Ridgewood’s name to prevent confusion with another municipality of the same name in New York State.