Manhasset Bay

Manhasset Bay forms the northeastern boundary of the Great Neck Peninsula and the southwestern boundary of the Cow Neck Peninsula (Port Washington Peninsula or Manhasset Neck), in Nassau County, New York. On the north side of the bay, there are three points, Barkers Point at the entrance, Plum Point coming the furthest into the Bay, and Tom's Point in the back bay. On the other side, Hewlett Point forms the entrance nearly a mile from Barkers Point.U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (1918) United States Coast Pilot U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C., p. 233 Hart Island lies in the Sound just outside the mouth of Manhasset Bay.

The Manhasset Bay area was likely first inhabited in the 17th century by the Matinecock tribe of Algonquin Indians. However, that view has been challenged.{{clarification needed|date=December 2021}}Strong, John A. (1997) The Algonquian Peoples of Long Island from Earliest Times to 1700 Empire State Books, Interlaken, N.Y., {{ISBN|1-55787-148-5}} Then the Dutch and the English settled around the bay in the 17th century because of the proximity of fish. The Bay was called Schout's Bay by the Dutch, and then Howe's Bay by the English.{{Cite web|title=Historical Background of Manhasset Bay |year=2006 |publisher=Manhasset Bay Protection Committee |url=http://www.manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org/historical_background.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060419182646/http://www.manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org/historical_background.htm |archivedate=19 April 2006 |url-status=live }} Subsequently, due to the presence of cattle raising, it came to be called Cow Bay, and the local neck, to the northeast, "Cow Neck". It finally became Manhasset Bay in 1907.

In the 1920s, the bay began to switch from the cow-and-fish industry to support services for commercial boating, as it is considered to be one of the best harbors on Long Island Sound with little tidal current except at the entrance and average tidal displacement of only six feet.Duncan, Robert C. W. and Fenn, Wallace (2002) "Manhasset Bay and Port Washington, Long Island" The Cruising Guide to the New England Coast W. W. Norton & Company, New York, p. 178, {{ISBN|0-393-04858-6}} By the 1980s it was full of marinas and yacht clubs. The Sands Point Seaplane Base on Manhasset Bay was at one time the main airport for passenger service between New York and Europe. At the beginning of the 21st century, it had about 16% of all the marinas and yacht clubs in the whole of Long Island Sound.

Manhasset Bay's watershed consists of many smaller sub-water sheds. These sub-watersheds are:{{Cite web|title=Manhasset Bay Protection Committee - Watershed Information|url=https://manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org/watershed_physical.htm|access-date=2021-07-27|website=manhassetbayprotectioncommittee.org}}

• Barkers Point
• Baxter and Mill Pond
• Eastern Shore
• Kings Point Pond
• Leeds Pond
• Mitchell Creek
• Sheets Creek
• Southeastern Shore
• Southwestern Shore
• Toms and Plum Points
• Whitney Pond

File:Manhasset Bay West Side Sunset Fishing.jpg

File:Manhasset Bay East Side Easte by Leeds Pond.jpg

File:Manhasset Bay Moored Boat at Sunset 4.jpg

File:Manhasset Bay Moored Boat at Sunset 2.jpg

{{wide image|Manhasset Bay View From Estate across Leeds Pond 1.jpg|800px||100%|left}}

{{wide image|Manhasset Bay Panorama 1.jpg|1000px||100%|left}}

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{{Commons category|Manhasset Bay}}

Category:Bays of New York (state)

Category:Bodies of water of Nassau County, New York

Category:Long Island Sound

Category:Town of North Hempstead, New York