THE SCOOP A petite and private peninsula can best describe Cove Neck.
An incorporated village surrounded by Oyster Bay on three sides, Cove Neck is a 1.6-square-mile expanse in the Town of Oyster Bay. Home to just under 300 residents, as of the 2020 census, the village is the least densely populated community in Nassau County. The village was home to notables such as Charles Wang, philanthropist and co-founder of Computer Associates, and John McEnroe Sr., father of tennis legend John McEnroe.
“The Village of Cove Neck is a hidden gem on our town’s North Shore, with tree-lined streets, a beautiful backdrop of the harbor and a rich history,” said Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Michele Johnson. “It is situated in the highly rated Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District, with nearby parks and beaches, as well as a vibrant downtown offering great dining and shopping opportunities.”
Cove Neck Tennis Court was incorporated in the 1930s. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Cove Neck’s most famous denizen was Theodore Roosevelt. The 26th president of the United States built a rambling 23-room Queen Anne-style estate there on 95 acres, now the site of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and Roosevelt Museum and Old Orchard.
Named for a Matinecock sagamore, or sub-chief, Sagamore Hill was where Roosevelt spent summers during his presidency. As Roosevelt ran the nation while enjoying his family’s company, the estate became known as “The Summer White House” from 1902 to 1908. The president’s official activities at the estate led to his earning the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation of the war between Japan and Russia in 1905, making him the first American to be awarded the prize.
Cove Neck is home to Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and the Theodore Roosevelt Museum at Old Orchard. Credit: Rick Kopstein
After his presidency, Roosevelt continued to live at his Cove Neck estate, writing articles and books. On the eve of his death from a coronary embolism in January 1919, he reportedly…
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