The Town of North Hempstead was created in 1784 by a special act of the New York State Legislature. Originally, North Hempstead was part of the Town of Hempstead being purchased and settled by a group of 30 settlers in 1643. This tract of land spanned from the Sound to the Sea. In the 1770's residents in the northern part of the Town predominantly sympathized with the forces for independence. When the British occupied the Town, residents from the northern part of the Town did not fare as well as residents from the south who were more supportive of the Tories. Therefore, after the War in 1783, the division was made and the legislature approved a separate North Hempstead township. In the 19th century North Hempstead became the seat of Queens County, which included the three towns of North Hempstead, Hempstead, and Oyster Bay. In 1899, these three eastern most towns incorporated and became the County of Nassau.