village, mainly in North Hempstead town (township) with a small section in Hempstead town, and seat (1898) of Nassau county, Long Island, southeastern New York, U.S. It was settled in the 17th century by English and Dutch inhabitants of Connecticut who crossed Long Island Sound; it was known as Hempstead Branch until its present name was adopted in 1858. The name is from an Algonquian Indian word miniolagamika meaning “a pleasant village.” Mineola is now a trading centre and has some light industry and publishing. Nearby is the site of Roosevelt Field (closed 1951; now a shopping centre), where many of the great names in flying made early aviation history. Inc. 1906. Pop. (1990) 18,994; (2000) 19,234.