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Great Neck is located at 40°48'10" North, 73°43'53" West (40.802671, -73.731255) 1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.46% water.
As of the census 2 of 2000, there are 9,538 people, 3,346 households, and 2,552 families residing in the village. The population density is 2,727.9/km² (7,062.3/mi²). There are 3,441 housing units at an average density of 984.1/km² (2,547.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 85.33% White, 2.82% African American, 0.10% Native American, 4.94% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.28% from other racesThe United States Census Bureau uses the federal government's definitions of race when performing a census. These definitions have and may change between each census. The racial categories are officially described as follows:¹ The categories represent a s, and 3.48% from two or more races. 9.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,346 households out of which 36.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% are married couples living together, 8.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% are non-families. 20.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.85 and the average family size is 3.30.
In the village the population is spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $76,645, and the median income for a family is $89,733. Males have a median income of $52,445 versus $37,476 for females. The per capita income for the village is $38,790. 7.8% of the population and 5.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Great Neck, originally called "Mad Nan's Neck", was settled in the late 17th century, only shortly after settlers landed on Plymouth Rock. The area had previously been inhabited by the Mattinecock Indians, who were pushed back by the colonist's expansion.
In more recent days, Great Neck also provided a backdrop to F. Scott Fitzgerald's book The Great Gatsby. Thinly disguised as "West Egg", in counterpoint to Port Washington, New York's "East Egg" (where the heart of the book takes place), Great Neck provided the characters a quiet place of refuge from hectic society life.