Long Island is 190 km (about 118 mi) long from east to west and 19 to 37 km (about 12 to 23 mi) wide, covering an area of 4,463 sq km (about 1,723 sq mi).

Population 7,559,372 (as of 2006 estimates for Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens)

Beauty Queen

Long Island is one reason why people say, “I love New York!” It’s well endowed with vast and fascinating natural attractions that the last Ice Age glaciers have shaped. Long Island is an amazing 100 miles long and 12 miles wide. It covers an area of 1,377 square miles, and contains a population of 7.5 million. Long Island is the largest island in the continental United States, and arguably the most gorgeous.

A beach view off of the south shoreline of Long Island's Babylon/Islip area..

Fact: Did you know that Long Island is also the most populated island in the U.S. and ranks 17th in the world, in that category?

Fact: The Native American name for the island is Paumonauk (In Use, Bottom Right), which means “fish-shaped island.”

Long Island is physically made up of four counties. The New York City boroughs are on the western end. That includes Brooklyn (or Kings County) and Queens (or Queens County). The suburban centers of Nassau and Suffolk counties are in Long Island's mid west and eastern sectors. The term “Long Island” or “the Island” typically refer only to Nassau and Suffolk, which are suburban or rural. Brooklyn and Queens are mostly associated with New York City.

A poem about "Paumanok" (Long Island) on a large stone in West Hills, written by Walt Whitman - photo by Stephen Takacs

New York and Long Island are part of the Mid-Atlantic States. But the Island’s north shore and the eastern part of the Suffolk County mostly resemble New England. Long Island’s climate, like other coastal areas in the Northeastern U.S., is warm in summers and cold in winters.

Long Island has a strong middle class that works hard for home ownership, invests in education, and is committed to community events and issues. The area is one of the most affluent areas in the country, due to its proximity to New York City. The Island is home to some of the country’s most luxurious mansions and getaways of the wealthy, who make spots in Long Island their playground. So it’s not surprising that Long Island is quite a costly place to live, with the residents paying some of the highest property taxes in the country.

Nonetheless, here’s some fantastic news! Long Island is also one of the finest places to raise children, with the FBI’s Crime Index reporting that Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk) ranks as having the second lowest crime rate in the entire United States.

The people of Long Island boast of ethnic diversity. In particular the area has a huge Italian-American and Jewish-American population. The mixture of different origins makes Long Island an outstanding place to savor mouth-watering cuisine from different regions of the world. Long Island also boasts of having some of this world’s finest wine due to many wineries calling Long Island's east end home.

What are some of Long Island’s main attractions? The area houses the East Coast’s largest industrial park, the Hauppauge Industrial Park. That contains over 1,300 companies and employs up to 55,000 residents of Long Island. Amazingly, even with its industrial growth, Long Island remains a sanctuary for an array of wildlife. The region also has a vast network of town libraries. Furthermore, the arts flourish on Long Island, due to its established art centers and the introduction of other art forms, such as the entertainment industry.

Long Island Government Resources - Nassau County Government - Suffolk County Government

Long Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - The Official New York State Tourism Website (Long Island)

Find more on each individual town on Long Island