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The City of Long Island is located on the tip of the southeastern end of the State of New York, east of Manhattan. Long Island real estate offers all the amenities of a destination resort as well as quality living, nightlife or solitude.
Long Island, as the name implies, is longer than it is wide (118 miles x 20 miles). The Island encompasses 1,377 square miles. It is the largest island in the contiguous United States. The total population is estimated at 7,553,372, making the Island the most populous island in the nation. Until recently, Nassau County led in population, which is now held by Suffolk County, although Suffolk County is more rural than Nassau County.
Long Island is made up of four counties: Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn. Queens and Brooklyn are also part of the NYC boroughs, while Sussex and Nassau are considered the heart of the Island. When Long Island is referred to by New Yorkers, they are referring to Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Suffolk County offers world-renown, pristine, white sandy beaches, seaport villages, ocean fishing, wine country and the Montauk Lighthouse. Visitors and dwellers alike enjoy the peaceful waters of Long Island Sound and the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Nassau County offers historic mansions along the Gold Coast, several public gardens, cultural attractions and outstanding golf.
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~ Long Island Climate
Long Island’s climate is typical of the northeastern coastal states. Winters are cold with snow but temperatures are warmer and storms milder than the mainland. A snow storm on the mainland may only produce rain on Long Island. Nor’easters, while not common, do hit the area on an average of once a year. These storms can bring blizzard conditions but the snowfall is usually only one or two feet. Winds, however, may reach hurricane force. Summers are warm and humid, with the Atlantic seabreeze cooling the warmer summer days. Summer thunderstorms touch the area occasionally but not with the same severity of the inland or southern states. On the Island itself, the west is usually warmer than the east. Hurricanes have been known to make landfall on Long Island but, for the most part, they are downgraded to tropical storms before reaching the Island.
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~ Long Island History
Long Island was settled by the Dutch on the west side and by the English Puritans on the eastern portion. During the American Revolution, the majority of the islanders were Loyalist, but those in the eastern and northern sections were more prone to support the Rebel cause. Long Island was captured by the British and remained in their hands until the end of the war.
Many immigrants from New York City made Long Island their home, contributing to the diversity of the Island. Long Island real estate has been home to several members of the Vanderbilt and Roosevelt families, including Theodore Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt (Theodore’s son, whom Roosevelt Field was named for).
Long Island played an important part in our nation’s aviation history. From 1930–1990, Long Island was one of the nation’s aviation centers. The first Trans-Atlantic radio broadcast was made to Paris, France from Rocky Point, Long Island.
The suburbanization of Long Island actually began in the late 1800s, when ferry service was established allowing the affluent Wall Street businessmen to arrive home in time to dine with the family. Most of the suburbs were developed during the 1920s and 1930s. It was also during this time period that Long Island became a popular get-away for New Yorkers in the hot summer months.
The Post-war era saw a dramatic increase in Long Island’s population as people migrated from the big city life to a more tranquil atmosphere. Many new developments were built. The most successful of these was Levittown. Most of the developments were built in Nassau County because it lies closer to New York City. Starting in the 1960s, development moved eastward into Suffolk County.
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~ Long Island Economy
Long Island began as a residential community, with its economic base provided by jobs in New York City. Long Island is no longer solely dependent on the City but has developed its own economic bases. Family businesses have always been a contributor to Long Island’s economy. In the 1930s, Long Island real estate began to urbanize. As the Long Island developments grew, so did small business and industry. Long Island has had and still has some major players as well. Long Island is one of the leading high-technology areas in the world. The Island is home to Sperry Rand, Brookhaven National Laboratories and Computer Associates, among others. The Island is also home of the Hauppauge Industrial Park, the largest industrial park on the east coast, which has over 1,300 companies and provides over 55,000 jobs.
The eastern end of the Island is still partly rural and agricultural. Vineyards have also been established and produce award-winning wines known throughout the world. Along the coast, the fishing industry is still important to the economy of Long Island.
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~ Living on Long Island
Many come to Long Island, as they have in the past, seeking tranquility and space. Long Island real estate enjoys a reputation for an affluent and rich, quality lifestyle. Nassau County is the fifth richest county per capita in the nation. In addition to those of wealth, Long Island also has a large middle class. Long Islanders on every economic level are known for strong work ethics, homeownership and commitment to their community.
The Otto Kahn Estate is located on Long Island. Built as a French chateau, it is referred to by the locals as OHEKA. The estate is the second largest privately-owned residence in the United States.
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~ Commuting on Long Island
Long Island real estate is serviced by three airports: John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Long Island Mac Arthur Airport, which is also referred to as the Islip Airport. Air Train is a public rail system which provides service for Kennedy Airport to the New York subway system and the Long Island Rail Road.
Long Island’s major roadways are: the Long Island Expressway, Northern and Southern State Parkways. The expressways and the Long Island Rail Road make traveling east-west fairly easy but do not always make for a quick trip. The Long Island Expressway is often referred to as "The World's Longest Parking Lot”.
Public transportation is provided by the MTA Long Island Bus to the western portion of Suffolk County and throughout Nassau County while Suffolk Transit provides bus transportation throughout Suffolk County. The Long Island Rail Road is a public rail system for commuters and is the busiest in the nation. It has the honor of being the oldest continuously operated railroad.
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~ Education on Long Island
The Long Island educational system is a high priority on Long Island. So much so, that the residents of Long Island are willing to match their words with their money. Long Islanders pay some of the highest property taxes in the country in order to have the best schools in the nation and the world. There are 67 school districts in Nassau County and 76 school districts in Sussex County. There are numerous choices for higher education as well in both the private and public sector.
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~ Tourism and Resorts on Long Island
Parts of Long Island's economy depends largely on tourism during the summer months, whether seaport village or those more inland. One of the larger tourist attractions in Suffolk County is the North Fork, located on the eastern end of the county. This area is known for its scenic towns, seaport villages and world-renown wineries. The South Fork features these same attractions. In addition to these attractions are golfing, horseback riding and water sports. Fire Island National Seashore is a major attraction for tourists while The Hamptons is the most popular of the various summer vacation spots for New Yorkers. There are many fun things to do in Long Island.
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Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets & Communities of Nassau County, Long Island*
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Baldwin
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Bayville
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Bellmore
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Bethpage
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Brookville
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Cove Neck
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Elmont
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Franklin Square
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Freeport Village
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Garden City
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Glen Cove
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Great Neck Village
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Hempstead
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Hicksville
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Laurel Hollow
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Levittown
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Long Beach
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Lynbrook
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Manhasset
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Massapequa Park
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Muttontown
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Merrick
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New Hyde Park Village
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Old Brookville
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Old Westbury
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Oyster Bay
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Plainview
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Port Washington
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Rockville Centre
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Saddle Rock
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Sands Point
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Syosset
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Uniondale
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Upper Brookville
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Valley Stream
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Woodbury
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Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets & Communities of Suffolk County, Long Island*
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| Amityville |
Babylon Village |
Back Lawrence |
Bay Port |
Bay Shore |
Bellport |
| Bridgehampton |
Blue Point |
Brookhaven |
Cold Spring Harbor |
East Islip |
East Northport |
| East Quogue |
Five Towns |
Greenport |
Hamptons |
Hampton Bays |
Hewlett Bay Park |
| Huntington |
Islip |
Lindenhurst |
Lloyd Harbor |
Mastic |
Mastic Beach |
| Mattiuck |
Medford |
Montauk |
Northport Village |
Oakdale |
Ocean Beach |
| Patchogque |
Port Jefferson |
Quogue |
Riverhead |
Sag Harbor |
Saint James |
| Sayville |
Shirley |
Smithtown |
Southampton |
Southold |
Stony Brook |
| Three Ponds |
Three Village Area |
West Islip |
Westhampton |
Wheatley Heights |
Yaphank |
| * This is not a complete list of all communities, as there are too many to list here. |
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Please feel free to contact Bart Bleiweiss with any questions at:
Keller Williams
Direct: (516) 238-4707
Office: (516) 873-7100 ext 217
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