Long Island

Long Island is a large, densely populated continental island. It is located in southeastern New York state. The island extends eastward into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major part of the New York metropolitan area. This importance is seen in its land area and population. Long Island is the largest island in the contiguous United States. It is also the 11th largest island in the country.

The island is divided into four distinct counties. Kings, Queens, and Nassau counties occupy the western third. Suffolk County covers the eastern two-thirds. There is a debate about how to classify Brooklyn and Queens. Geographically, Kings and Queens counties are on the island. However, some people view them as culturally separate from the rest of Long Island.

Water surrounds the island on almost all sides. The East River tidal estuary separates the island from Manhattan and the Bronx. To the north lies the Long Island Sound. This water separates the island from Westchester County and Connecticut. The Block Island Sound sits to the northeast. This separates the island from Rhode Island. To the southwest, the island is separated from Staten Island and New Jersey by several bodies of water. These include Upper New York Bay, the Narrows, and Lower New York Bay.

Long Island has a very large and diverse population. As of the 2020 U.S. census, 8,063,232 people lived there. This number means the island holds 40% of New York's total population. It is the most populous island in any U.S. state or territory. Globally, it is the 18th most populous island. It ranks ahead of places like Ireland and Jamaica. The island is home to many different types of neighborhoods. Some areas near the shorelines are among the wealthiest in the world. Other areas are working-class communities.

The economy of the island is very strong. In 2022, the four counties had a gross domestic product of about $600 billion. Many residents are highly educated. About 42.6% of residents over age 25 hold a college degree. The economy relies heavily on specialized industries. Biotechnology, engineering, and scientific research are very important. Several major research facilities are located here. These include Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Other sites include Stony Brook University and the New York Institute of Technology. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is also on the island.

Transportation is a vital part of life on Long Island. The island is a major hub for commercial aviation. It contains two of the nation's busiest airports. These are JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

Long Island MacArthur Airport also serves the region. For land travel, the Long Island Rail Road is essential. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America. It operates continuously to move people.

The island also uses nine major bridges and thirteen traffic tunnels. These connect the western counties to New York City. Ferries provide travel across the Sound to Connecticut.

The history of the island began long before European arrival. During the last Ice Age, Paleo-Indians lived in the evolving landscape. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers who used stone tools. Later, the Archaic Period saw people using more diverse food sources. They relied heavily on marine life like fish and oysters. During the Woodland periods, inhabitants became more settled. They developed horticulture and used pottery for cooking and storage.

By the Late Woodland Period, agriculture became more intense. People grew maize, beans, and squash. They lived in permanent villages using wigwams and longhouses.

European contact changed the island forever. Giovanni da Verrazzano recorded an encounter with the Lenape in 1524. Later, Henry Hudson explored the harbor in 1609. Adriaen Block is credited as the first European to realize Manhattan and Long Island were islands. In the early 1600s, the Dutch and English began settling. The Dutch established a trade in wampum. This was a type of bead used by Native tribes.

This trade created a period of peace. However, conflicts eventually arose over land and resources. Europeans viewed land as private property. Many Native groups viewed land use as communal. This difference in perspective led to many disputes.