LONG ISLAND, N. Y., an insular pro jection which forms the southeasternmost por tion of the State and is connected by five bridges and several ferries across East River with Manhattan Island, New York City. It is bounded on the north by Long Island Sound, separating it mainly from the south shore of Connecticut. The Atlantic Ocean bounds it on the east and south, while The Narrows, New York Bay and East River, already mentioned, connecting the ocean with the Sound, complete the boundaries on the west and northwest. Several small islands around the coasts are in cluded in its political boundaries, the best known being Coney, Rikers, Berrian, South Brother, Fire, Barren, Shelter, Gardiner, Fisher and Plum. Long Island has a maximum length of about 118 miles, varies in width from 12 to 23 miles and has an area of 1,682 square miles. It is divided into four counties, Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Kings the last two, metropolitan boroughs of New City, occupying a con siderable portion of the western end of the island. Queens County embraces the populous centres of Long Island City (q.v.), Maspeth, Corona, Flushing, Jamaica, Woodhaven and Far Rockaway, while the boundaries of Kings County are those also of the former city, now the metropolitan borough, of Brooklyn (q.v.).
The 280 miles of coast line are indented with numerous bays and inlets. A deep bay, 30 miles long, divided into Great and Little Peconic and Gardiner's bays, splits the eastern end of the island into two long, narrow penin sulas, the southern terminating at Montauk Point, and the northern at Orient Point, with Plum and Fisher's islands extending beyond. Great South Bay, from two to five miles broad, extends along the southern coast for nearly half the length; it is separated from the Atlan tic Ocean by Fire Island or Great South Beach, a sandy strip from a quarter of a mile to one mile wide, communicating with the ocean' by several openings. Jamaica Bay is on the south coast also, New York Bay on the west, while along the north coast are Flushing, Little Neck, Manhasset, Hempstead, Oyster, Huntington and Smithtown bays. A government system of lighthouses, life-saving stations, fortifications and masked batteries extends around the coast.
The level sea-coast of the south side, with its extended views of bay and the broad ocean, contrasts sharply with the hilly north side and its deep indentations looking out upon the land locked Sound. The rolling stretches of Mon tauk Point and Shelter Island afford another contrast to the many square miles of scrub oak and level sandy plains in the centre of the island. The island reaches a height of over 380 feet in West Hill, Suffolk County, and in Har bor Hill at Roslyn, the loftiest points in the range of glacial hills that extends along the northern coast. The island is well watered by several small streams, the Peconic, 15 miles long, flowing into Great Peconic Bay, being the largest. Natural ponds or lakes abound, and there are about 116 square miles of salt marsh throughout the island. The eastern portion
especially is well wooded and noted for its pine forests well stocked with deer and other game. Like other insular positions the climate is milder than tliat of the adjacent continent, the average temperature being several degrees be low that of the metropolis, while the hottest days are tempered by cool and refreshing breezes from ocean or Sound. The soil gen erally is productive and under a high state of cultivation. In the southern flat lands it is of a light, sandy nature, well calculated for raising grain, especially Indian corn; in the hilly north the soil is strong and adapted to the culture of grain, hay and fruits. Market gardening for metropolitan demands constitutes the principal portion of the agricultural industry of Kings and Queens counties. Oyster, clam and other fisheries are important sources of food supply.
The Long Island and other railroads give easy access from New York City to the remot est parts, Montauk Point, the southeastern most point, being only three hours away. Long Island is noted especially for exceptional op portunities, embracing all sorts of summer recreation. The roadways are admirably adapted to all forms of locomotion, and riding, driving, automobiling and wheeling are equally desirable methods for enjoying the region. In the numerous villages and towns along Jamaica Bay, Great South Bay, Peconic Bay and the Sound, there are ample facilities for sailing, rowing, fishing and bathing, which are fully utilized. For golfing, lawn tennis and all other forms of outdoor sport and recreation, every possible facility is found, and the golf courses, especially at Garden City and Shinnecock, are notable. The chief seaside resorts along the south coast are Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Brighton, Manhattan, •Rockaway Beach, Far Rockaway, Long Beach, Fire Island, Patchogue and Montauk Point; along the north coast are Greenport, Port Jefferson, Cold spring Harbor, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, Seacliff, College Point and North Beach. The popula tion of Long Island is over 2,000,000; of this number over 1,800,000 reside in Brooklyn borough.
When discovered in 1609 by Hudson, Long Island was inhabited by 13 tribes of Algonquin Indians, by whom the island was variously called Panmancke, Wamponomon, Mautowacks and Sewanhacky. A few descendants mixed with negro blood, and retaining no knowledge of their ancient language, dwell near Montauk Point and Shinnecock Neck. French Protes tants from near the river Waal, in the Nether lands, made the first settlement in 1625 under Dutch protection, and immigrants from New England established themselves in different lo calities shortly afterward. Lange Eylandt, the Dutch name, was changed by the colonial legis lature to that of Nassau, a name which survives in one of the counties, but was never adopted by the people for the island. Long Island was a busy base of military movements during the Revolutionary War, and the battle of Long Island (q.v.) is the principal event in its history.