Geographically, a large island formed by glacial till deposited by glaciers in the last ice age. Consists of the suburban counties of Nassau and Suffolk, along with the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, with a total population of around 7 million.
Regionally/Politically, just Nassau and Suffolk counties, the eastern four-fifths of the geographical Long Island, with a population of 2.5 million. This is the most common use of the term.
Until the explosion of suburban development following World War II, Long Island was a geographically diverse region, with beaches, hills, woods, praries (yep), petrified forests (that, too), and small, idyllic fishing and farming villages. Now, the landscape is dominated by suburban towns and unincorporated communities that range in population from a couple hundred to around 50,000 people. Beach resort/bedroom communities like The Hamptons are extremely popular with downstate in the summer months. In addition, Jones Beach is a popular recreational and music venue, while Fire Island is world-famous as a gay mecca and a historic nautical community.
Regionally/Politically, just Nassau and Suffolk counties, the eastern four-fifths of the geographical Long Island, with a population of 2.5 million. This is the most common use of the term.
Until the explosion of suburban development following World War II, Long Island was a geographically diverse region, with beaches, hills, woods, praries (yep), petrified forests (that, too), and small, idyllic fishing and farming villages. Now, the landscape is dominated by suburban towns and unincorporated communities that range in population from a couple hundred to around 50,000 people. Beach resort/bedroom communities like The Hamptons are extremely popular with downstate in the summer months. In addition, Jones Beach is a popular recreational and music venue, while Fire Island is world-famous as a gay mecca and a historic nautical community.
The good:
High quality of life, low crime rate, proximity to New York City, reasonably efficient and reliable public transit, attractive beaches, Splish Splash waterpark.
The bad:
Aging population, rising cost of living, racial segregation, urban sprawl, the necessity of owning a car, beach erosion, increasing problems with gangs, the trashy reputation of some of its younger residents ("lidiots").
High quality of life, low crime rate, proximity to New York City, reasonably efficient and reliable public transit, attractive beaches, Splish Splash waterpark.
The bad:
Aging population, rising cost of living, racial segregation, urban sprawl, the necessity of owning a car, beach erosion, increasing problems with gangs, the trashy reputation of some of its younger residents ("lidiots").
by F the Hamptons in the A May 19, 2005
There are actually decent people on Long Island.
by aqueoustrans January 2, 2005
An island about 125 miles in length that is located right outside of NYC's borough of Queens. It consists of both Nassau County and Suffolk County. It is known for Nassau County's beaches and the yocals of Suffolk County.
by toast455 July 7, 2005
I was born and raised on Long Island...I love it, but it's just a shame that the cost is rising so damn high...the gangs are becoming more noticeable..and if you aren't wealthy or on welfare..you might as well start thinking about moving ...I would also like to add, that I noticed many people claiming that Bay Shore is like a "ghetto"..with drugs on every corner, $10 blows ..etc...I have lived in Bay Shore for 39 years..and you are way off...Yes, it does have the bad sections of town, but it also has it's extremely wealthy areas as well.. I don't see these so-called $10 blow jobs on the corners..maybe at a train station once in a blue moon years back but those people are not seen around anymore...Maybe some of you who have stated about the "blow job queens" and drug users on every corner don't notice the ones you have because they are better hidden underneath fancier clothes? I may not choose certain towns for myself to live but I certainly don't call them "ghettos" or slums....
by Dawnmarie November 9, 2006
theres a big difference between wetsern LI (Elmont, Floral Park, New Hyde Park, Valley Stream, and other neighborhoods on the Queens-Nassau border) and eastern LI(Hamptons, Montauk, Port Jefferson and other areas on the East End). LI has a very diverse landscape and all different types of neighborhoods. NYC is the same way. It's pointless to attempt to generalize people from LI or from NYC.
I dont know why people don't go out and get a life stop arguing over the differences between LI and NYC
by NY_Guy February 17, 2005
Part of the suburban NY-NJ-CT metropoiltan area of 19,000,000 people. Levitown was one of the first incorpoarted suburbs in the 1940's after the depression and WWII. Now it is primaraly dominated by Guidos and Japs. Very segregated compared to other parts of the country I came to realize after living in Florida which happens to way alittle too diverse for me. Many rich wealthy obnoxious towns, many poor ghetto working class towns but overall mostly middle class suburban towns with families. Pretty safe for being in such a populated place. The city is very accessible usually anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Look to buy a house prepare to spend $500,000 or more for a decent looking home in a nice community. Schools are pretty good and the kids are mostly spoiled or live at home until they are 30 like on VH1'S Frank The Entertainer in a Basement Affair.
Person A:what did you do tonight in Long Island?
Person B: I went to 7-11, Dunkin Donuts and than got wasted and had my friend drive to Taco bell? you
Person A:The Same it was so much fun.
Person B: I went to 7-11, Dunkin Donuts and than got wasted and had my friend drive to Taco bell? you
Person A:The Same it was so much fun.
by mikejolz March 18, 2010
Long Island is used to describe the large continuous suburbs east of NYC (Suffolk and Nassau County). Long Island has an extremely high cost of living. Public transportation sucks so you must have a car to get around and the traffic is horrific! But Long Island isn't all that bad
The North Shore is mainly upper middle class and rich though there's still a lot of middle class people there. The North Shore is very preppy and WASPY and has a lot of Old Money.
The South Shore is mainly middle class to working class with some lower-income pockets. South of Montauk Ave is more affluent than the rest of the South Shore. The South Shore is kinda like a less extreme version of the 'Jersey Shore'.
The East End; there is the Hamptons and there is the North Fork. The Hamptons is generally very rich and glitzy while the North Fork is more calm and relaxed but still relatively well-off.
The North Shore is mainly upper middle class and rich though there's still a lot of middle class people there. The North Shore is very preppy and WASPY and has a lot of Old Money.
The South Shore is mainly middle class to working class with some lower-income pockets. South of Montauk Ave is more affluent than the rest of the South Shore. The South Shore is kinda like a less extreme version of the 'Jersey Shore'.
The East End; there is the Hamptons and there is the North Fork. The Hamptons is generally very rich and glitzy while the North Fork is more calm and relaxed but still relatively well-off.
by northshorepride October 14, 2011