The Basics
Long Island, New York, at 1,377 square miles (118 miles long and almost 20 miles wide at its widest point) is the largest island contiguous to the continental United States, and with 7.536 million residents, its population is greater than 19 states
Long Island is made up of four counties, Kings and Queens on the western end and Nassau and Suffolk counties to the east. Since Kings County (Brooklyn) and Queens County are boroughs in New York City, most people think of Long Island as Nassau and Suffolk Counties only.
Geography
Long Island is bounded on the north by the Long Island Sound (which separates the island from Connecticut) and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, just beyond the Great South Bay, South Oyster Bay and a string of barrier islands (including Fire Island), The eastern end of the island splits into two forks, the North Fork and the South Fork, commonly referred to as "The Hamptons." Separating the two is the Great Peconic Bay.
Climate
With a moderate climate, Long Islanders and visitors alike enjoy our wonderful park and recreation systems.
Long Island's Gold Coast
On the north shore of Long Island in the early part of the twentieth century the who's who of society bought large parcels of land and built magnificent estates as summer retreats. These mansions, often fashioned after the castles of Europe stood stately and glamorous on acres and acres of perfectly manicured gardens. These properties also accommodated smaller out buildings. Their numbers grew to the hundreds as the Vanderbilts, Asters, Phipps, Guggenheims and their peers led the glitterati of the day to the wide open landscape that was Long Island. For a nostalgic look at a bygone era visit Long Island's Gold Coast. You're bound to recognize a number of the mansions from the many movies in which they appeared. Old Westbury Gardens was featured more than once. It appeared in North By Northwest, the Alfred Hitchcock thriller with Cary Grant. It was also the backdrop for scenes from Love Story and a number of other films. Oheka Castle in Cold Spring Harbor was in the opening scenes of "Citizen Kane." "Sabrina," both the original and the remake were filmed at mansions in Glen Cove. "The Godfather," "Reversal of Fortune," "Arthur," and many other films have recreated oppulent lifestyles in the estates on Long Island's gold coast.