Suffolk County, New York

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Suffolk County, New York
—  County  —

Flag
Seal
Coordinates: 40°51′0″N 72°38′0″W / 40.85000°N 72.63333°W / 40.85000; -72.63333
Country  United States
State  New York
Region Long Island
Metro area New York metropolitan area
County seat Riverhead
Government
 • County Executive Steven Bellone[1]
 • District Attorney Thomas J Spota[2]
 • Comptroller Joseph Sawicki[3]
 • Treasurer Angie M. Carpenter[4]
 • County Clerk Judith A Pascale[5]
Area
 • Total 2,373 sq mi (6,150 km2)
 • Land 912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Water 1,461 sq mi (3,780 km2)
Highest elevation 401 ft (122 m)
Lowest elevation 0 ft (0 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,493,350
Time zone Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4)
Area code(s) 631
Website suffolkcountyny.gov

Suffolk County /ˈsʌfək/ is an affluent suburban county located in the U.S. state of New York. Making up the central and eastern portion of Long Island, it is the easternmost county in the state and part of the New York metropolitan area. Largely suburban, it is the fourth-most populous county in the state, with 1,493,350 people as of the 2010 census. It was named after the county of Suffolk in England, from where its earliest settlers came. The largest of Long Island's four counties, and the second-largest of 62 in the state, it measures 86 miles (138 km) in length and 26 miles (42 km) in width at its widest (including water).[6] Its county seat is Riverhead, though many county offices are in Hauppauge on the west side of the county where most of the population lives. There are also offices in Smithtown, for the legislature, Yaphank, and Farmingville.

Suffolk and Nassau counties together are generally referred to as "Long Island" by area residents — as distinct from the New York City boroughs of Queens (Queens County) and Brooklyn (Kings County), which together make up the island's western end.

History[edit source | edit]

Suffolk County was an original county of the Province of New York, one of twelve created in 1683. It was known for a time as East Riding of Yorkshire. Its boundaries were essentially the same as at present, with only minor changes in the boundary with its western neighbor, which was originally Queens County but has been Nassau County since the separation of Nassau from Queens in 1899.

According to the Suffolk County website, the county is the leading agricultural county in the state of New York, saying that: "The weather is temperate, clean water is abundant, and the soil is so good that Suffolk is the leading agricultural county in New York State. That Suffolk is still number one in farming, even with the development that has taken place, is a tribute to thoughtful planning, along with the excellent soil, favorable weather conditions, and the work of dedicated farmers in this region."[7]

Geography[edit source | edit]

Shinnecock Canal

Suffolk County occupies the central and eastern part of Long Island, in the extreme southeast of New York State. The eastern end of the county splits into two peninsulas, known as the North Fork and the South Fork. The county is surrounded by water on three sides, including the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, with 980 miles (1,580 km) of coastline. The eastern end contains large bays.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,373 square miles (6,150 km2) of which 912 square miles (2,400 km2) is land and 1,461 square miles (3,780 km2) (61.56%) is water, making it the second largest county by area in the state of New York,[8] and 66% of the land area of Long Island. The highest elevation in the county, and on Long Island as a whole, is Jayne's Hill in West Hills, at 401 feet (122 m) above sea level.

Suffolk County is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold. Also part of the county, but not considered parts of the above towns, are the Poospatuck and Shinnecock Indian reservations. Poospatuck is enclaved within Brookhaven in the Mastic CDP, and Shinnecock is enclaved within Southampton, adjacent to Southampton village, Tuckahoe, and Shinnecock Hills.

Major facilities include Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton and Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Plum Island. Several airports serve commuters and business travelers, most notably Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, Republic Airport in East Farmingdale and Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach.

Adjacent counties[edit source | edit]

National protected areas[edit source | edit]

View of western Fire Island from the top of Fire Island Lighthouse

Law and government[edit source | edit]

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic
2012 48.0% 259,348 50.8% 274,830
2008 47.4% 309,815 51.8% 340,379
2004 48.5% 309,949 49.5% 315,909
2000 42.0% 240,992 53.4% 306,306
1996 36.1% 182,510 51.8% 261,828
1992 40.4% 220,811 38.9% 229,467
1988 60.5% 311,242 38.7% 199,215
1984 66.0% 335,485 33.7% 171,295
1980 57.0% 256,294 33.3% 149,945
1976 54.1% 248,908 45.3% 208,263
1972 70.3% 316,452 29.4% 132,441
1968 58.2% 218,027 32.7% 122,590
1964 44.4% 144,350 55.5% 180,598
1960 59.3% 166,644 40.6% 114,033

Suffolk County had long been a Republican bastion in New York. U.S. Congressman Rick Lazio, who opposed Hillary Clinton in the 2000 Senate race, was from Suffolk County. However, recent elections have turned the county more toward the Democrats. In 2003, Democrat Steve Levy was elected county executive, ending longtime Republican control. In 2001, Democrat Thomas Spota was elected District Attorney, and ran unopposed in 2005. Although Suffolk voters gave George H. W. Bush a victory here in 1992, the county voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 and continued the trend by giving Al Gore an 11-percent victory in the county in 2000. 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry won by a much smaller margin of one percent, in 2008 Democratic candidate Barack Obama won by a slightly larger 4.4 percent margin, 52%-47%.

Suffolk County is represented by three congressional districts, the first, and parts of the second and third. The first and third are held by Democrats, while the second is held by a Republican. Tim Bishop, a Democrat, represents the once heavily Republican first district, which includes almost half of the county, from Smithtown to Montauk, including The Hamptons and Riverhead.

The second district, is represented by Republican Peter King, and after redistricting includes parts of southern Suffolk and Nassau counties. The third district, which was mainly in Nassau County, but includes some middle-class coastal areas of southwestern Suffolk County, is represented by Steve Israel. It was redistricted in 2012 as well to include the northern sections of Suffolk and Nassau counties. A Democrat, Israel won the seat vacated by Rick Lazio in 2000 when he made his unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.

Map showing Long Island congressional districts 1, 2, and 3 after redistricting in 2012. Portions in red are within Suffolk County.

As a whole both Suffolk and Nassau counties are considered swing counties. However, they tend not to receive significant attention from presidential candidates, as the state of New York has turned reliably Democratic at the national level.

Suffolk County Executives[edit source | edit]

H. Lee Dennison County Executive Building in Hauppauge
Suffolk County Executives
Name Party Term
H. Lee Dennison Democratic 1961–1973
John V.N. Klein Republican 1973–1979
Peter F. Cohalan Republican 1979–1986
Michael A. LoGrande* Republican 1986–1987
Patrick G. Halpin Democratic 1987–1991
Robert J. Gaffney Republican 1992–2003
Steve Levy** Democratic 2004–2010
Steve Levy** Republican 2010–2012
Steve Bellone Democratic 2012–present

* Appointed to complete Cohalan's term

** Levy was originally elected as a Democrat, but became a Republican in 2010.

Suffolk County Legislature[edit source | edit]

The county is divided into 18 legislative districts, each represented by a legislator. As of 2012, there are 10 Democrats, 6 Republicans, 1 member of the Independence Party of New York, and one legislator from the Working Families Party:

District 2012-2013 Legislature 2010-2011 Legislature 2008-2009 Legislature 2006-2007 Legislature 2004-2005 Legislature
1 Al Kruspki (D) Edward P. Romaine (R) Edward P. Romaine (R) Edward P. Romaine (R) Micheal J. Caracciolo (R)
2 Jay Schneiderman (I) Jay Schneiderman (I) Jay Schneiderman (I) Jay Schneiderman (R) Jay Schneiderman (R)
3 Kate M. Browning (WF) Kate M. Browning (WF) Kate M. Browning (WF) Kate M. Browning (D) Peter O'Leary (R)
4 Thomas Muratore (R) Thomas Muratore (R) Brian Beedenbender (D) Joseph T. Caracappa (R) Joseph T. Caracappa (R)
5 Kara Hahn (D) Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D) Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D) Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D) Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D)
6 Sarah Anker (D) Sarah Anker (D) Daniel P. Losquadro (R) Daniel P. Losquadro (R) Daniel P. Losquadro (R)
7 Robert Calarco (D) Jack Eddington (I) Jack Eddington (I) Jack Eddington (D) Brian X. Foley (D)
8 William J. Lindsay (D) William J. Lindsay (D) William J. Lindsay (D) William J. Lindsay (D) William J. Lindsay (D)
9 Ricardo Montano (D) Ricardo Montano (D) Ricardo Montano (D) Ricardo Montano (D) Ricardo Montano (D)
10 Tom Cilmi (R) Tom Cilmi (R) Cameron Alden (R) Cameron Alden (R) Cameron Alden (D)
11 Thomas F. Barraga (R) Thomas F. Barraga (R) Thomas F. Barraga (R) Thomas F. Barraga (R) Angie Carpenter (R)
12 John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R) John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R) John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R) John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R) John M. Kennedy, Jr. (R)
13 Lynne C. Nowick (R) Lynne C. Nowick (R) Lynne C. Nowick (R) Lynne C. Nowick (R) Lynne C. Nowick (R)
14 Wayne R. Horsley (D) Wayne R. Horsley (D) Wayne R. Horsley (D) Wayne R. Horsley (D) David Bishop (D)
15 DuWayne Gregory (D) DuWayne Gregory (D) DuWayne Gregory (D) Elie Mystal (D) Elie Mystal (D)
16 Steven H. Stern (D) Steven H. Stern (D) Steven H. Stern (D) Steven H. Stern (D) Allan Binder (R)
17 Louis D'Amaro (D) Louis D'Amaro (D) Louis D'Amaro (D) Louis D'Amaro (D) Paul J. Tonna (R)
18 William Spencer (D) Jon Cooper (D) Jon Cooper (D) Jon Cooper (D) Jon Cooper (D)

Republicans controlled the county legislature until a landmark election in November 2005 where three Republican seats switched to the Democrats, giving them control. William Lindsay is the current Presiding Officer of the legislature while DuWayne Gregory, who is African-American, is the majority leader.

In November 2007, the Democratic Party once again retained control over the Suffolk County Legislature picking up one seat in the process.

In November 2009, the Republican Party regained the seat lost in 2007 but still remain in the minority for the 2010-2011 session.

In November 2011, the Democratic Party maintained control over the Suffolk County Legislature picking up one seat that had been held by an Independence Party member.

Law enforcement[edit source | edit]

NY - Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.png
NYS University Police.jpg

Police services in the five western towns (Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and Brookhaven) are provided primarily by the Suffolk County Police Department. The five "East End" towns (Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton, and Southampton), maintain their own police and other law enforcement agencies. Also, there are a number of villages, such as Amityville, Lloyd Harbor, Northport and Westhampton Beach, that maintain their own police forces. In an unusual move, the Village of Greenport in 1994 voted to abolish its police department and turn responsibility for law and order over to the Southold Town Police Department. After the Long Island State Parkway Police was disbanded in 1980, all state parkways in Suffolk County became the responsibility of Troop L of the New York State Police, headquartered at Republic Airport. State parks, such as Robert Moses State Park, are the responsibility of the New York State Park Police, based at Belmont Lake State Park. In 1996, the Long Island Rail Road Police Department was consolidated into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police, which has jurisdiction over all rail lines in the county. Since the New York state legislature created the New York State University Police in 1999, they are in charge of all law enforcement services for State University of New York property and campuses. The State University Police have jurisdiction in Suffolk County at Stony Brook University.

Suffolk Police boat on Fire Island

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is a separate agency. The sheriff, an elected official who serves a four-year term, operates the two Suffolk County correctional facilities (in Yaphank and Riverhead), provides county courthouse security and detention, service and enforcement of civil papers, evictions and warrants. The Sheriff's Office is also responsible for securing all county-owned property, such as county government office buildings, as well as the campuses of the Suffolk County Community College. As of 2008, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office employs 275 Deputy Sheriffs, 850 Correction Officers and about 200 civilian staff.

Suffolk County has a long maritime history with several outer barrier beaches and hundreds of square miles of waterways. The Suffolk Police Marine Bureau patrols the 500 square miles (1,000 km2) of navigable waterways within the police district, from the Connecticut and Rhode Island state line which bisects Long Island Sound - [3], to the New York state line 3 miles (5 km) south of Fire Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Some Suffolk County towns (Islip, Brookhaven, Southampton, East Hampton, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown) also employ various bay constables and other local marine patrol, which are sworn unarmed peace officers with full arrest powers, providing back up to the Suffolk Police Marine Bureau as well as the United States Coast Guard.

This includes Fire Island and even parts of Jones Island barrier beaches and the islands of the Great South Bay. Marine units also respond to water and ice rescues on the inland lakes, ponds and streams of the District.

Courts[edit source | edit]

Cohalan Court Complex, Central Islip

Suffolk County is part of the 10th Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System; is home to the Long Island Courthouse of the Federal U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York;[9] and has various local municipal courts. The State Courts are divided into Supreme Court, which has general jurisdiction over all cases, and lower courts that either hear claims of a limited dollar amount, or of a specific nature.[10][11] Similarly, the local courts hear claims of a limited dollar amount, or hear specific types of cases. The Federal Court has jurisdiction over Federal Claims, State Law claims that are joined with Federal claims, and claims where there is a diversity of citizenship.[12]

Supreme Court[edit source | edit]

  • The Suffolk County Supreme Court is a trial court of unlimited general original jurisdiction, but it generally only hears cases that are outside the subject-matter jurisdiction of other trial courts of more limited jurisdiction. The Suffolk County Clerk is the Clerk of the Court of the Supreme Court.
  • The main courthouse for the Supreme Court is in Riverhead, which has been the court's home since 1729. The original courthouse was replaced in 1855, and that courthouse was expanded in 1881.[13] The courthouse was damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1929. In 1994, a new court building was added to the complex. This Courthouse was dedicated as the "Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building" on August 1, 2011.[14]
  • The Supreme Court also shares space in the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip[15] with several other courts and county agencies. Matrimonial actions are heard in the Supreme Court, and those matters are generally heard in the Supreme Court section of the Cohalan Court Complex.

Other Superior Courts[edit source | edit]

  • The Suffolk County County Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction. It has jurisdiction over all of Suffolk County, and is authorized to handle criminal prosecutions of both felonies and lesser offenses committed within the county, although in practice most minor offenses are handled by the local courts. It is the trial court for felonies, or where a person is indicted by a Grand Jury in Suffolk County. The County Court also has limited jurisdiction in civil cases, generally involving amounts up to $25,000. The County Court is located in the Cromarty Court Complex Criminal Courts Building in Riverhead.
  • The Suffolk County Surrogate's Court hears cases involving the affairs of decedents, including the probate of wills and the administration of estates, guardianships, and adoptions. The Surrogate's Court is located in the County Center in Riverhead.
  • The Suffolk County Family Court has jurisdiction over all of Suffolk County in petitions filed for Neglect & Abuse, Juvenile Delinquency/Designated Felonies, Persons in Need of Supervision, Adoption, Guardianship, Foster Care, Family Offense (Order of Protection), Custody & Visitation, Paternity, Support Matters (Child & Spousal), Consent to Marry. The court also has a Juvenile Drug Court and Family Treatment Court. Individuals, attorneys, and agencies may initiate a proceeding in the Family Court with the filing of a petition. The Suffolk County Family Court is located in the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip[15] and maintains a facility in Riverhead. Case assignment is dependent upon the geographical location of the parties.

Local Courts[edit source | edit]

The District Court and the Town and Village Courts are the local courts of Suffolk County. There are more than 30 local courts, each with limited criminal and civil subject matter and geographic jurisdictions. The local criminal courts have trial jurisdiction over misdemeanors, violations and infractions; preliminary jurisdiction over felonies; and traffic tickets charging a crime. The local civil courts calendar small claims, evictions, and civil actions.

  • Suffolk County District Court has geographic jurisdiction over the 5 western towns of Suffolk County (Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip & Smithtown). The Criminal division of the Suffolk District Court is in the Cohalan Court Complex, Central Islip, and includes Domestic Violence Courts, Drug Court, and a Mental Health Court. The Civil division is divided up in the 5 "outlying" courthouses in Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma, and Patchogue. Civil actions may be filed up to $15,000, and small claims actions up to $5000. Actions are commenced by filing with the court. Summary proceedings under the RPAPL are filed in the district where the property is located.
  • The Town Courts of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Southold have geographic jurisdiction over the 5 eastern towns of Suffolk County. Each town maintains a courthouse where judges hear criminal cases (including a regional Drug Court) and civil actions. Civil actions are commenced by serving a summons and complaint for claims up to $3,000, and small claims actions are heard up to $3000. Summary proceedings under the RPAPL are filed in the town where the property is located.
  • The Village Courts of Amityville, Asharoken, Babylon, Belle Terre, Bellport, Brightwaters, Head of the Harbor, Huntington Bay, Islandia, Lake Grove, Lindenhurst, Lloyd Harbor, Nissequogue, Northport, Ocean Beach, Old Field, Patchogue, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Quogue, Sag Harbor, Saltaire, Shoreham, Southampton, Village of the Branch, West Hampton Dunes, and Westhampton Beach have geographic jurisdiction within each incorporated village. Criminal and civil subject matter jurisdiction varies in each court.

Most non-criminal moving violation tickets issued in the 5 west towns are handled by the Traffic Violations Bureau, which is part of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, not the court system.

Demographics[edit source | edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 16,400
—
1800 19,735 20.3%
1810 21,113 7.0%
1820 23,936 13.4%
1830 26,780 11.9%
1840 32,469 21.2%
1850 36,922 13.7%
1860 43,275 17.2%
1870 46,924 8.4%
1880 52,888 12.7%
1890 62,491 18.2%
1900 77,582 24.1%
1910 96,138 23.9%
1920 110,246 14.7%
1930 161,055 46.1%
1940 197,355 22.5%
1950 276,129 39.9%
1960 666,784 141.5%
1970 1,124,950 68.7%
1980 1,284,231 14.2%
1990 1,321,864 2.9%
2000 1,419,369 7.4%
2010 1,493,350 5.2%
Est. 2011 1,498,816 [16] 0.4%
[17]

As of the census[18] of 2010, there were 1,493,350 people and 569,985 households residing in the county. The population density was 1,637 people per square mile (633/km²). There were 569,985 housing units at an average density of 625 per square mile (242/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.78% White, 7.45% African American, 0.36% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.56% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.49% of the population.

In 2006, the racial or ethnic makeup of the county was 83.6% White (75.4% White Non-Hispanic). African Americans were 7.4% of the population. Asians stood at 3.4% of the population. 5.4% were of other or mixed race. Latinos were 13.0% of the population.[19] The most common ethnicities in Suffolk County in 2007 were Italian (29.5%), Irish (24.0%), and German (17.6%).[20]

In 2002, the New York Times cited a study by the non-profit group ERASE Racism, which determined that Suffolk and its neighboring county, Nassau, to be the most racially segregated suburbs in the United States.[21]

In 2006, there were 469,299 households, out of which 37.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.00% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

In 2008, Forbes magazine released its American Community Survey and named Suffolk County number 4 in its list of the top 25 richest counties in America.

The median income for a household in the county was $103,900,[22] and the median income for a family was $72,112. Males had a median income of $50,046 versus $33,281 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,577. About 2.40% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.70% of those under age 18 and 2.30% of those age 65 or over.

Suffolk County ranks at number 21 on the list of the most populous counties in the United States.[23]

Racial groups, ethnicity, and religious groups on Long Island
compared to state and nation
Place
 Population
2010
census
  %
white
  %
black
or
African
American
  %
Asian
  %
Other
  %
mixed
race
  %
Hispanic/
Latino
of any
race
  %
Catholic
  % not
affiliated
  %
Jewish
  %
Protestant
 Estimate
of % not
reporting
Race Ethnicity Religious groups
Nassau County 1,339,532 73.0 11.1 7.6 5.9 2.4 14.6 52 9 17 7 15
Suffolk County 1,493,350 80.8 7.4 3.4 5.9 2.4 16.5 52 21 7 8 11
Long Island Total
(including Brooklyn and Queens)		 7,568,304 54.7 20.4 12.3 9.3 3.2 20.5 40 18 15 7 20
NY State 19,378,102 65.7 15.9 7.3 8.0 3.0 17.6 42 20 9 10 16
USA 308,745,538 72.4 12.6 4.8 7.3 2.9 16.3 22 37 2 23 12
Source for Race and Ethnicity: 2010 Census[24]
American Indian, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander make up just 0.5% of the population of Long Island, and have been included with "Other".
Source for religious groups: ARDA2000[25][26]

Education[edit source | edit]

Colleges and universities[edit source | edit]

Suffolk County is home to numerous colleges and universities:

Public
Private

Newspapers[edit source | edit]

Indian reservations[edit source | edit]

Two Indian reservations are located within the borders of Suffolk County:

Towns, villages, and hamlets[edit source | edit]

The Montauk Lighthouse is a landmark of Suffolk County, NY

In New York State, a town is the major subdivision of each county. Towns provide or arrange for most municipal services for residents of hamlets and selected services for residents of villages. All residents of New York who do not live in a city or on an Indian reservation live in a town. A village is an incorporated area which is usually, but not always, within a single town. A village is a clearly defined municipality that provides the services closest to the residents, such as garbage collection, street and highway maintenance, street lighting and building codes. Some villages provide their own police and other optional services. A hamlet is a populated area within a town that is not part of a village. The term "hamlet" is not defined under New York law (unlike cities, towns and villages), but is often used in the state's statutes to refer to well-known populated sections of towns that are not incorporated as villages. For more information, see the article Political subdivisions of New York State.

In 2006 Forbes Magazine ranked six Suffolk County zip codes as among the top 110 most expensive in the United States. Sagaponack, New York was ranked the most expensive zip code in the nation with a median home sale price in 2005 of $2,787,500. Water Mill, New York was ranked the sixth most expensive zip code in the nation, with a median home sale price in 2005 of $2,150,000.[28]

List of towns in Suffolk County[edit source | edit]

Alphabetical list[edit source | edit]

Main article: List of municipalities on Long Island
Argyle Lake: A main attraction in the town of Babylon.
Patchogue Bay

Gardiners Island[edit source | edit]

Gardiners Island, Suffolk County, NY
Main article: Gardiners Island

Gardiners Island is an island off eastern Suffolk County in the U.S. state of New York.

The Island is 6 miles (10 km) long, and 3 miles (5 km) wide and has 27 miles (43 km) of coastline.

The same family has owned the Island for nearly 400 years, one of the largest privately owned islands in America or the world.

It is, however, the only American real estate still intact as part of an original royal grant from the English Crown.

Robins Island[edit source | edit]

Main article: Robins Island

Robins Island is an Island in the Peconic Bay between the North and South folks of eastern Suffolk County.

It is within the jurisdiction of Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York.

The Island is 435 acres (1.8 km2) and presently undeveloped.

The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public.

Suffolk seashore[edit source | edit]

See also: Outer Barrier Islands

Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for many trans-atlantic ships coming into New York Harbor in the early 20th century. For many European immigrants, the Fire Island Light was their first sight of land upon arrival in America.

Fire Island Lighthouse

The Fire Island Inlet span of the Robert Moses Causeway connects to Robert Moses State Park on the western tip of Fire Island.

The Great South Bay Bridge, the first causeway bridge, had only one northbound and one southbound lane, was opened to traffic in April 1954. The span of 2 miles (3 km) across Great South Bay to Captree Island features a main span of 600 feet (200 m), with a clearance for boats of 60 feet (20 m).

After crossing the State Boat Channel over Its 665-foot (203 m)-long bascule bridge, the causeway meets the Ocean Parkway at a cloverleaf interchange. This interchange provides access to Captree State Park, Gilgo State Park and Jones Beach State Park.

F I N S

The Fire Island Inlet Bridge continues the two-lane road, one lane in each direction, across Fire Island Inlet to its terminus at Robert Moses State Park and The Fire Island Lighthouse. Robert Moses Causeway opened in 1964.

Suffolk County has the most lighthouses of any other United States county, with fifteen of its original twenty-six lighthouses still standing. Of these fifteen, eight are located in Southold township alone, giving it more lighthouses than any other township in the United States.

Secessionist movements[edit source | edit]

The proposed Peconic County flag
Main article: Peconic County, New York

At various times, there have been proposals for a division of Suffolk County into two counties. The western portion would be called Suffolk County, while the eastern portion of the current Suffolk County would comprise a new county to be called Peconic County.[citation needed] Peconic County would consist of the five easternmost towns of Suffolk County: East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold, plus the Shinnecock Indian Reservation.

The proposed Peconic County flag showed the two forks at the east end of Long Island separated by Peconic Bay. The star on the north represents Southold. The stars on the South Fork represent Southampton and East Hampton. Riverhead is at the fork mouth and Shelter Island is between the forks.

The secessionist movement has not been active since 1998.

The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise, by Corey Dolgon (New York University Press, 2005[29]) examined the class roots of the secessionist movement in the Hamptons. In his review, Howard Zinn wrote that the book "[t]akes us beyond the much-romanticized beaches of Long Island to the rich entrepreneurs and their McMansions, the Latino workers, and the stubborn indigenous residents refusing to disappear. The book is important because it is in so many ways a microcosm of the nation."[30] The book won the Association for Humanist Sociology's 2005 Book Prize and the American Sociological Association's Marxist Section Book Award in 2007.

See also[edit source | edit]

Part of a series of articles on
Long Island—Title.svg
Topics
Regions

Notes[edit source | edit]

  1. ^ "Suffolk County Government". Suffolk County. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  2. ^ "Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota". Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  3. ^ "Suffolk County Comptroller's Office". Suffolk County Comptroller's Office. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  4. ^ "Suffolk County Treasurer's Office". Suffolk County Government. Retrieved 2012-11-25. 
  5. ^ "Message from the Suffolk County Clerk". Suffolk County Government. Retrieved 2012-11-24. 
  6. ^ About Suffolk County on the county website
  7. ^ http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/ "About Suffolk County"
  8. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CONTEXT=gct&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTPH1_US9&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=&-format=US-25 U.S. Census data with area & population density
  9. ^ "[1]".
  10. ^ "10th Judicial District: Suffolk County".
  11. ^ "Structure & Jurisdiction of the Courts".
  12. ^ "Federal jurisdiction (United States)".
  13. ^ "The Suffolk County Supreme Court".
  14. ^ "[2]".
  15. ^ a b "Directions to the Suffolk County Courts"
  16. ^ "Suffolk County, New York QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-04. 
  17. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
  18. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  19. ^ Suffolk County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
  20. ^ Suffolk County, New York, Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2007
  21. ^ Lambert, Bruce (2002-06-05). "Study Calls L.I. Most Segregated Suburb". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
  22. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/108999/americas-richest-counties
  23. ^ 100 Largest Counties in the United States by 2006 Population Estimate
  24. ^ "2010 Census brief". 
  25. ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), Year 2000 Report".  Churches were asked for their membership numbers. ARDA estimates that most of the churches not reporting were black Protestant congregations.
  26. ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), Year 2000 Report". 
  27. ^ Main campus is in Queens, branch campus in Suffolk County St. John's University: Oakdale Campus
  28. ^ Forbes Lists
  29. ^ New York University Press
  30. ^ Progressive Writers Cooperative and Speakers Bureau

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Coordinates: 40°56′N 72°41′W / 40.94°N 72.68°W / 40.94; -72.68

 Long Island Sound Long Island Sound Block Island Sound
Nassau County Atlantic Ocean
  Suffolk County, New York  
Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean
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