Long Island is an island in the state of New York.  True to its name, the island is much longer than it is wide, jutting out some 118 miles from New York Harbor, with only from 12 to 20 miles  between the southern Atlantic coast and Long Island Sound. The Native American name for Long Island is Paumanok, meaning “The Island that Pays Tribute” — more warlike tribes in the surrounding areas forced the relatively peaceful Long Islanders to give tributes and payment to avoid attacks.

The west end of Long Island is the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn (Kings County) and Queens (Queens County). To the east are Nassau and Suffolk counties. However, colloquial usage of the term “Long Island” or “the Island” often refers only to the suburban and rural Nassau and Suffolk counties, respectively; the more urban Brooklyn and Queens are commonly omitted as they are part of New York City.

Long Island is known for its affluence and high quality of life. According to the 2000 Census, Nassau County is the second richest county per capita in New York State and the sixth richest in the United States. Suffolk County is known for the many communities located on its beaches, including the world-renowned Hamptons.

Long Island is also known for its strong middle class accenting a strong dedication to hard work, suburban homeownership, investment in schools and education, and “soccer moms and dads” who are strongly committed to family living and local community events. Many of these are second (or third) generation families who had originally come from Brooklyn and Queens, seeking the space and tranquility of the early suburbs. In particular, a strong Brooklyn orientation remains among many of these families.

According to the FBI’s Crime Index, Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk) has the second lowest crime rate in the United States.