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HistoryAnd Other Facts...
Interesting facts about Long Island
Mastic was the home of William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence.
Long Island's first two settlements were Southold and Southampton, in 1640.
Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk is the site of the oldest cattle ranch in America,
built in 1658, and birthplace of the American cowboy
The Lighthouse at Montauk became NY's first coastal beacon in 1796.
The first radio transmission, by wireless inventor Guglielmo Marconi, was in
1901 on Fire Island Avenue in Babylon
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, as he embarked on the
first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
America's first supermarket, King Kullen, started on Long Island in 1930.
Levittown, the first suburbia in the U.S., was built on Long Island in 1947.
The Lunar Module which landed men on the moon in 1969, was built on Long Island
by the Grumman Corp.
Long Island is the largest island among the 48 contiguous states.
The only working water mill and windmill in the US are located in the Long
Island community of Water Mill.
Richard Nixon's deceased dog Checkers is buried at Long Island's Bide-a-Wee
Pet Cemetery.
When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883, it became the first land
-transport route between Long Island and mainland USA. Before that, the only way
to
travel between the two was by boat.
Long Island was sculpted by melted glaciers, which is why there is a clear
difference between the hilly North Shore and the flat South Shore of Long
Island.
Long Island is the most populated island in the United States and the 17th most
populated island in the world. Interesting fact: Long Island is more populated
than the entire country of Jamaica and of Ireland!
If Long Island was its own state, it would rank 12th in terms of population.
The North Shore is known for its large mansions, exclusive vacationing, and rich
history of its affluent citizens and architecture. The South Shore is more laid
back and hosts more entertainment and sports venues.
The largest industrial park in the US is located on Long Island - The Hauppauge
Industrial Park which houses 1,300 companies and employs more than
55,000 people.
Together Nassau and Suffolk counties' nearly 180 fire agencies possess more fire
trucks than New York City and Los Angeles County combined.
Suffolk County is the leading agricultural county in New York State based on the
wholesale value of its farm products.
More 7-Eleven coffee is purchased on Long Island than in all of California.
George Washington commissioned the Montauk Lighthouse so that the ships coming
in from Europe could identify the Atlantic Ocean from the Long Island Sound.
Fire Island got its name in the 17th century when it built fires to identify the
coastline to the ships in the ocean.
After World War II, the Japanese were nationalized and able to fly to just 5
places in the country with Idlewild Airport (JFK International) being one, which
is why Canon, Nikon and Olympus located their corporate offices there.
The Town of Hempstead with 800,000 residents is the largest township in the
country, larger than Boston, San Francisco and Baltimore.
The Nassau and Suffolk population is greater than 20 of 50 states.
Long Island is the largest college town in the US with 175,000 students
registered in 21 colleges.
Long Island has the highest level of volunteerism in the world.