Suffolk County is the easternmost end of the New York City metropolitan area, and is the largest geographically of the four Long Island counties. Spanning 86 miles (138 km) long and 26 miles (42 km) wide, it boasts more than 1,000 miles of coastline. The county is home to Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College, and is surrounded by water on three sides, including the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound. Suffolk County has a diverse economy, ranging from industry and science to agriculture, fishing, and tourism.
It is home to several scientific research centers, such as the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Huntington, and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Plum Island. The county also contains several state parks, such as Robert Moses State Park and Belmont Lake State Park. According to the U. S.
Census Bureau, Suffolk County has an area of 2,373 square miles (6,150 km), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km) is land and 1,461 square miles (3,780 km) is water. The eastern end of the county is divided into two peninsules - the North Fork and the South Fork - with 980 miles (1,580 km) of coastline. In terms of population density and proximity to New York City, Suffolk County has a population of 1.5 million people. The median age was 36 years old in 2018; for every 100 females there were 95.90 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.80 males.
Police services in the five western cities (Babylon, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and Brookhaven) are mainly provided by the Suffolk County Police Department. The five East End cities (Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton, and Southampton) maintain their own police forces. In addition to these police forces, there are several towns that maintain their own police forces as well. After the dissolution of the Long Island State Police in 1980, all state highways in Suffolk County became the responsibility of Troop L of the New York State Police.
The State University Police has jurisdiction in Suffolk County over Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College; this includes Fire Island and parts of the Jones Island barrier beaches and the islands of the Great South Bay. Marine units also respond to water and ice rescues in lakes, ponds and inland streams in the District. The District Court and Municipal Courts are the local courts of Suffolk County. There are more than 30 local courts with limited criminal and civil matters and geographical jurisdictions. Most of the fines for non-criminal traffic violations issued in the five western cities are processed by the Office of Traffic Offences which is part of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The Fire Island Lighthouse was an important landmark for many transatlantic ships that arrived in New York Harbor in the early 20th century; for many European immigrants it was their first glimpse of mainland America when they arrived in the United States.
The Fire Island Inlet of Robert Moses Causeway connects to Robert Moses State Park on its western end; after crossing through its 203 m (665 ft) long overhead bridge it meets Ocean Parkway at a crossroads of clover leaves. Suffolk County has more lighthouses than any other county in America; 15 out of its 26 original lighthouses still stand today; 8 are found in Southold Township alone. West Gilgo Beach is located on Oak Beach which is part of Gardiners Island; it is one of the largest privately owned islands in America or even in the world; it has been owned by one family for nearly 400 years; it is also one of only a few American properties that still remain intact as part of an original royal grant from England. Robins Island is an island located between North and South East Suffolk County; it is 435 acres (1.8 km) large and currently undeveloped. If you're looking for a rural neighborhood that offers safety as well as access to all that Long Island has to offer then you have plenty to choose from! From Fire Island Lighthouse to Robert Moses Causeway to West Gilgo Beach on Oak Beach - Suffolk County has something for everyone! Whether you're looking for a place to call home or just a place to explore - Suffolk County has something for everyone!.
