The traditional family farms and wineries of Suffolk County, located in Southeastern New York, United States, make it the largest agricultural county in the state. It consists of a coastal plain bordering Long Island Sound to the north, Block Island Sound to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The inlets along the north and east coasts include Smithtown and Gardiners bays, while a series of barrier islands and beaches along the south coast (in particular Fire Island) enclose bodies of water such as the Great South and Shinnecock Bays. Also included in the county are small islands such as Shelter Island and, further east, Fishers Island.
Suffolk County is dotted with recreational areas, including the Fire Island National Shore, the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, and Robert Moses, Connetquot River, and Montauk Point State Parks. Administratively, the county comprises 10 cities (townships), including Huntington, Southampton, and Riverhead (the county seat), and numerous villages such as Sag Harbor and Stony Brook. Higher education institutions include the State University of New York at Stony Brook (founded in 195) and Suffolk County Community College (195) in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead. Also located in the county are the Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Poospatuck and Shinnecock Indian Reservations. Suffolk County comprises 1000 square miles of the eastern two-thirds of Long Island.
Long Island itself stretches 120 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, east of New York City. The distance from the Nassau County border to Montauk Point is 86 miles. At its widest point in Suffolk County, the distance from Long Island Sound to the south coast is 26 miles. Dutchman Adrian Block was the first explorer to make landfall at Montauk Point in 1614. He encountered Native Americans there. The first white resident was Lion Gardiner who settled in 1639 on an island between the north and south forks.
Gardiner Island still bears his last name. English colonists crossed Long Island Sound from Connecticut and Massachusetts colonies founding Southold and Southampton (1640), East Hampton (164), Shelter Island (165), Setauket in Brookhaven (165). Dutch colonists moved east from Manhattan Island. By mid-17th century Dutch had ceded control of eastern Long Island to English. From early years of colonization heavily forested forests provided wood that Long Islanders cut and shipped such as cordwood and cardboard material for local boat and home builders.
As land was cleared rich surface was cultivated. Fishing and shipbuilding were other early industries. Until 1850s whaling was an important source of income. Suffolk County is easternmost county in New York and fourth most populous county in New York after Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan all boroughs of New York City. It has a long maritime history with several outer barrier beaches and hundreds of square miles of waterways.
Robins Island is an island in Peconic Bay between inhabitants of North and South East Suffolk County. Brookhaven is largest of ten cities in Suffolk County with population size of a large city. State University Police has jurisdiction in Suffolk County Stony Brook University Farmingdale State College. Suffolk County (Long Island) borders Nassau County to west surrounded by Atlantic Ocean. Western part would be called Suffolk County while eastern part present-day Suffolk County would comprise new county that would be called Peconic County. Sheriff elected official serving four-year term directs Suffolk County's two correctional centers (in Yaphank Riverhead) responsible for security detention county courts notification enforcement civil documents evictions court orders. Islip is second-largest city in Suffolk County fourth-largest city in New York after New York City (8.8 million) city Hempstead (793 000) Nassau County city Brookhaven (pop.). Sheriff's Office also responsible for protecting all county properties such as county government office buildings as well as Suffolk County Community College campuses. Suffolk County has most lighthouses any county United States with 15 its 26 original lighthouses still standing.
Long Island Rail Road Hampton Jitney Hampton Luxury Liner connect Suffolk County to New York City. Suffolk County is renowned for The Hamptons thriving coastal resort on south coast first-class golf courses unspoiled beaches parks wildlife refuges Gold Coast Long Island North Shore region north coast along Long Island Strait known for its luxurious properties riches. Its quaint historic towns rocky beaches north coast their calm waters white sand breakwaters Fire Island reliable winds safe harbors navigate make tourism one Suffolk County's main industries. Suffolk County's major scientific research centers include Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Huntington Plum Island Animal Disease Center Plum Island.
