Long Island

Long Island’s history is closely connected to its transformation during the last ice age, as the movement of the Wisconsin glacier created glacial moraines and outwash plains.

As the last glacier retreated, Indigenous peoples, including the Shinnecock and Unkechaug, settled the area. They used the island’s waterways, forests, and coasts for fishing, agriculture, and subsistence whaling. Whaling would later become a key industry for colonists.

The first European settlers on the island were the Dutch and English. In 1683, while under British rule, Long Island was divided into counties, including Suffolk and Queens. In 1899, Queens was split, forming Nassau County. 

During the American Revolution, the British occupied the island, taking control after defeating the Continental Army at the Battle of Long Island in 1776. Despite this occupation, the famous Culper Spy Ring operated out of Setauket, providing General George Washington with strategic information about the British forces.

In the 19th century, the region thrived through agriculture, commercial whaling, shipbuilding, and tourism, all of which were supported through the expansion of the Long Island Railroad. By the early 20th century, the region had become known as the cradle of aviation and saw extensive suburban growth. 

The Hempstead Plains became a prime location for airfields and aircraft manufacturers, including the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, established in 1929. Grumman would later work on the Apollo Lunar Module. During this time, wealthy families such as the Morgans and Vanderbilts built lavish estates on the island’s north shore. By the mid-20th century, Levittown was developed as one of America’s first mass-produced suburbs, setting the stage for future suburban expansion.

Today, Long Island merges its extensive history with its role as a center for research, aeronautic innovation, recreation, and suburban living.

Top image: The Montauk Point Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark in Suffolk County, was commissioned by President George Washington in 1792. It was the first lighthouse built in New York.