Long Island (NY)

Long Island

Native name: Paumanok
Location of Long Island in New York
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	40°48′N 73°18′W / 40.8°N 73.3°W / 40.8; -73.3
Area	1,401 sq mi (3,630 km2)
Administration
United States
State	New York
Demographics
Population	7,838,722 (2015)
Pop. density	5,595.1 /sq mi (2,160.28 /km2)
Ethnic groups	54.7% White, 20.4% Black, 0.49% Native American, 12.3% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.8% other races, and 3.2% from two or more races; 20.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race

Coordinates: 40°48′N 73°18′W / 40.8°N 73.3°W / 40.8; -73.3

Long Island is a large, urbanized island located just off the northeast coast of the United States, within the U.S. state of New York. Stretching east-northeast from New York Harbor into the Atlantic Ocean, the island comprises four counties: Kings and Queens (which comprise the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, respectively) to the west; then Nassau and Suffolk to the east. However, many people in the New York metropolitan area (even those living in Brooklyn and Queens) colloquially use the term "Long Island" (or "The Island") exclusively to refer to the Nassau–Suffolk county area collectively, which is mainly suburban in character.

More generally, "Long Island" may also refer collectively both to the main Island as well as its nearby, surrounding outer barrier islands. North of the island is the Long Island Sound, across from which lie the states of Connecticut and a small part of Rhode Island across the Block Island Sound. Across the Sound, to the northwest, lies Westchester County on mainland New York. To the west, Long Island is separated from the Bronx and the island of Manhattan by the East River. To the extreme southwest, it is separated from the New York City borough of Staten Island and the U.S. state of New Jersey by Upper New York Bay, the Narrows, and Lower New York Bay. To the east lie Block Island and numerous smaller islands.