South Shore (Long Island)
Encyclopedia
The South Shore of Long Island
, in the U.S. state
of New York
, is the area along Long Island's Atlantic Ocean
shoreline. Though some consider the South Shore to include parts of Queens
, particularly the beach communities in the Rockaways
such as Belle Harbor
, the term is generally used to refer to the Long Island coastline in Nassau County
and Suffolk County
. It is often used as a generic name for the entire southern half of Long Island rather than just the area immediately adjacent to the coastline.
The South Shore tends to be diverse in culture and income as it varies from one hamlet or village to another. In Suffolk County, there still remains pockets of old money from the Gilded Age including the country seats of families from the Vanderbilts, Havemeyers, and Bournes to the Gardiners, Bayard-Cutting as well as many others. The South Shore is also home to the world-renowned seaside resort on its east end. Located on the South Fork
this resort called The Hamptons contains some of the most coveted real estate in the U.S.
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, is the area along Long Island's Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
shoreline. Though some consider the South Shore to include parts of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, particularly the beach communities in the Rockaways
Rockaway, Queens
The Rockaway Peninsula, informally The Rockaways, is the name of a peninsula of Long Island, all of which is located within the New York City borough of Queens. A popular summer resort area since the 1830s, Rockaway has become a mixture of lower, middle, and upper-class neighborhoods...
such as Belle Harbor
Belle Harbor, Queens
Belle Harbor is an upscale neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is a tightly-knit, upper class community located on the western half of the Rockaway Peninsula, the southernmost area of the borough. While there are no formal boundaries for the area, Belle Harbor is often used to...
, the term is generally used to refer to the Long Island coastline in Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
and Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. It is often used as a generic name for the entire southern half of Long Island rather than just the area immediately adjacent to the coastline.
The South Shore tends to be diverse in culture and income as it varies from one hamlet or village to another. In Suffolk County, there still remains pockets of old money from the Gilded Age including the country seats of families from the Vanderbilts, Havemeyers, and Bournes to the Gardiners, Bayard-Cutting as well as many others. The South Shore is also home to the world-renowned seaside resort on its east end. Located on the South Fork
South Fork, Suffolk County, New York
The South Fork of Suffolk County, New York, United States is a peninsula in the southeast part of the county on the South Shore of Long Island. The South Fork includes most of the Hamptons. The shorter, more northerly peninsula is known as the North Fork....
this resort called The Hamptons contains some of the most coveted real estate in the U.S.
Beaches
In approximate west to east order:- Atlantic BeachAtlantic Beach, New YorkAtlantic Beach is an affluent village off the South Shore of Long Island in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. It is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, one of the outer barrier islands which it shares with Long Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Atlantic Beach Estates, Lido Beach and Point...
- Long BeachLong Beach, New YorkLong Beach is a city in Nassau County, New York. Just south of Long Island, it is located on Long Beach Barrier Island, which is the westernmost of the outer barrier islands off Long Island's South Shore. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 33,275...
- Lido Beach
- Jones Beach State ParkJones Beach State ParkJones Beach State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County, in the hamlet of Wantagh, on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway and Ocean Parkway .The park is renowned for...
- Tobay Beach
- Gilgo State ParkGilgo State ParkGilgo State Park is a state park in Gilgo Beach, New York, USA. The park is located on the southern part of Long Island in Suffolk County.The most prominent feature of Gilgo State Park is its water front location, with access to both the ocean and bays. On the south side of the barrier island is...
- Robert Moses State Park
- Fire IslandFire Island, New YorkFire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
- Smith Point County ParkSmith Point County ParkSmith Point County Park is a park located fronting on the Atlantic Ocean on the east end of Fire Island, New York, United States, in central Long Island by Shirley. It is the largest park owned by Suffolk County, New York....
- West Hampton DunesWest Hampton Dunes, New YorkWest Hampton Dunes is an incorporated village in Suffolk County, New York, U.S., on the South Shore of Long Island. The population was 11 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated municipality in the state of New York.-History:...
- QuogueQuogue, New YorkQuogue is an incorporated village in Southampton, Suffolk County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population was 1,018.-Geography:Quogue is located at ....
- SouthamptonSouthampton (town), New YorkThe Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
- East HamptonEast Hampton (town), New YorkThe Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
- Hither Hills State ParkHither Hills State ParkHither Hills State Park is a state park located on the southern shore near the eastern tip of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York in the USA.The park is located on the South Fork of Long Island at Napeague, New York...
- Montauk Point State ParkMontauk Point State ParkMontauk Point State Park is located in the hamlet of Montauk, at the eastern tip of Long Island in the Town of East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York. Montauk Point is the easternmost extremity of the South Fork of Long Island, and thus also of New York State...