The 2.8 million inhabitants of Nassau and Suffolk counties share much more than a unique piece of geography. We all benefit from rich history, a diverse society, and a dynamic economy. We also face a number of common challenges - congested highways, high housing costs, increasing demands on our schools and threats to water quality and the environment.
Recognizing our shared traits is critical to forming a consensus on goals and actions for the Island. However, this recognition should not keep us from addressing the differences in circumstance and need that make our challenges far more complex. We are a geographically diverse region with rural, suburban and urban communities that often see little in common with each other. We have a complex governance structure that includes two counties, two cities, 13 towns and 94 villages. There are also 127 school districts, each with the power to tax and spend, plus dozens of “special districts” which tax and spend for localized needs such as street lights, fire protection and libraries. Increasingly, we are becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, with economic and cultural differences that defy easy classification. And while we are an affluent region, there is a large and growing gap between rich and poor.
This profile was funded by the Rauch Foundation to provide a platform of basic facts about Long Island to help guide discussions about its future. It draws heavily from existing research and reports from the Long Island Association, the Long Island Regional Planning Board, the Long Island Housing Partnership, the Suffolk County Planning Department, Regional Plan Association and others. While the profile cannot substitute for the more in-depth analysis from these organizations, it can provide a common point of reference.