Long Island - Our Home.

While we will accept the Islanders moving to Brooklyn (Kings County), it seems some Nassau County politicians may not. I almost choked on my cereal this morning reading the article in Newsday that Nassau will still try to "explore" ways of keeping the NY Islanders at a renovated Coliseum in their "home" of Uniondale.

Dudes -- You had your chance, you blew it. But while we may have to accept our beloved team moving "a few blocks away" (as Charles Wang told Art Staple), let us revel in the great history of Long Island. Certainly this list needs to be updated, but I did think it was interesting.

Long Island Fun Facts

Mastic was the home of William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Long Island's first two settlements were Southold and Southampton ... in 1640.

Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk is the site of the oldest cattle ranch in America, built in 1658, and birthplace of the American cowboy.

The Lighthouse at Montauk became NY's first coastal beacon in 1796.

The first radio transmission, by wireless inventor Guglielmo Marconi, was in 1901 on Fire Island Avenue in Babylon.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, as he embarked on the first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

America's first supermarket, King Kullen, started on Long Island in 1930.

Levittown, the first suburbia in the U.S., was built on Long Island in 1947.

The Lunar Module which landed men on the moon in 1969, was built on Long Island by the Grumman Corp.

Long Island is the largest island among the 48 contiguous states.

The only working water mill and windmill in the US are located in the Long Island community of Water Mill.

Richard Nixon's deceased dog Checkers is buried at Long Island's Bide-a-Wee Pet Cemetery.

When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883, it became the first land-transport route between Long Island and mainland USA. Before that, the only way to travel between the two was by boat.

Long Island was sculpted by melted glaciers, which is why there is a clear difference between the hilly North Shore and the flat South Shore of Long Island.

Long Island is the most populated island in the United States and the 17th most populated island in the world. Interesting fact: Long Island is more populated than the entire country of Jamaica and of Ireland! If Long Island was its own state, it would rank 12th in terms of population.

The North Shore is known for its large mansions, exclusive vacationing, and rich history of its affluent citizens and architecture. The South Shore also has some exclusive estates but is more laid back and hosts more entertainment and sports venues.

The largest industrial park in the US is located on Long Island - The Hauppauge Industrial Park which houses 1,300 companies and employs more than 55,000 people.

Interesting Facts about Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York

Together Nassau and Suffolk counties nearly 180 fire agencies possess more fire trucks than New York City and Los Angeles County combined. Suffolk County is the leading agricultural county in New York State based on the wholesale value of its farm products.

More 7-Eleven coffee is purchased on Long Island than in all of California.

Long Island has hosted seven U.S. golf open tournaments....

~ Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton hosted the U.S. Women's Golf Open in 2013.

~ Shinnecock Hills in Southampton hosted the U.S. Men's Golf Open four times in three different centuries.

~ Bethpage Black Course hosted the U.S. Golf Men's Open twice in recent years ... 2002 and 2009.

Nassau County/Suffolk County Population: 1.35 million/1.48 million

Area: 287 sq. miles/911 sq. miles

County Seat: Mineola/Riverhead Nassau was the home to Long Island's ONLY professional Sports Franchise -- until 2015.