What cities are on Long Island?
Long Island has only two officially incorporated cities: Long Beach in Nassau County and Glen Cove, also in Nassau County. Although many people refer to places such as Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, and Patchogue as “cities,” they are actually towns, villages, or hamlets. Most communities on Long Island are governed as towns, incorporated villages, or unincorporated hamlets rather than cities.
In Short
Long Island has just two incorporated cities: Long Beach and Glen Cove. Nearly every other community on the island is officially classified as a town, village, or hamlet.
What Cities Are on Long Island?
Unlike many parts of the United States, Long Island has very few incorporated cities. Outside of New York City, there are only two cities on Long Island: Long Beach and Glen Cove. Both are located in Nassau County.
Long Beach is a coastal city on the South Shore known for its beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches, lively boardwalk, restaurants, and year-round waterfront lifestyle. Glen Cove, located on the North Shore, is one of Long Island’s historic Gold Coast communities and is known for its waterfront, parks, and rich history.
Many of Long Island’s best-known communities—including Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Smithtown, and Southampton—are actually towns rather than cities. Likewise, popular destinations such as Patchogue, Port Jefferson, and Greenport are incorporated villages.
This system of local government is unique to Long Island and much of New York State. Instead of organizing communities into cities, most residents live within towns that contain a combination of incorporated villages and unincorporated hamlets.
Quick Facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Number of Cities | 2 |
| Cities | Glen Cove and Long Beach |
| County | Both cities are located in Nassau County |
| Most Other Communities | Towns, incorporated villages, and hamlets |
| State | New York State |
Although Long Island has only two incorporated cities, it is home to hundreds of distinctive communities spread across Nassau County and Suffolk County. Whether they’re organized as towns, villages, hamlets, or cities, each contributes to the island’s diverse character, making Long Island one of the most unique local government systems in the United States.
