Background

• Peconic County would encompass the eastern part of Long Island (including both its northern and southern forks), and Shelter Island. Officially it would be made up of the five townships of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Southold. (Source: NY Times)
• The western part of Suffolk County is the more urban suburbs of New York City, while the majority of the property in what would become Peconic County rural in nature and contains many second homes of people who live elsewhere, but use eastern Long Island as a retreat and vacation spot.
• The plans for a division of Suffolk County emerged when the county seat of the county was moved from Riverhead to the Western edge of Suffolk County (Hauppauge township).
• In 1997, the residents of the five townships that would make up the new Peconic County voted 71% in favor of a non-binding resolution to that effect. The move has not been approved by the NY General Assembly. (Source: NY Times)