As a possible help to Lilly Martin (malik(a)scs-net.org) and others, I've put
together an outline of the geographic history of Long Island:
The counties that make up Long Island (west to east):
1683
Kings, Queens, Suffolk and Dukes.
1691
Kings, Queens and Suffolk.
1899
Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.
Now, turning to the major municipalities (cities and towns) in each of the
counties separately:
========== Kings County ==========
1683
Kings County created and includes 6 towns: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatbush,
Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht.
1834
Town of Brooklyn becomes City of Brooklyn. Kings County now includes 1 city
(Brooklyn) and 5 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New
Utrecht).
1840
Town of Williamsburgh secedes from Town of Bushwick. Kings County now
includes 1 city (Brooklyn) and 6 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush, Flatlands,
Gravesend,
New Utrecht and Williamsburgh).
1851
Town of Williamsburgh becomes City of Williamsburgh. Kings County now
includes 2 cities (Brooklyn and Williamsburgh) and 5 towns (Bushwick,
Flatbush,
Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht).
1852
Town of New Lots secedes from Town of Flatbush. Kings County consists of 2
cities (Brooklyn and Williamsburgh) and 6 towns (Bushwick, Flatbush,
Flatlands,
Gravesend, New Lots and New Utrecht).
1854
City of Williamsburgh and Town of Bushwick consolidated into City of
Brooklyn. Kings County now 1 city (Brooklyn) and 5 towns (Flatbush,
Flatlands,
Gravesend, New Lots and New Utrecht).
1886
Town of New Lots annexed into City of Brooklyn. Kings County now 1 city
(Brooklyn) and 4 towns (Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht).
1894
Towns of Flatbush, Gravesend and New Utrecht annexed into City of Brooklyn.
Kings County now 1 city (Brooklyn) and 1 town (Flatlands).
1896
Town of Flatlands annexed into City of Brooklyn. Kings County and City of
Brooklyn become coterminous.
========== Queens County ==========
1683
Queens County created and includes 5 towns: Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica,
Hempstead and Oyster Bay.
1784
The Town of North Hempstead secedes from the Town of Hempstead and Queens
then has 6 towns (Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, North Hempstead, Hempstead and
Oyster Bay).
1870
The City of Long Island City (includes the Village of Astoria and parts or
all of adjacent hamlets) seceded from and became independent of the Town of
Newtown and Queens County then had 1 city (Long Island City) and 6 towns
(Newtown,
Flushing, Jamaica, North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay).
1886
The Lloyd's Neck peninsula in the Town of Oyster Bay is transferred
(excluding riparian rights) to the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County.
1898
The western-quarter of Queens County (the City of Long Island City, the
Towns
of Newtown, Flushing and Jamaica and the Rockaway peninsula of the Town of
Hempstead) are annexed by the new New York City. The eastern three-quarters
(the Towns of North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay) remained part of
Queens
County, but is not part of New York City. Thus, for one year, part of
Queens
County is in New York City and part is not in New York City.
1899
The eastern three-quarters of Queens County (the Towns of North Hempstead,
Hempstead and Oyster Bay) seceded from and became independent of Queens
County
and formed Nassau County.
========== Nassau County ==========
1899
Nassau County seceded from and became independent of Queens County and
includes 3 towns: North Hempstead, Hempstead and Oyster Bay).
1918
Hamlet of Glen Cove secedes from the Town of Oyster Bay. Nassau County now
includes 1 city (Glen Cove) and 3 towns (North Hempstead, Hempstead and
Oyster
Bay).
1922
Village of Long Beach secedes from the Town of Hempstead. Nassau County now
includes 2 cities (Glen Cove and Long Beach) and 3 towns (North Hempstead,
Hempstead and Oyster Bay).
========== Suffolk County ==========
1683
Suffok County created and includes 7 towns: Brookhaven, East Hampton,
Huntington, Islip, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold.
1720 (approximately)
Shelter Island secedes from the Town of Southold. Suffolk County now
includes 8 towns (Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Shelter
Island,
Smithtown, Southampton and Southold).
1792
Riverhead secedes from the Town of Southold. Suffolk County now includes 9
towns (Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Shelter
Island,
Smithtown, Southampton and Southold).
1872
Babylon secedes from the Town of Huntington. Suffolk County now includes 10
towns (Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead,
Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold).
1886
The Lloyd's Neck peninsula, excluding riparian rights, is transferred to the
Town of Huntington from the Town of Oyster Bay. Suffolk County now includes
10 towns (Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead,
Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold).
========== Dukes County ==========
1683
Dukes County created and includes: Martha's Vineyard (then known as Martin's
Vineyard), Nantucket Island, and a few other scattered islands.
1691
Dukes County transferred to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting.
Regards,
Walter Greenspan
Great Falls, MT & Jericho, NY