Native Americans inhabited Long Island well before European settlers arrived. These native peoples lived off the land -- planting, fishing, hunting and gathering food. Though there was plenty to be had, they took only what was needed. Eventually, European explorers discovered the island and described it as pristine, with tree-lined shores and abundant infish and wildlife.
Attracted by the plentiful natural resources, Dutch and English settlers were the first to make their way to the South Shore, where they built homes and supported themselves by farming and fishing. High marsh meadows were ideal for raising cattle, while the wetlands and bays offered oysters, clams and a variety of finfish. Offshore in the Atlantic, settlers hunted whales from small boats, slaughtering them on the barrier beaches for food, oil and bone.
After the American Revolution, stimulated by demand from New York City and beyond, commercial exploitation of Long Island's natural resources supplanted subsistence farming and fishing. In support of commercial activities, new maritime industries grew, including boat building and the manufacture of wood products and rope. Many of these industries located along the South Shore, spurring the growth of shoreline communities.
In the 1800's, the Long Island Railroad, chartered in 1834, made it easier for larger numbers of New York City residents to head for the shores of Long Island. Vacation colonies began to spring up along the South Shore, and, while industries dependent on the natural resources of the estuary continued to thrive, recreational pursuits grew in importance.
In the early 1900's, wealthy people began to build grand estates along the shores of the estuary while the less affluent built simple