Jones Beach Island facts for kids
Jones Beach Island is a long, narrow island located off the southern coast of Long Island in New York. It's called a "barrier island" because it acts like a natural wall, protecting the mainland from ocean storms. The island is named after Major Thomas Jones, who first arrived in Long Island in 1692. He built the island's first brick house and later, in 1700, set up a whaling station near where Jones Beach State Park is today. Jones Beach Island was also once home to the Oak Beach Inn.
Where is Jones Beach Island Located?
Jones Beach Island is separated from Long Island by several waterways, including Great South Bay, Jones Inlet, and Fire Island Inlet. Sometimes, people use the name "Fire Island" to talk about all the barrier islands off Long Island's south shore. However, Fire Island is also a specific island located just east of Jones Beach Island, across the Fire Island Inlet.
This island stretches across the border of two counties: Nassau and Suffolk. It includes small communities known as census-designated places, such as Gilgo and Oak Beach–Captree, New York.
Fun Things to Do: Beaches and Parks
The southern side of Jones Beach Island is famous for its beautiful beaches. These beaches face the wide-open Atlantic Ocean. The most well-known public beach on the island is Jones Beach State Park. This park is located on the western tip of the island. It's a very popular spot for fun and relaxation during the summer, especially for people from the New York City area.
How to Get to Jones Beach Island
You can easily reach Jones Beach Island from Long Island. On its western side, you can use the Meadowbrook State Parkway to get to Merrick. The Loop Parkway connects to Long Beach, and the Wantagh State Parkway leads to Wantagh.
On the eastern side, the island is connected to Babylon. It's also linked to Fire Island by the Robert Moses Causeway. A road called the Ocean Parkway runs along the entire length of the island. It connects all three of these causeways, which are roads built over water.
