Peconic County, New York

It derives its name from Peconic Bay which is the dividing body of water separating the North and South forks of Long Island.

[1] The big drive for the county was a difference in character between western Suffolk County which is predominantly a New York City bedroom community while the east end (or "East End") is dominated by home owners who want to preserve the area's more rural and upscale character.

In 1997, 71 percent of the east end voters approved a nonbinding resolution to secede.

East End newspapers speculated that the Assembly was afraid that it would encourage a wave of secessions in the state including Staten Island seceding from New York City[2] and perhaps even causing the division of upstate and downstate New York.

[3] If the proposed secession were to occur, the surviving Suffolk County would have a land area of 1,462.001 km2 (564.482 mi2) and an adjusted 2020 census population of 1,356,575 inhabitants.

The proposed Peconic County flag showed the two forks at the east end of Long Island separated by Peconic Bay. The star on the north represents Southold. The stars on the South Fork represent Southampton and East Hampton. Riverhead is at the fork mouth and Shelter Island is between the forks.
A map showing the proposed location of Peconic County.