On 10/3/03 (5:10:16 PM MDT), Diane ([email protected]) wrote, "Wonder if the folks on Shelter Island know of a grant of 1666 signed 'by Gov. Nichols to free Shelter Island from all future taxation' re 'Town of Southold, Long Island. Personal index prior to 1698, and index of 1698'." This is a moot point: the Town of Shelter Island seceded from and became independent of the Town of Southold in 1730 (or, there abouts). Currently, there are no cities and 10 towns in Suffolk County. From west to east, the 10 towns (if not original to the founding of Suffolk County in 1683, the year of incorporation is provided) are: Huntington (original) Babylon (formed from Huntington in 1872) Islip (original) Smithtown (original) Brookhaven (original) Riverhead (formed from Southold in 1792) Southampton (original) Southold (original) East Hampton (original) Shelter Island (formed from Southold in 1730) These 10 towns include within their borders 31 villages (incorporated municipalities) and 126 hamlets (unincorporated areas). I'm including after my name a NYS Geographic Glossary with the NYS definitions of county, city, town, village, hamlet and postal zone. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. L'Shannah Tovah* & Happy 5764, Walter Greenspan * L'Shanah Tovah (li-SHAH-nuh TOH-vuh; li-shah-NAH toh-VAH) Hebrew. Lit. for a good year. A common greeting during Rosh Hashanah and Days of Awe. It is an abbreviation of L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem (May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year). . Cities, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Postal Zones in New York State New York State is divided into counties. County A county is a municipal corporation, a subdivision of the state, created to perform state functions; a "regional" government. All counties are divided into cities, towns and Indian reservations. City A city is a unique governmental entity with its own special charter. Cities are not sub-divided, except into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Town A town is a municipal corporation and encompasses all territory within the state except that within cities or Indian reservations. Towns can be sub-divided into villages and hamlets. Village A village is a general purpose municipal corporation formed voluntarily by the residents of an area in one or more towns to provide themselves with municipal services. The pattern of village organization is similar to those of a city. A village is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Hamlet A hamlet is an unincorporated area in one or more towns that is governed at-large by the town(s) it is in. A hamlet is divided into neighborhoods, which are informal geographic areas. Postal Zone "City" and "Town" A postal zone "City" and "Town" is an administrative district established by the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the mail. Postal zone "City" and "Town" may not (but are encouraged to) conform to municipal or community borders. Thus, postal zone location does not always determine city, village or hamlet location. Please be aware: In many areas of New York State, the problem of non-conforming postal zones leads to a situation where the majority of places have a different community name in their mailing address than the community where that place is actually located.