Long Beach is one of the older, more established communities on Long Island. Founded in 1880 when the first Long Beach Hotel was built, it continued to grow at a steady pace (the railroad arrived in 1882 promoting Long Beach as a resort community for vacationers). The major attraction in its development was the fact that Long Beach is an oceanfront island along Long Island' s south shore which has a moderating effect on its climate. Long Beach averages 10 degrees warmer in the winter and 10 degrees cooler in the summer than inland communities on Long Island and New York City. With the ocean on one side and the bay on the other, Long Beach developed as a seaside community.

By the beach on the oceanfront there is a 2 ¼ mile long boardwalk (built in 1914 with the help of some elephants), where, both in winter and summer, one can find strollers, joggers and bicycle riders. A section of the boardwalk is set aside as a bicycle lane and the recent interest in physical fitness has resulted in an increased use of the lighted boardwalk both during the day and at night. The adjacent beach is a 3.5 mile stretch of pure white sand open to the public year round with daily and seasonal rates during the summer.

The City of Long Beach is one of only two cities on Long Island (the other is Glen Cove). Although geographically within the Town of Hempstead located in Nassau County, Long Beach is politically independent and self-governing. The governing body consists of a five member City Council elected every two years, which appoints a City Manager. Long Beach also elects a Legislator every four years to represent the city on the six-member Nassau County's legislative body.