In the spirit of the Countries of an Alternate World Thread, let's create alternate states inside the continental United States.
LONG ISLAND
Consists of: Queens (OTL Eastern Queens county), King William County (OTL Nassau County), Suffolk County and Peconic County (OTL east end of Suffolk County)
Statehood Granted: January 1, 1899
Population: 2.5 million (per 2000 census)
Capital: Garden City
Governor: Thomas Suozzi (elected in 2002, reelected in 2006)
History: When Brooklyn and Staten Island joined the City of New York in 1895, the county of Queens was split on whether to join the city. The mostly rural eastern part of the county opposed joining the city. With the blessing of President Benjamin Harrison, Long Island was granted statehood (it was opposed by former President Grover Cleveland who lost their 1892 rematch).
This mostly suburban state boasts The Francis Gabreski Air Force base, the state's second largest employer (SUNY Stony Brook Hospital is the largest), and industries ranging from aircraft production, fishing, tourism (mostly in the Hamptons and City of Long Beach), and transportation.