Located in the middle of Suffolk County's south shore, the Moriches Bay area possesses a gateway to Fire Island National Seashore, via the Smith Point Bridge, and approximately six miles of beautiful bayfront properties. It's no wonder that recreation was the prime interest in this former summer and retirement community. However, as Long Island and Suffolk County have continued to grow, so has this once secluded recreational paradise.

With an overall population of approximately 40,000 these communities actively support eight religious centers and some thirty-two civic organizations whose leaders meet periodically to cooperate for the betterment of the entire community. Residents have supported the school budget votes consistently and the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library is noted as the most modern on Long Island. The area's location near major highways, the Brookhaven Collabro Airport and Long Island Railroad service has contributed to both residential and commercial growth.

Brookhaven Collabro Airport is also the home of Dowling College's National Aviation and Transportation Center, part of a new national program to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in aviation and intermodal transportation operation and management.

The communities have a rich historical past with many remnants and reminders still available. For thousands of years, the Algonquians roamed the area and Mastic today is the site of one of the only two Native American reservations on Long Island, the Poospatuck Reservation. Nearby the reservation is the estate of William Floyd, the only Long Islander to sign the Declaration of Independence. The Estate is open to visitors during the warm weather months. Another famous landmark is the Manor of St. George, homestead of the powerful colonial Smith family and site of a Colonial victory in the Revolutionary War.

Recreational opportunities remain a vital part of community life. Fishing and boating, of course, are of prime interest. Boat rentals and party boat trips for bluefish and striped bass in the ocean and flounder, snappers and fluke in the bay are available.

Across the Smith Point Bridge is Fire Island National Park with ocean swimming, wind surfing, nature trails, surf fishing and camping available.

Inland are several ponds and a river where one can canoe or rowboat and enjoy fresh water fishing. There is also a Town run bathing beach on the Bay. Pine Hills Golf and Country Club and Rock Hill Golf Course are just North of Route 27 and a new golf course is being constructed just off the William Floyd Parkway. Activities such as indoor swimming, skating, tennis and shopping are readily available.

Educational facilities in the Shirley, Mastic and Moriches areas are administered by two school districts, The William Floyd District, one of the largest on Long Island, and The Center Moriches District, a significantly smaller district. The William Floyd District serves the residents of Shirley, Mastic, Mastic Beach and Moriches with four elementary schools averaging 1,200 to 1,300 students each; a sixth grade school with approximately 800 students, whose purpose is to assist in the transition from localized elementary schools to a central education facility; a junior high school with about 1,450 students and a newly expanded and renovated high school with some 2,700 students. The Moriches Elementary School was twice in the 1990's named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the US Department of Education.

The Center Moriches District has a single elementary school of about 630 students and a combined junior/senior high school with approximately 570 students.