Though a 25 minute commuter train ride connects the bedroom community of Great Neck, New York to downtown Manhattan, this upscale community is more than just an ordinary Long Island suburb. This is because, since its modern development began in the late 19th Century, this town of just under 10,000 has been seen as place for those who have 'arrived' in business and society to settle and build their dream homes. It's for this reason that F. Scott Fitzgerald chose to use Great Neck as the model for the fictional setting of The Great Gatsby, a novel that, among other things, depicts the nature of upward mobility and high society in the Roaring Twenties. Due to its palatial estates, including those that sprawl across nearby Kings Point and the shores of Long Island Sound, this multigenerational association between Great Neck and luxury is well deserved. In modern times, however, it has developed a culture that is both sophisticated and diverse, as the area has become home to wealthy individuals from around the world. As the location of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, it also continues an association with the sea that can be traced back to the first European settlers. Given the multitude of surrounding harbors and rivers, it has been easy for this heritage to be preserved by the area's numerous yachtsmen and day sailors. Boating, however, is not the only excursion life in Great Neck has to offer, as its lawn parties and elegant society events are legendary. No matter whether they're attracted to the short commute that links Great Neck to New York City or the palatial nature of its estates, however, anyone who chooses to settle in this safe and economically stable town can be assured of years of comfortable living.