A host of Langley city and business leaders were shocked to learn this week that unbeknownst to them the Village by the Sea has moved.

Apparently, the community picked up its century-old roots on South Whidbey and relocated to Hat Island about three years ago, according to tech giant Apple Inc. Hence, Whidbey motorists should be advised of longer commutes.

Based on directions from the company’s built-in map and navigation programs on mobile devices, such as smartphones and laptops, a drive to Langley from anywhere on the South End now entails taking the Clinton ferry to Everett, driving to the local marina and then booking passage on the passenger-only ferry to Hat, also known as Gedney Island.

Har, har, har. Too bad no one is laughing about Apple’s mega map mistake.

Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy just learned of the error and, considering the possible economic ramifications for a city that relies so heavily on tourism, he isn’t amused. Most people know where Langley is, but first-time visitors may not, and there’s a real chance people may skip a planned trip to the historic community if they believe it’s located on another island.

Furthermore, how such a massive and industry-leading tech company could mix up the location of a community as old and established as Langley is something McCarthy said he is struggling to understand.

“We’ve been here 100 years,” McCarthy said. “They should know where we are.”

Apple’s media department did not return repeated requests for comment.

It’s unclear exactly how long the error has existed, but it’s likely been around since 2012. That’s when Apple stopped using Google Maps for iOS, the operating system for mobile devices, such as iPhones, iPads and laptops.

Apple began using its own maps for its onboard navigation program “Maps,” which comes preloaded into all its mobile devices.

The launch was plagued with problems, however, resulting in international headlines. The program was so flawed that Australian police in December of 2012 warned the public that using Apples maps could in fact kill you, according to a CNN news story.

The problem was so bad company CEO Tim Cook issued a public apology that same year.

That was three years ago, and while McCarthy was just learning of the issue he isn’t the only one late to the party. Langley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marc Esterly and Port of South Whidbey Commissioner Curt Gordon were also unaware of the issue until informed by a Record reporter. All three agree that the issue is serious and needs to be rectified immediately.

“I think it’s a really big deal,” Gordon said. “There could be a whole lot of people getting lost … or just giving up.”

The public’s dependence on smartphones for directions has never been higher, he said. No one asks people how to get somewhere anymore; they ask for the address and “Google it,” Gordon said.

Apple’s iPhones were credited with claiming about 42 percent of the smartphone market in 2014 and, according to some reports, nearly one in four Americans have one in their pocket.

With blossoming industries like weddings, bad directions from such a large and trusted company is simply unacceptable, Gordon said.

“People could end up on landing craft headed to a wedding on Hat,” Gordon said.

Even local taxing authorities were caught off guard. Island County Assessor Mary Engle admitted she wasn’t aware that Langley had moved, and refuted Apple’s claim. She was quick to assure constituents that her office is still doing their job correctly.

“I’m pretty sure our assessors are going to the right place for valuations,” Engle said.

Gordon, McCarthy and Esterly all said they plan to contact Apple and request the mistake be rectified immediately. But the actual fix may not be so easy.

“I’ve been complaining to Apple Maps since the day it came out,” said Chris ScottHanson, a longtime Langley resident.

Over the years, he’s alerted Apple of the error via its online reporting system about a dozen times, but it’s never been fixed.

And he’s not alone. A Bainbridge man who often visits Whidbey said he’s reported the issue nearly as many times, and McCarthy said Langley City Councilman Thomas Gill has been trying to get Apple to get their map program right for years, all with no luck.

The lack of response is frustrating, said McCarthy, and is difficult to understand. It’s as mysterious as how such a large and respected company could mess up something as simple as a city’s location, he said.

“That’s ridiculous,” McCarthy said. “Seriously.”

He plans to put the issue before the city council at its next regular meeting, which is Monday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.