The Town of Southampton

The Town of Southampton is located in the southeast area of Long Island in the state of New York.  It covers about 140 square miles, and is made up of eighteen hamlets and seven incorporated villages. The wealthy live in this area of Long Island, so the local residents can easily afford the Long Island Watch.

Famous for its sandy white beaches on the Atlantic Ocean as well as several, quant, charming and upscale villages - Southampton is a popular summer destination for many celebrities, although it appeals to people in all walks of life.  If you're looking to Discover Long Island, than the Town of Southampton is a must!

In the past it was considered more of a seasonal or summer community, today however, the Town of Southampton and its hamlets and villages are now home to mostly year round residents. According to the 2010 census, there are approximately 56,790 residents in Southampton, however that number often seasonally fluctuates.

History

The Town of Southampton was established in 1640 by English settlers who traveled from Lynn, Massachusetts and purchased the land from the Shinnecock Indian Nation.  These settlers discovered a secluded area by a harbor that is now known as North Sea Harbor. 

It is in this area that they first settled and founded a settlement they named Southampton.  Historical records indicate that The Town of Southampton was New York State’s first English colony.

The Shinnecock Tribe shared their knowledge of agriculture with these new settlers and by   1643, the town had increased its population to include 43 new families in the settlement. Thomas Halsey was the first English settler to trade with the Shinnecocks. He built the historic Halsey House, one of the oldest houses that still exists in Southampton.  

Today, a Shinnecock Native American reservation still exists in Southampton and it continues to be a force in preserving the culture of the original Native Americans of Southampton.

Hamlets and Towns within the Town of Southampton

The entire town of Southampton is comprised of the following hamlets and incorporated villages:

Hamlets:

·       Bridgehampton

·       Eastport

·       East Quogue

·       Flanders

·       Hampton Bays

·       Northampton

·       North Sea

·       Noyack

·       Quoque

·       Remsenburg

·       Riverside

·       Shinnecock Hills

·       Speonk

·       Tuckahoe

·       Water Mill

·       Westhampton

Villages:

·       North Haven

·       Quogue

·       Sag Harbor

·       Sagaponack

·       Southampton

·       Westhampton Beach

·       Westhampton Dunes

Beaches

The Town of Southampton is filled with many beautiful beaches, either along the Shinnecock Bay, Moriches Bay, Peconic Bay or on the Atlantic Ocean.  Most town beaches require a town sticker or a town parking permit.  Some popular Southampton town beaches are listed below:

·       Tiana Beach, East Quogue

·       Ponquogue Beach, Hampton Bays

·       Sand Bar Beach, East Quogue

·       Foster Memorial (Long) Beach, Noyac

·       Flying Point Beach, Water Mill

·       W. Scott Cameron Beach, Bridgehampton

·       Mecox Beach, Bridgehampton

·       Sagg Main Beach, Sagaponack

·       William Swan (Hot Dog Beach), East Quogue

·       Pikes Beach, Westhampton Dunes

Parks

Southampton Township is also home to many stunning waterfront or water view parks. In addition to the beaches, town parks also require a Southampton town sticker or a town parking permit.  Some of the more popular town parks are listed below:

·       Ed Warner Sr Marine Park - 275 Dune Road, Hampton Bays

·       Old Ponquogue Bridge Marine Park (North) - 49 Lighthouse Road, Hampton Bays

·       Trout Pond - 3200 Noyac Road, Noyac

·       Emma Rose Elliston Park - 40 Millstone Brook Road, North Sea

·       North Sea Community Park, 1370A Majors Path, North Sea

·       Maritime Park - 6 Newtown Road, Hampton Bays

·       Wildwood Lake Park - 3939 Lake Ave, Northampton

·       Red Creek Park, 102 Old Riverhead Road, Hampton Bays

·       Conscience Point Park - 1976 North Sea Road, North Sea

·       Tiana Bayside Recreational Facility - 89 Dune Road, Hampton Bays

Historic Locations

As one of the oldest established settlements in New York State, Southampton is home to many historic locations that are cared for and preserved by the Southampton Historical Association. With its long and rich history, there are many historic places to visit within the town.

Berwind Memorial Green (Beebe Windmill)

Located in Bridgehampton, the Beebe Windmill is one of the last eleven remaining windmills, built in 1820 for Lester Beebe.  This historic windmill has a stone foundation and a four-story tower.   It is a national, state and local landmark that was donated to the Town of Southampton.  The grounds and mill of this historic site are maintained by the Southampton Parks & Recreation Department.

Additional historic sites that are owned and cared for by the Town of Southampton include:

·       Nathaniel Rogers House, Bridgehampton

·       Canoe Place Chapel, Hampton Bays

·       Prosper King House, Hampton Bays

·       Ellis Squires Sr. House, Hampton Bays

·       Lyzon Hat Shop, Hampton Bays

·       Tiana Life Saving Station, Hampton Bays

·       Blue Barn, Flanders

·       Tupper Boathouse, North Sea

·       Noyac Schoolhouse, Noyac

·       White Collins Mulvihill House, Sag Habor

·       Remsenburg Academy, Remsenburg-Speonk

Historic Burial Grounds

Southampton Township maintains several abandoned historic cemeteries and colonial period burial grounds as historic memorial parks including:

·       Westhampton Burying Ground, Quogue

·       Pleasure Woods Cemetery, Flanders

·       East Quogue Burying Ground, Hampton Bays

·       Indian Preacher Gravesite, Hampton Bays

·       Hubbard Cemetery, Hampton Bays

·       Old Noyac Burial Ground and North Sea Burial Ground, Southampton

·       Old Southampton Burying Ground, Southampton

Museums and Notable Sites

The Town of Southampton has a rich and diverse cultural community that includes numerous museums, cultural centers and historic sites.

Bridgehampton Historical Museum, Bridgehampton - The Bridgehampton Historical Society manages and cares for this museum.  It displays objects and furnishings from the Corwith Family and other local historic Southampton families.

Halsey Homestead, Southampton - The Halsey Homestead is located on South Main Street in Southampton. It is the original home of Thomas Halsey and the Halsey family, one of the original English families who bought property in 1640. It is the oldest house in Southampton Township.

Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill – The Parrish Art Museum is a must stop in the town of Southampton.  This sleek, modernly designed building has a large collection of both modern and classic art work and hosts numerous artistic and cultural programs and exhibitions for both adults and children.

Other notable cultural destinations include:

·       Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE), Bridgehampton

·       Parrish Art Museum, Water Mill

·       Sag Harbor Fire Department Museum, Sag Harbor

·       Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, Sag Harbor

·       Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center & Museum, Southampton

·       South Fork Museum of Natural History, Southampton

·       Southampton Historical Museum, Southampton

Wineries

The Town of Southampton is also home to three highly acclaimed vineyards and wineries.  The sandy soil and salt air from the ocean have successfully contributed to the winemaking process and the creation of award winning wines from Long Island. 

Sources:

www.southamptontownny.gov

http://www.southamptonassociation.org

https://www.southamptonhistory.org/

https://parrishart.org/about

- Lawrence E. Orient