The Hamptons

The Hamptons are a group of seaside communities on the East End of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. The region consists of the towns of Southampton and East Hampton which form the South Fork of Long Island. The area developed from early agricultural and fishing settlements and became a well-known seaside resort and summer colony by the late nineteenth century. The Atlantic Ocean forms the southern coastline, while the South Fork is bordered by several bays and estuaries, including Shinnecock Bay on the south shore and the Peconic and Gardiners bays to the north. Communities in the Town of Southampton include Westhampton Beach, Quogue, Hampton Bays, Southampton Village, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, and part of Sag Harbor. The Town of East Hampton includes East Hampton Village, Amagansett, Springs, Wainscott, and Montauk. The Shinnecock Reservation of the Shinnecock Indian Nation is located within the Town of Southampton. The Shinnecock people inhabited the Southampton area before European colonization. In 1640, Shinnecock leaders reached an agreement with English colonists concerning the use of tribal lands; the colonists subsequently established Southampton, one of the earliest English settlements in what became New York. Early settlement and trade linked the Hamptons closely to coastal New England, particularly Connecticut, and these connections influenced town layouts, which in some villages resemble those of New England coastal towns. The extension of direct rail service from New York City in the late nineteenth century led to rapid growth as a seasonal destination, especially in Southampton Village, while other communities developed more gradually. Artists have been associated with the Hamptons since the nineteenth century. Studios, schools, and seasonal artist communities formed in Southampton and Springs, and they remain part of the region’s cultural identity. The region also hosts recurring cultural events, including the Hamptons International Film Festival, held annually at venues...