Southampton Introduction

    Southampton is the oldest English colonial settlement on Long Island. It was originally inhabited by the Shinnecock Indians who called the land "Agawam", which translated means "low flat meadows that are frequently innundated". A handful of people from Lynn, Massachusetts landed their boat on Conscience Point in North Sea on June 12, 1640. The settlers travelled about 5 miles south with the aid of local Shinnecock Indians to the area that is now known as Old Town Pond. There, they constructed their new homes, dugouts, holes dug 7 feet into the ground.

The town's name was coined to honor the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesly, who showed favor on the new American settlements. The settlers built a meeting house which was used to conduct public business (i.e. town meetings and court) and church services.

Frrom 1640 through the mid 1800's, the primary occupation of the people was fishing and farming. After 1850, a number of wealthy Manhattanites came to Southampton to vacation. The Long Island Rail Road, extended to Sag Harbor in the early 1870's, made the area accessible to many.

Today, Southampton is known primarily as a posh summer resort. Hundreds of people flock there every summer to soak in the sun and the local culture.

To get there: Take the Long Island Expressway (Rt. 495) east to Exit 71 South which is Route 24 (also known as Nugent Drive, then Flanders Road, then Riverhead/Hampton Bays Road). Go to the cloverleaf at Route 27 (Sunrise Highway) and head east. Route 27 turns into Route 39 (Sunrise Hgwy. Extension). Continue east on Route 39 to North Main St. in Southampton. Head south on North Main Street for about 2 mi. to Job's Lane.