Southampton, New York
Officially referred to as the “Town of Southampton,” Southampton is a large town situated partly on the South Fork of Long Island, in the southeastern portion of Suffolk County, in the US State of New York. Southampton is considered the most famous town located on a stretch of shoreline popularly referred to as “The Hamptons.”
Geography Of Southampton
The Town of Southampton covers a total area of 765.6 sq. km, of which 405.9 sq. km is covered by water, and 359.7 sq. km is covered by land. Southampton contains about seven incorporated villages and sixteen hamlets or unincorporated areas. The incorporated villages include West Hampton Dunes, Southampton, Quogue, Westhampton Beach, Sagaponack, North Haven, and Sag Harbor (shared with the Town of East Hampton). The unincorporated hamlets include Bridgehampton, East Quogue, Hampton Bays, North Sea, Quiogue, Riverside, Tuckahoe, Westhampton, Flanders, East Quogue, Northampton, Water Mill, Noyack, Speonk, Remsenburg, and Eastport (shared with the Town of Brookhaven).
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, the Town of Southampton experiences a humid subtropical climate with warm and humid summers and cold and snowy winters. The warm season lasts from June to September, with July being the hottest month, having an average high temperature of 26.1°C and a low temperature of 18.8°C. The cold season lasts from December to March, with January being the coldest month, having an average low temperature of -2.7°C and a high temperature of 3.8°C. Southampton receives an average of 48 inches of rainfall per year and an average of 28 inches of snowfall per year.
The Population And Economy Of Southampton
As per the latest 2020 census, Southampton is home to a population of 69,036 inhabitants. The town’s population has increased since the 2010 census, which showed that the town was home to 56,790 people. The town has a population density of 191.50 inhabitants per sq. km. About 85.3% of Southampton’s population is considered White, of whom most are non-Hispanic. The Hispanic group accounts for 22.5% of Southampton’s population, African Americans at 5.7%, Asians at 2.0%, American Indians at 0.2%, two or more races at 2.6%, and White alone at 68.5%.
As per the latest census, there are 21,602 households in Southampton, with a median household income of $95,281 and a per capita income of $56,190. The major employers in Southampton include Southampton Hospital, Southampton Union Free School District, Bathing Corporation of Southampton, The Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Meadow Club of Southampton, etc.
Tourist Attractions In And Around Southampton
Stony Brook Southampton
Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus is located between the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in the Town of Southampton. At present, the campus is home to the Graduate Arts Program, which offers several programs, including undergraduate and graduate marine sciences, health technology, management programs, and three graduate programs.
Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
The Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church situated in the village of Southampton. The church was built in the Gothic-Revival architectural style with blocks of white marble, and its construction was completed in 1908 at the cost of $100,000.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is a links-style golf club located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Peconic Bay in an unincorporated area in the Town of Southampton. The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is considered one of the world’s most outstanding golf courses and the oldest incorporated golf club in the United States. Established in 1891, it was the first American golf club to allow women members. Besides several other important events, the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club hosted five U.S. Opens in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004, and the most recent in 2018. The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club will host its sixth U.S. Open in 2026.
Southampton History Museum
Initially organized in 1898 and incorporated in 1910, the Southampton History Museum exhibits several historical objects and documents related to the development of the Town of Southampton. The Rogers Mansion serves as the principal administrative center of the Southampton History Museum and includes a dozen historic buildings that tell stories about the development of the Town of Southampton during the 19th century.
Brief History
The Town of Southampton was initially settled in 1640 when a small group of English Puritans from Lynn in Massachusetts landed at Conscience Point. The town was incorporated in 1894 and became the first permanent English settlement in New York. The town was named after the port city of Southampton, located in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the southern coast of England. The early settlers purchased land from the indigenous Shinnecock Indian Nation and established their residences. The colonists established the Whaling Industry in the late 17th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries, some of the dominant industries included fishing, farming, and duck-raising. After the end of the Revolutionary War and the withdrawal of the British forces, the community started to recover slowly. The Whaling Industry, which began in the 17th century, grew immensely and helped the community regain its prosperity. Several wealthy New Yorkers started arriving here after the Long Island Rail Road extension from Southampton to Sag Harbor in 1872.
