The Village of Southampton is one of the most well-known towns on Long Island. It is one of the top destinations in the Hamptons on the south shore of eastern Long Island. It is a place with a unique social scene in the summer as the rich and famous leave New York City to take up summer residence and enjoy private beaches and Hamptons nightlife. People of all types come to Southampton to see and be seen.

Each town in the Hamptons has a unique character but tourists may not be able to tell them apart. The Hamptons is really a marketing word for a geography that roughly extends from the area around Westhampton, Southampton, and East Hampton to the tip of Long Island at Montauk.

Of interest to tourists (and anyone who cosnders themselves a history buff), Southampton is also the oldest English settlement in New York State. It was first settled in 1640. Southampton and the surrounding towns of the Hamptons are on the south shore of Long Island. These towns are the western edge of the South Fork. They are one of the most beautiful beach vacation locations in easy driving distance to New York City. The naming and branding for these towns under the phrase "the Hamptons" first took off in the 1920s.

The website for the Village of Southampton notes several different points of interest in and around the town like beaches, parks and cultural venues. Nearby beaches include: Cryder, Coopers, Dune Beach (for Village residents only), Fowlers Lane, Gin Lane, Halsey Neck Lane, Little Plains, Old Town, Road D, Road G, and Wyandanch. Nearby parks include: Agawam, David Whites, Downs Family, Flying Point, Lola Prentice, Munn's Point, Richard L. Fowler Nature Walk, and William Dunwell.

Other points of interest include: the Southampton Historical Museum, Elias Pelletreau Silversmith Shop, Monument Square, Parrish Art Museum and the Thomas Halsey Homestead. For upcoming cultural events visit the Southampton Cultural Center Calendar of Events.

The Southampton Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit business organization. It promotes local businesses and tourism on the South Fork of Long Island.

Suffolk County is divided into ten towns that administer government services at a local level. The Town of Southampton is the largest town in the east end of Long Island. It has seven incorporated villages: North Haven, Quogue, Sagaponack, Sag Harbor, Southampton, Westhampton Beach, and West Hampton Dunes. The Village of Southampton is served by the Southampton Union Free School District.

The town is considered a major summer resort in the northeastern United States. It is about eighty miles from New York City. The population of the town will double during the summer months (the summer holiday season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day). The summer vacation season is the engine that drives the economy of Southampton Village and the town as a whole. Toursim and summer rentals in the Hamptons remain critical to the health of the economy on the entire east end of Long Island. Summer travel has provided a signifcant boost to the development of local vinyards on the North Fork.

Southampton is home to America's first department store, to many fine restaurants, to gourmet shops (raw honey, rare cheeses, and more), to high-end spas. Visit our Long Island blog section on the Hamptons for current news and information on the east end of Long Island.

The Village of Southampton has many upscale shopping opportunies:

• Southampton NY - Clothing Shops Accessories and Apparel: Aunt Suzie's Clothes for Kids, Inc., Edward Archer, Gail Toma (Grand Central Discovery, Corp), Gubbins Running Ahead, Harmont & Blaine, Judith Anne's, Le Sportsac, Inc., Max Studio, Saks Fifth Avenue, Smith, Sunrise to Sunset, Theory, and Therapy Clothing
• Southampton NY - Sports, Bicycle shops, bike sales, rentals and repair:
  Rotations Bicycle Center, Sport Court and Stevenson's Toy & Games. You can find more sports stores within easy driving distance to Southampton by checking our local online directories in these categories: Long Island mountain bikes and bikes and East End Long Island bikes and mountain bikes
• Southampton NY - Bookstores: BookHampton South
  Links to all bookstores on Long Island
• Southampton NY - Galleries: Chrysalis Gallery, Ezair Gallery, Martha Clara Vineyards, Parrish Art Museum and Southampton College Avram Family Gallery.
  Links to all Art Galleries on Long Island | Art Galleries on East End of Long Island
• Southampton NY - Home Furnishings: Antique Rug Galleria, B&N Furniture, Inc, Carpet One Of The Hamptons,Christian K. Andrews, LLC, Hildreth's Department Stores, Homenature, Suffolk Designer Lighting, Tabletop Designs by Stephanie Queller, The ClearingHouse-Southampton, The Little Frame Shoppe and V2K Window Decor & More.
• Southampton NY - Housewares: Hildreth's Department Stores, Lenox, Suffolk Designer Lighting and Villeroy and Boch
• Southampton NY - Jewelers: Corwin's Main St. Jewelers, Hollis Reh & Shariff, Job's Lane Jewelers, Rose Jewelers, Silpada, Tiffany & Company, Waldmann, Inc., and Wall Street Bead Exchange
• Southampton NY - Gift Shops and Speacialty Stores: Amazing Parties, Hildreth's Department Stores, One Stop Pet Shop, Starbucks Coffee Co., Tate's Bake Shop, The Elegant Setting and Topiare Flower Shop
• Southampton NY - Eyewear and Sunglasses: Hampton Family Eye & Vision, Leahy Opticians, Main Street Optics, and Optyx in the Hamptons

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