The Hamptons
The Hamptons, part of the East End of Long Island, consist of the towns of Southampton and East Hampton, which together comprise the South Fork of Long Island, in Suffolk County, New York. The Hamptons are a popular seaside resort and one of the historical summer colonies of the northeastern United States. The Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, the Montauk Highway, and private bus services connect the Hamptons to the rest of Long Island and to New York City, while ferries provide connections to Shelter Island, New York and Connecticut. Stony Brook University's Southampton  campus is located in the Hamptons. West to east. The Hamptons include the following hamlets and villages in the town of Southampton: The Hamptons include the following hamlets and villages in the town of East Hampton: The Shinnecock Reservation of the Shinnecock Indian Nation lies within the borders of the Town of Southampton, adjoining Shinnecock Hills and the Village of Southampton. Places. These areas constitute the core vacation area of the east end of Long Island. Description. The Hamptons are home to many communities. Historically, it has been devoted to agriculture and fishing. Many farms are still in operation in  the area. There are three commercial vineyards operating in the Hamptons as well. Given the area's geographic location, it maintained strong commercial and social links to New England and the nearby states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Many of the original settlers were from and most of the trade links were with communities in Connecticut. Indeed, much of the older architecture and aesthetics of the villages in the Hamptons resemble New England. This is especially true for Sag Harbor Village and East Hampton Village. Once direct rail links to New York City were established, the community of summer vacation  residents expanded significantly. The Village of Southampton, which is the oldest of the Hamptons and the most westward of the villages in the core area of the Hamptons, grew rapidly. It remains the largest and most diverse of the Hamptons' towns. The other villages and hamlets grew at a slower rate over time. The agriculture community became supplemented by artisans and professionals (mainly in Southampton Village and Sag Harbor Village), and then by a large influx of artists. As a result, the arts community in the Hamptons has origins extending back to the nineteenth century. The Art Village in Southampton  and the community of Springs in East Hampton town hosted a number of resident artists and art schools (e.g., the Shinnecock Hills Summer School founded by William Merritt Chase). Current profile. The villages and the hamlets are distinguished by how their significant population increases during the summers, although the Hamptons have increasingly become year-round destinations for New Yorkers seeking a refuge on weekends. Residential real estate prices in the Hamptons rank among the highest in the U.S., and, as of 2015, the real estate market was very strong with prices rising for both home buyers and sellers, as well  as for rentals. Historically, real estate south of Route 27 ("south of the highway"), the main transportation artery in the Hamptons, was more highly valued. Land south of Route 27 is closer to the ocean, and the road served as a marker for social standing and land valuation. The most expensive neighborhoods lie south of the highway, and most of all in the so-called Estate Areas of Southampton Village, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack and East Hampton Village. Notable streets include Ox Pasture Road, Halsey Neck Lane, Coopers Neck Lane and First Neck Lane in Southampton Village and Lee Avenue  and West End Road in East Hampton Village. Oceanfront property commands a high premium over other real estate. The oceanfront streets in Southampton Village (Gin Lane and Meadow Lane) and East Hampton Village (Lily Pond Lane, Further Lane and West End Road) rank among the most expensive roads in the country. Meadow Lane in Southampton Village is sometimes referred to as "Billionaire's Lane". Sagaponack, Water Mill, and Bridgehampton were cited by "Business Week" magazine as being the first, sixth, and eighth most expensive ZIP codes in the nation, respectively. In 2015, according to "Business Insider", the 11962 ZIP code  encompassing Sagaponack, within Southampton, was listed as the most expensive in the U.S., by real estate-listings site Property Shark, with a median home sale price of $5,125,000. In 2016, according to "Business Insider", the 11962 ZIP code encompassing Sagaponack, within Southampton, was listed as the most expensive in the U.S., with a median home sale price of $8.5 million. Amenities in the area include the Southampton Arts Center, the Southampton Cultural Center, the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs; the Parrish Art Museum and the Watermill Center in Water Mill; the Guild Hall, a museum  and theater, in East Hampton. In the sporting world, the region's golf courses are very highly regarded. The private golf clubs in Southampton are among the most exclusive and expensive in the nation. Those courses include the National Golf Links of America, the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and the Sebonack Golf Club. These golf clubs are currently ranked 8th, 4th and 41st within the United States by Golf Digest. There is also the Maidstone Club in East Hampton, ranked 72nd by Golf Digest. Other private clubs include The Bathing Corporation of Southampton, the Southampton Bath and Tennis Club, and  the Meadow Club in Southampton Village. In 2019, according to Tim Davis and The Financial Times, home prices in The Hamptons fell 19.3 per cent in the first quarter while the median sale price of a single family home was $860,000. The locals blamed Donald Trump's tax changes for deterring wealthy buyers in 2019. History. The Hamptons' history as a dwelling place for the wealthy dates from the late nineteenth century when the community changed from a farming community with good potato ground to a popular destination. In 1893 "The New York Times" wrote: As of 2015, commercial  and point residential development has been ongoing, and the Hamptons continued to be a vacation spot for the wealthy. The Hamptons have also become a notable place for prominent members of the LGBT community. Beaches in the Southeastern United States have been referred to as "The Hamptons of the South", including Figure Eight Island in North Carolina, Hilton Head Island and Kiawah Island in South Carolina, and South Walton in Florida. Media. Dan's Papers, which originally began as the "Montauk Pioneer" on July 1, 1960, is published by Schneps Media. Transportation. The Hamptons are connected to New York City  and the rest of Long Island by a series of roadways (most notable of which are Route 27A, also known as Montauk Highway, and Route 27, also known as Sunrise Highway), rail service, and bus service. There are also several small airports throughout the Hamptons which offer both private and commercial service on small aircraft and helicopters. The Long Island Rail Road provides limited rail service seven days per week via the Montauk Branch connecting towns and hamlets in the Hamptons to Montauk and New York City. Hampton Jitney and Hampton Luxury Liner coach bus services provide slightly more frequent  passenger travel between New York City and the Hamptons, especially during summer months. Local Suffolk County buses also provide service to neighboring areas.