The Village of Westhampton Beach is located on the scenic south shore of Long Island, in the eastern end of Suffolk County approximately 78 miles from midtown Manhattan. Westhampton Beach is considered by many to be the “First Hampton” because it was the first village in the Hamptons to begin renting out rooms and the first Hampton to be accessed by the Long Island Rail Road. Since its origins, Westhampton Beach has been one of the fastest growing communities on eastern Long Island, yet has still managed to maintain its laidback reputation.
Westhampton Beach, incorporated in 1928, is positioned 40.80 degrees north of the equator and 72.64 degrees west of the prime meridian (40 degrees 80′ N, 72 degrees 65′ W). It has a land area of 2.9 square miles, surface water of 0.72 square miles, local population of 1,902 people within the village, and a total population of 3,800 people within the 11978 zip code according to the 2000 Census. Basically residential in character with a sizeable seasonal population, most residences are single family homes, although there are several large cooperative and condominium complexes located within the Village. Commercial development is concentrated in the central business district along Old Riverhead Road coming down from Exit 63 South from Sunrise Highway (Also known as Firefighter’s Way), East to West along Montauk Highway and Mill Road as well as the formal village business triangle formed by Mill Road, Main Street and Potunk Lane with the now revitalized Six Corners Roundabout at the pinacle.
Westhampton Beach maintains its own police department to protect our residents 24 hours a day. The Village Public Works Department maintains our local village streets, marina / yacht basin at Moniebogue Creek and all other municipal facilities. The Westhampton Beach Fire Department is comprised of over 120 volunteer firefighters whom are among the most highly trained and knowledgeable volunteers on Long Island. The Westhampton Beach Union Free School District provides educational facilities for the village and surrounding areas on a tuition paying basis at the upper grade levels.The white sugar sand beaches of the Atlantic Ocean on Dune Road’s barrier beach can be accessed via dual draw bridges at Jessup Lane to the West and Beach Lane to the East.
Incorporated Village of Westhampton Beach
165 Mill Road –
Westhampton Beach, New York
11978
Phone: 631.288.1654
Fax: 631.288.4332
Incorporated: 1928
Mayor: Maria Moore
Westhampton Beach Police Department
165 Mill Road – Westhampton Beach, New york 11978
EMERGENCY CONTACTS: 631.288.3444 or 911
Non-Emergency Business: 631.288.6620
Fax: 631.288.4347
7 Library Avenue – Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Phone: 631.288.3335
Fax: 631.288.5715
Director: Danielle Waskiewicz
E-mail: whamlib@westhamptonlibrary.org
The Westhampton Free Library recently opened a state of the art facility at 7 Library Avenue on the corner of Parlato Drive, just a short block south of Main Street. This highly anticipated opening has been two years in waiting and has been well worth the wait. Stop in, say hello, browse, enjoy!
Westhampton Beach Union Free School District
340 Mill Road – Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Phone: 631.288.3800
MASCOT: The Hurricanes
The Westhampton Beach Union Free School District provides educational facilities for the village and surrounding areas on a tuition paying basis at the upper grade levels – 9 through 12.The mission of the Westhampton Beach Schools, in partnership with parents and the community, is to prepare our students to be educated, informed, caring, and productive members of our ever-changing global society.
The Board of Education is dedicated to instilling in students the moral, ethical, and cultural values that are essential to individual dignity; to creating lifelong learners; and to cultivating an understanding and appreciation of the rights and responsibilities of American citizens so they may function effectively as independent individuals in a democratic society. The educational program will provide each child with the fundamental academic skills and basic knowledge required for his/her maximum educational development; the opportunity for each child to develop his/her interests and abilities to the fullest extent according to his/her individual potential; and special services to promote the physical, mental and emotional development of each child.
Extracurricular activities will be offered when possible to enhance the academic program. The Board, in collaboration with educational and support staff, parents, students, and the community, encourages the development of a school environment that is academically challenging, psychologically satisfying and socially fulfilling for students at all levels. The objectives of a comprehensive educational program are best realized when mutual understanding, cooperation, and effective communication exists among the home, school, and community.
History
Original Indian Name: Ketchabonack
Westhampton Beach was settled in 1666 as part of Quogue Purchase. The town remained relatively isolated until 1870 when the Long Island Rail Road stop was established. The inception of the railroad began Westhampton Beach’s tourism industry, which started with providing lodging to travelers. The area’s agriculture diminished and farmland was sold to create residences and hotels. The first residence built by Phineas T. Barnum was the Howell House, located on the corner of Beach Road and Main Street.
Westhampton Beach survived the Great Hurricane of 1938. The hurricane started off the coast of Africa and then made its way to the Bahamas. Labeled as a Category 5, the hurricane moved north towards Norfolk, Virginia where it was downgraded to a Category 3 storm. Weather trackers predicted the storm would then move northeast out to sea over the Atlantic Ocean but were proven wrong when the hurricane moved due north towards Eastern Long Island and Southern New England.
The hurricane made contact with Long Island on September 21, 1938 at the Village of Westhampton Beach with winds being reported up to 180 miles per hour and 30 to 50 foot waves crashing down on the ocean shoreline along with storm tides of 14 to 18 feet across Long Island. The strong winds and rain destroyed numerous communities, even submerging downtown the downtown business district of Westhampton Beach under more than 8 feet of water.
As a result of the extreme force of the hurricane, the geography of Long Island was changed forever. The two most dramatic changes were the creation of the Shinnecock Inlet and the widening of the Moriches Inlet. Much of the Village of Westhampton Beach and the East End of Long Island was destroyed along with extensive damage in the rest of New England.
Westhampton Beach Historical Society
111 Mill Road, Post Office Box 686 – Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Phone: 631.288.1139
The mission of The Westhampton Beach Historical Society is to collect and preserve materials pertaining to Eastern Long Island, focusing on the Greater Westhampton area, which includes Eastport, Speonk, Remsenburg, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, and Quiogue. They interpret the history of the area through exhibitions, educational programs and publications, faciliate local historical research as well as advocate the preservation of existing historic structures and sites in the greater community.
Westhampton Beach Fire District
92 Sunset Avenue – Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
EMERGENCY CONTACTS: 911
Non-Emergency Business: 631.288.1896
E-Mail: WHBFDistrict@optonline.net
The Westhampton Beach Fire District encompasses Westhampton Beach, Westhampton, Quiogue, and has a fire protection contract with West Hampton Dunes.
Post Office
170 Main Street – Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Phone: 631.288.4093
Westhampton Beach Post Office was designed by Louis A. Simon in conjunction with the United States Treasury Department. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
