The town of Southampton is in southeastern Suffolk County on the South Fork of Long Island. It includes a number of villages and hamlets including Southampton (village), Bridgehampton, Water Mill, and part of Sag Harbor. With its neighbors, Southampton is part of the area often referred to as “The Hamptons,” long considered to be a seasonal playground of the rich and famous and the East Coast professional elite.

Residential real estate in the Hamptons is among the most coveted in the nation. Nestled between the charm of downtown and the wild beauty of the dunes, homes around Lake Agawam are known for their residential splendor. The beaches here rank among the nation’s best. Many of them provide residents with permits, though some allow visitors who pay a fee.

Southampton is known for its reserved elegance, impressive estates and celebrated past and present residents. It is the home of Shinnecock Golf Club, the oldest private 18-hole golf course in the nation, as well as over seven miles of extraordinary oceanfront with 11 individual beaches.

In Southampton Village, downtown and Jobs Lane offer unparalleled charm and a perfectly-curated collection of shops offering everything from antiques and crafts to the big-city wares of Saks Fifth Avenue. The Parrish Museum houses a serious collection of American art, and you’ll find plenty of top-notch art, music and other cultural events throughout the town all year round.

The business district of the former writer’s colony of Sag Harbor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hamlets of Water Mill, Sagaponack and Bridgehampton are a popular destination for writers, artists and actors drawn to the quiet beach colony atmosphere.

For all of its classic East Coast gentility, Southampton retains a laid-back, “south of the highway” small-town vibe, with restaurants and pubs that range from fine dining to casual just-off-the-beach offering superb dining options from seafood to pub grub and locally-brewed beers and ales.

The Montauk Branch of the Long Island Railroad, Montauk Highway, and the Hampton Jitney provide connections to the rest of Long Island and to New York City.