Overview:
The Hamptons are often treated as a single destination, but in reality they are made up of distinct hamlets and villages, each with its own culture, power structure, and relationship to New York City. This explainer breaks down the 13 commonly referenced Hamptons hamlets, how they function, and why understanding these differences matters for residents, visitors, and policymakers alike.
Explainer | Regional Culture & Governance
The Hamptons are often spoken about as a single place, but in reality they are a network of distinct hamlets and villages, each with its own culture, power structure, and relationship to New York City.
Understanding the Hamptons means understanding how these hamlets function differently — socially, economically, and institutionally.
How the Hamptons Are Structured
The Hamptons are divided between two towns:
- Town of Southampton
- Town of East Hampton
Most locations people call “Hamptons towns” are actually hamlets, meaning they:
- Are unincorporated
- Rely on town government for zoning, police, and courts
- Do not have independent municipal authority
A few areas are incorporated villages, which do control their own governance.
The 13 Hamlets of the Hamptons
1. Southampton Village
Function: Old-money governance and institutional control
Southampton Village is one of the most established centers of legacy wealth in the Hamptons. Power here is quiet, inherited, and deeply embedded in boards, law firms, and charitable institutions.
Character: Discreet, traditional, reputation-driven
2. Water Mill
Function: Estate wealth and privacy infrastructure
Water Mill is defined by large properties and minimal commercial presence. It functions as a buffer zone for ultra-high-net-worth residents who prioritize privacy over visibility.
Character: Invisible wealth, extreme discretion
3. Bridgehampton
Function: Agricultural land meets elite sport
Bridgehampton blends working farmland with polo fields, vineyards, and seasonal social events. It reflects the intersection of historic land ownership and modern capital.
Character: Rural prestige, seasonal influence
4. Sagaponack
Function: Billionaire land concentration
Sagaponack consistently ranks among the wealthiest ZIP codes in the United States. Power here is based on land, zoning, and long-term asset protection rather than social presence.
Character: Quiet dominance, minimal exposure
5. Noyack
Function: Working waterfront and year-round community
Noyack retains a strong maritime and trades-based identity. It is one of the more grounded, local-oriented hamlets with less seasonal turnover.
Character: Functional, local, insulated
6. Sag Harbor
Function: Cultural and creative hub
Sag Harbor has a walkable downtown, active marinas, and a strong creative community. Writers, filmmakers, artists, and media professionals are prominent here.
Character: Authentic influence, cultural capital
7. North Haven
Function: Ultra-private residential enclave
Located across the water from Sag Harbor Village, North Haven is known for controlled access and long-established families.
Character: If-you-know-you-know exclusivity
8. East Hampton Village
Function: Visibility and status signaling
East Hampton Village is one of the most recognizable Hamptons destinations, attracting public-facing executives, celebrities, and media figures.
Character: High visibility, tightly managed aesthetics
9. Wainscott
Function: Transitional elite zone
Wainscott sits between legacy East Hampton areas and newer development pressures. It blends old families with newer wealth.
Character: Quietly evolving
10. Amagansett
Function: Intellectual and low-key enclave
Amagansett is known for its understated character, year-round residents, and resistance to over-commercialization.
Character: Principled, grounded, discreet
11. Springs
Function: Artist legacy and civic stability
Historically associated with artists like Jackson Pollock, Springs maintains a strong sense of community and creative continuity.
Character: Creative without spectacle
12. Montauk
Function: Frontier, tourism, and working coastline
Montauk sits at the eastern edge of Long Island and blends fishing, surf culture, tourism, and long-time local communities.
Character: Less controlled, more authentic, evolving tension
13. Hampton Bays
Function: Working waterfront and year-round residential anchor
Hampton Bays is an official hamlet within the Town of Southampton, making it formally part of the Hamptons from a geographic and governmental standpoint. The hamlet plays a distinct role compared to many oceanfront areas.
Unlike estate-driven or highly seasonal Hamptons locations, Hampton Bays functions as:
- A major year-round community
- A center for maritime trades, fishing, and canal access
- A more locally rooted and economically diverse area
- A gateway between inland Long Island and the South Fork
Hampton Bays is sometimes excluded in casual conversation due to its location largely north of Montauk Highway and its working-class character, but this distinction is social rather than official. Administratively, it shares the same town governance, zoning authority, and municipal systems as other Southampton hamlets.
Character: Functional, maritime, year-round, locally grounded
Why These Distinctions Matter
The Hamptons are not governed or experienced uniformly.
Each hamlet has:
- Different relationships to wealth
- Different tolerance for visibility
- Different civic dynamics
- Different expectations for newcomers
Understanding these differences explains why:
- Some areas feel welcoming while others feel closed
- Zoning and enforcement can vary dramatically
- Social access does not always match financial access
Presence News Perspective
The Hamptons operate less on loud politics and more on soft power, land use, and institutional memory. Zoning boards, cultural institutions, and informal networks often shape outcomes more than elections.
For readers, visitors, and residents alike, knowing where you are — and how that place functions — matters. Are we forgetting anything in this article? Let us know to make a correction ASAP.
Presence News covers regional culture, civic structure, and public-interest issues across Connecticut, New York, and beyond.
Official Government Sources
- Town of Southampton .gov — the Town lists its hamlets and incorporated villages as part of its official civic structure, with recognition that the area includes multiple distinct hamlets across 140.2 square miles and seven incorporated villages. Southampton Town
- Town of East Hampton .gov — the Town’s official website provides local links and acknowledges the hamlets within its jurisdiction, including Montauk, Springs, Wainscott, Amagansett, and others. East Hampton Town
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