Sag Harbor:  One Village, Two Towns

In the state of New York, it’s not uncommon to have towns and cities with villages that technically are part of the town and yet retain their own identity.  But in this case, the village of Sag Harbor is an oddity:  it is located partially in Easthampton and partially in Southampton.

As you might guess from the name, water is an important part of Sag Harbor history.  It’s bounded by Sag Harbor Cove, and Sag Harbor Bay / Noyack Bay, little enclaves themselves within the larger Atlantic Ocean.  It’s this strategic position that led to its importance as a port and a subsequently busy role in the naval history of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Nowadays, of course, things are quieter and foreign navies have ceased seizing ships departing from Sag Harbor.  You are much more likely to encounter surfers than soldiers, and pleasure-seeking deep-water fishing crews than ocean-going whalers.