West Hampton Dunes, New York
Encyclopedia
West Hampton Dunes is an incorporated village in Suffolk County
, New York
, U.S.
, on the South Shore
of Long Island
. The population was 11 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated municipality in the state of New York.
. The barrier island was part of Fire Island until a Nor'easter
in 1931 split the island creating Moriches Inlet
. The inlet created a geographic oddity whereby the Town of Brookhaven
actually has jurisdiction on land immediately west of West Hampton Dunes although Brookhaven land access to it involves a nearly 20 mile drive through Southampton.
The village incorporated in 1993 in attempt to have more control over its precarious state since it was obliterated in the Great Hurricane of 1938, 1991 Halloween Nor’easter ("The Perfect Storm") and again in a 1992 Nor'easter
. Specifically, the village wanted to have a say in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handling of the barrier beach—particularly in response to a series of groynes at Shinnecock Inlet
that have created major beach erosion "downstream" in the longshore drift
. Almost immediately after incorporation, Gary Vegliante, the village's first and to date only mayor, sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $200 million. The Corps settled the suit and began replenishing the beach leading to a building boom on what had been a devastated empty section of beach.
The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association named West Hampton Dunes one of America's top restored beaches. In 2007, resident Yale Nelson finished a documentary on the town history which premiered October 20, 2007 in Westhampton at the Hamptons Film Festival.
In 1996, West Hampton Dunes was the closest community to the crash of TWA Flight 800
which occurred about 10 miles due south of it although news reports were to focus on the much larger communities across Moriches Bay which provided the water response.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.86 square miles (2.2 km²), of which, 0.34 square mile (0.8805959574 km²) of it is land and 0.52 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (60.47%) is water.
of 2000, there were 11 people, 7 households, and 3 families residing in the village. The population density
was 32.2 people per square mile (12.5/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 503.6 per square mile (195.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.91% White and 9.09% Asian.
There were 7 households out of which none had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
living together, and 42.9% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 28.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.57 and the average family size was 2.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 18.2% from 25 to 44, 36.4% from 45 to 64, and 45.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 266.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $67,083, and the median income for a family was $127,308. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $57,150. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the South Shore
South Shore (Long Island)
The South Shore of Long Island, in the U.S. state of New York, is the area along Long Island's Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Though some consider the South Shore to include parts of Queens, particularly the beach communities in the Rockaways such as Belle Harbor, the term is generally used to refer to...
of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. The population was 11 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated municipality in the state of New York.
History
West Hampton Dunes is located on a barrier island in the Town of SouthamptonSouthampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
. The barrier island was part of Fire Island until a Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
in 1931 split the island creating Moriches Inlet
Moriches Inlet
Moriches Inlet is an inlet connecting Moriches Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The name Moriches comes from Meritces, a Native American who owned land on Moriches Neck....
. The inlet created a geographic oddity whereby the Town of Brookhaven
Brookhaven, New York
The Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
actually has jurisdiction on land immediately west of West Hampton Dunes although Brookhaven land access to it involves a nearly 20 mile drive through Southampton.
The village incorporated in 1993 in attempt to have more control over its precarious state since it was obliterated in the Great Hurricane of 1938, 1991 Halloween Nor’easter ("The Perfect Storm") and again in a 1992 Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
. Specifically, the village wanted to have a say in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handling of the barrier beach—particularly in response to a series of groynes at Shinnecock Inlet
Shinnecock Inlet
Shinnecock Inlet is the easternmost of five major inlets connecting bays to the Atlantic Ocean through the narrow 100-mile-long Outer barrier that stretches from New York City to Southhampton, New York on the south shore of Long Island. It splits Westhampton Island from the peninsula extending from...
that have created major beach erosion "downstream" in the longshore drift
Longshore drift
Longshore drift consists of the transportation of sediments along a coast at an angle to the shoreline, which is dependent on prevailing wind direction, swash and backwash. This process occurs in the littoral zone, and in or within close proximity to the surf zone...
. Almost immediately after incorporation, Gary Vegliante, the village's first and to date only mayor, sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $200 million. The Corps settled the suit and began replenishing the beach leading to a building boom on what had been a devastated empty section of beach.
The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association named West Hampton Dunes one of America's top restored beaches. In 2007, resident Yale Nelson finished a documentary on the town history which premiered October 20, 2007 in Westhampton at the Hamptons Film Festival.
In 1996, West Hampton Dunes was the closest community to the crash of TWA Flight 800
TWA Flight 800
Trans World Airlines Flight 800 , a Boeing 747-131, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at about 20:31 EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff, killing all 230 persons on board. At the time, it was the second-deadliest U.S...
which occurred about 10 miles due south of it although news reports were to focus on the much larger communities across Moriches Bay which provided the water response.
Police
In 1996, the village under the authority of a court order, formed a law enforcement agency to better serve the needs of the community. The West Hampton Dunes Police Constabulary consists of approximately 10 members including a department chief and sergeant. The members are certified as peace officers with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and are trained at either the Suffolk Police and/or Suffolk Sheriffs academy. The members of the department also receive the required DCJS courses for peace officers to perform traffic enforcement duties including Radar/LIDAR, Standard Field Sobriety, Basic Crash Management, etc.Geography
West Hampton Dunes is located at 40°46′30"N 72°43′3"W (40.774871, -72.717624).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.86 square miles (2.2 km²), of which, 0.34 square mile (0.8805959574 km²) of it is land and 0.52 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (60.47%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11 people, 7 households, and 3 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 32.2 people per square mile (12.5/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 503.6 per square mile (195.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 90.91% White and 9.09% Asian.
There were 7 households out of which none had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, and 42.9% were non-families. 42.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 28.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.57 and the average family size was 2.00.
In the village the population was spread out with 18.2% from 25 to 44, 36.4% from 45 to 64, and 45.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 266.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $67,083, and the median income for a family was $127,308. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $57,150. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.
External links
- Official Village of West Hampton Dunes Page
- Incredible Journey: The Story of West Hampton Dunes Yale Nelson's documentary.
- The Barrier Beach Preservation Association of West Hampton Dunes
- Documenting a fight against the tide Newsday, October 14, 2007
- West Hampton Dunes: Back from the Brink The NY Times, August 10, 2003
- Beach Nourishment: The lessons from one Long Island Community A case study on West Hampton Dunes by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
Coastal Services Center