Westhampton Beach

• Name — Westhampton Beach, New York • Official Name — Incorporated Village of Westhampton Beach • Type — Village • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — New York • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Suffolk • Established Title — Incorporated • Established Date — 1928 • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Km2 — 7.79 • Area Land Km2 — 7.62 • Area Water Km2 — 0.17 • Area Total Sq Mi — 3.01 • Area Land Sq Mi — 2.94 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.07 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 2150 • Population Density Km2 — 282.31 • Population Density Sq Mi — 731.29 • Time Zone — Eastern (EST) • Utc Offset — -5 • Time Zone Dst — EDT • Utc Offset Dst — -4 • Elevation M — 2 • Elevation Ft — 7 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 11978 • Area Code — 631, 934 • Area Code Type — Area codes • Custom Label Sec1 — FIPS code • Custom Data Sec1 — 36-80181 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — GNIS feature ID • Custom Data1 Sec1 — 0970921 • Website — https: www.westhamptonbeach.gov/ • Subdivision Name3 — Southampton • Subdivision Type3 — Town

• Illustration — Westhampton Beach Shingle-Style home The area that includes present-day Westhampton Beach formed part of the Quogue Purchase. The area was historically known as Ketchaponack before the village was incorporated as Westhampton Beach in 1928. In 1938, almost all summer homes on its barrier beach were obliterated by the Long Island Express hurricane, which resulted in twenty-nine deaths within the community. Like most of the shoreline of southern Long Island, the beach at Westhampton Beach was eroding shoreward. This became a political issue in the 1960s. The project to protect the beaches in the area from further erosion was started by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1966, but was only partially completed because of the failure to secure funds from the state and local government. In addition the project design was seriously flawed. As a result, there was increased erosion at the beaches in Westhampton Beach while, up current, the beaches actually grew. During the late 1970s and through the 1980s, beach homes were washed away with every severe storm (nor'easter) that hit the coast. It was only after the nor'easter of November 1992 destroyed over eighty homes, that the Army Corps of Engineers began renewed repair efforts. In the mid-1990s, fifteen historic houses were relocated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The homes were moved off the beach and out of harm's way, at least for a while, but the beach would still erode and additional damage would occur with every storm. Additional work was required after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.0 sqmi, of which 2.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 2.35%, is water.

Westhampton Beach has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) bordering a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). It has one to two months averaging below freezing, six months above, and one to two months above.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,902 people, 805 households, and 498 families residing in the village. The population density was 654.2 PD/sqmi. There were 2,279 housing units at an average density of 783.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 89.17% White, 4.63% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.84% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% of the population. There were 805 households, out of which 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.81. In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males. The median income for a household in the village was $58,438, and the median income for a family was $74,412. Males had a median income of $55,625 versus $33,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $38,500. About 6.8% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Westhampton Beach is served primarily by the Westhampton Beach Union Free School District. Additionally, a small portion of the southeastern edge of the village is within the boundaries of the Quogue Union Free School District. The Westhampton Free Library traces its origins to 1897, when the Westhampton Free Library Association opened on Main Street; its current library building opened in 2010.

Westhampton Beach has police, ambulance, and fire departments.

Westhampton Beach and the surrounding area are served by Sunrise Highway (NY 27), which is a major artery to the western parts of Long Island and New York City. The village is also served by Montauk Highway (CR 80), a two-lane road which runs from New York City to Montauk. Montauk Highway serves as the "Main Street" of many towns and villages along the south shore of Long Island. The Long Island Rail Road provides limited rail service seven days per week via the Montauk Branch connecting Westhampton to Montauk and New York City. Hampton Jitney coach bus service provides slightly more frequent passenger travel between New York City and Westhampton, especially during summer months. Local Suffolk County buses also provide service to neighboring areas.

• Illustration — Gov. John Adams Dix Windmill in process of being moved, July 2023 The Crowther House, Foster-Meeker House, and U.S. Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The circa-1870 Gov. John Adams Dix Windmill, a historic water-pumping windmill, was relocated to the village's Great Lawn and restored. A ribbon-cutting for the restored windmill was held in July 2025. The Hampton Synagogue, founded by Rabbi Marc Schneier, opened its synagogue building in Westhampton Beach in 1994. The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, located in a former 1930s movie theater on Main Street, opened as a performing arts center in 1998. The building was designated a Town of Southampton landmark in 2023.