Montauk is a hamlet within the town of East Hampton, located on the south shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, NY. When the first generations of European settlers arrived on Long Island, they leased the area of Montauk from the native Algonquian Indians as pasture land for their livestock. In 1686, East Hampton settlers purchased the land outright, and Montauk became home to the first cattle ranch in the United States. In the summer months, more than 1500 cattle from all over Long Island were driven into the area from as far as 70 miles away. At the turn of the 18th century, there were three permanent residences; First House, Second House, and Third House, named so for the order in which someone would pass them when riding out. After the state of New York joined the Union, President George Washington established a Coast Guard station in Montauk with the construction of the well known Montauk Lighthouse in 1797. Until the late 19th century, the lighthouse and three residences were the only structures in Montauk. As New York City began to grow in the 19th century, so did the East End of Long Island. In the early 1900’s, elite New Yorkers began to purchase land in Montauk on which to build summer homes, and thus began Montauk’s tourist industry. The region’s natural beauty—its acres of undisturbed land, miles of white sandy beaches, and rolling surf of the Atlantic Ocean—still attract thousands of people from all over the world today. Montauk has six state parks that offer everything from hiking to camping to leisurely picnicking. Montauk is also a major destination for commercial and recreational fishermen, the Montauk Harbors being the busiest in the state of New York.

Being at the easternmost tip of Long Island, Montauk playfully advertises itself as “the last resort,” and takes great pride in its laid back beachy atmosphere. Perhaps it is this aspect that brings not only tourists, but many new residents to the community. Currently, the year-round population of Montauk is at approximately 4,000. The people of Montauk take great care to preserve the town’s charm and character by not allowing the area to become overly-commercialized. East Hampton town zoning regulations prevent chain stores from taking over; in fact, there are no chain restaurants, retail stores, or hotels in Montauk, which means that there’s always something special around every corner in Montauk.

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