Unlike its Hampton neighbors, the historic village of Sag Harbor is maintains a quiet individuality that harks back to its early days as an important Long Island port in the region’s bustling commercial shipping, military and whaling industries. In comparison to other East End towns and villages, Sag Harbor most resembles the Village on Greenport, on the North Fork, with its historic structures, rich maritime history and thriving tourist industry.

The earliest inhabitants of this area, originally made up of hills, streams, meadows and swaps, were the Algonquin Indians. As neighboring areas were settled around Sag Harbor, residents began to call the area “Great Meadows,” while the natives referred to it as “Weg-wag-onuch,” derived from the Algonquin word, "Weg-quae-and-auke" meaning, "the land or place at the end of the hill.” “Great Meadows” became a useful port for the neighboring Sagaponack settlement, calling it “Sagaponack Harbor” or the “Harbor of Sagg.”

Historical records show that Sag Harbor became a permanent settlement in 1730. However, Southampton Town records first mention the village by name in 1709 and, although not mentioned by name, East Hampton records, in 1698, note that Joseph Stretton was left, by his father, "a share of the piece of meadow that lies nearest Hog Neck (North Haven) in this town's bounds.” On March 26, 1846, Sag Harbor officially became designated an incorporated village in the State of New York.

From 1760 to 1850, Sag Harbor thrived as a whaling port and, on July 31, 1789, during the second session of Congress, Sag Harbor became the first official point of entry in the United States, even before New York City.

With the decline of the Whaling industry in the mid-1800s, Sag Harbor became an industrial village making its mark in the brass, hat, watch making, sugar, cotton, flour and pottery industries. More recently, the Bulova Watchcase Company, the E.W. Bliss Torpedo Company, Agawam Aircraft Products and Grumman Aerospace called Sag Harbor home. The last industrial resident, Bulova, left Sag Harbor in 1981 and the village’s economy has since relied upon the tourist industry.

Sag Harbor’s deep roots make it an enchanting destination. Many historic homes and shops have changed little over the past three hundred years and a stroll down the village’s centuries old streets is as much a history lesson about Sag Harbor as it is about America itself. Today, as masts rise from the harbor at the foot of Main Street, one can almost imagine the tall ships moving whale oil and lumber in and out of the Long Wharf.

Shops and restaurants line these historic streets and visitors can find treasures in little nooks all over Sag Harbor. Just minutes away from the village, you can take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean or take a walk through a nearby nature preserve.

Life in Sag Harbor is relaxed and is the perfect get away for the history buff, the water lover or anyone looking for a quiet alternative to the Hamptons, deep in the heart of the Hamptons.