Image Of Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY Royalty-Free Stock Photography

Southampton, the original Hampton, was founded in 1640 by Puritans of English descent (unlike Manhattan, which, known as New Amsterdam, belonged to the Dutch), and always had a strong New England feel. Whalers, fishermen and farmers, religious and austere, were the first settlers. Over time, the town had its own small businesses and at the end of the 19th century it was already the vacation colony of Manhattan's elite, who moved here all summer.