Head of the Harbor, village in Suffolk County, New York, United States
Head of the Harbor is a village on the northern shore of Long Island, within Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York. It sits at a point where several waterways converge, and the land is mostly covered by residential properties and wooded areas along the coast.
The land was home to Lenape people long before English settlers arrived in the 17th century and began farming and fishing along the shore. The village was formally incorporated in 1928, taking shape as a residential community during the suburban growth of the 20th century.
The name Head of the Harbor refers directly to the position of the village at the top of a bay, which still shapes how the place looks and feels today. Waterfront roads, private docks, and wooded lots along the shore give the area a character tied closely to the water.
A car is necessary to get around, as there is no meaningful public transit and the residential streets are spread out. The area is best visited during daylight hours when the waterfront roads and wooded surroundings can be appreciated on a slow drive or short walk.
Despite being a separate incorporated village, Head of the Harbor shares its borders so closely with neighboring communities that there is no clear visual boundary when driving through. This patchwork of tiny villages along the North Shore of Long Island means that a short drive can cross several different local jurisdictions without any sign of it.
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