BELLPORT, LONG ISLAND

Bellport, Long Island

Bellport is an incorporated village located in Suffolk County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York. It is within the Town of Brookhaven. The village is governed by 4 trustees and a mayor. Recently, the village board voted to allow the construction of a cell phone tower disguised as a flagpole to be built on the golf course. The affluent Village of Bellport is located on the shore of Bellport Bay, an arm of the Great South Bay and several miles south of North Bellport, an economically depressed community. As of the 2000 census, there were 2,363 people, 993 households, and 684 families residing in the area. The median income for a household in the village was $77,523, and the median income for a family was $80,850. Males had a median income of $51,189 and only $40,985 for females. The latitude of Bellport is 40.756N. The longitude is -72.939W. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 26 feet.

The village was a former fishing and whaling village before it became a vacation location and home to the historic Gateway Playhouse. Bellport was named after settlers and brothers Thomas and John Bell. Bellport began as a modest outpost of farmers and seafaring folk. Most of the homes that still line Bellport Lane were built by sea captains. The invention of ball bearings by Oliver Perry Robinson in his wood shop was considered a big factor in the industry. In 1906, Bellport Bay Yacht Club was founded and exemplifies the rich sailing history of the village. The BBYC has hosted many national sailing events and is one of the more active yacht clubs on the south shore of Long Island. In addition, the South Bay Scooter Club occupies the BBYC building over the winter months.

Notable residents include Tiki Barber (summer house), E.B White (author), William Glackens (artist), and William Weld (former Governor of Massachusetts). About 20% of Bellport residents report Irish ancestry, and 19% report Italian. Bellport is served by South Country Central School District consisting of six schools, three elementary Schools (Kindergarten-Grade 3), Frank P. Long Intermediate School (Grades 4-5), Bellport Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Bellport High School. The residents enjoy a quiet yet active lifestyle where there is special Senior and Youth Programs, a private ocean beach open only to residents, and to a breathtaking country club where all residents are automatically members. Bellport’s Country Club also offers golf, tennis, fine dining and carefree socializing in elegant surroundings at special resident rates. The Bellport Village Hall is places where all "behind the scene" things take place that make the Village what it is. Also a right place to deal with any governmental agency on an official level. The Bellport Village Marina is a famous spot throughout summer. There is an area for fishing and crabbing that residents makes their usual past time for a day and bandshell for summer concerts take place as and after the sun goes down.