Northwest Harbor, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northwest Harbor, New York
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Cedar Point Lighthouse
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 Northwest Harbor, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Town | East Hampton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.05 sq mi (51.93 km2) |
| • Land | 14.48 sq mi (37.49 km2) |
| • Water | 5.57 sq mi (14.43 km2) |
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,637 |
| • Density | 320.32/sq mi (123.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 36-53852 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867412 |
Northwest Harbor is a small community called a hamlet. It is also a census-designated place (CDP), which is a special area defined for counting people. It is located in the Town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, United States. In 2010, about 3,317 people lived here.
The area gets its name from a bay on the South Fork of Long Island. This bay connects Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, and the town of East Hampton to Gardiners Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The bay is named "Northwest Harbor" because it is northwest of East Hampton village.
Contents
History of Northwest Harbor
The name "Northwest Harbor" is also used for the Northwest Woods neighborhood, sometimes just called "Northwest." It also refers to Northwest Landing at Northwest Creek. This creek is a saltwater outlet from the inlet to the harbor.
Early Port and Whaling
Northwest Landing was the first port for East Hampton. It became a very important place for whaling in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Later, Sag Harbor, which was two miles west, took over as the main port because its water was deeper. Ships leaving Sag Harbor still need to pass through Northwest Harbor near the Cedar Point Lighthouse to reach Gardiners Bay and the open ocean.
Revolutionary War Events
During the American Revolution, Northwest Harbor was the site of two important events. One was Meigs Raid, where American soldiers burned Sag Harbor and captured 90 British soldiers. In another event, a local man named Isaac Van Scoy bravely fought and killed a British soldier using a pitchfork. The British also planned another attack here during the War of 1812.
Impact of the 1938 Hurricane
In 1938, a very strong storm called the Great Hurricane of 1938 hit the area. It caused so much sand to build up at the mouth of the harbor near the Cedar Point Lighthouse that it almost completely closed off the entrance. Only a very narrow channel was left for boats to get into Gardiners Bay.
Dolphin Rescue in 2007
In January 2007, Northwest Landing made national news. This was because of efforts to save several common dolphins that had swum far up the creek. People worked together to help the dolphins get back to the open water.
Geography of the Area
Northwest Harbor is a large area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the total area of this CDP is about 16.1 square miles (41.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 14.5 square miles (37.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers), is water. This means about 9.81% of the area is covered by water.
Population Information
The population of Northwest Harbor has changed over time.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 4,637 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 3,059 people living in Northwest Harbor. These people lived in 1,181 households, and 818 of these were families. By 2020, the population had grown to 4,637 people. The community is diverse, with people from many different backgrounds living together.
Local Schools
Children in Northwest Harbor attend schools within the East Hampton Union Free School District.
See also
In Spanish: Northwest Harbor para niños
