Fair Harbor, New York
Encyclopedia
Islip (town), New York
The Town of Islip is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York . Located on the south shore of Long Island, the town population was 322,612 at the 2000 census. The smaller, unincorporated hamlet of Islip lies within the town.-Demographics:...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Fair Harbor falls under the police jurisdiction of Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
Marine Bureau and is protected by its own volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
, the Fair Harbor Fire Department, founded in 1931.
Fair Harbor, like most other Fire Island communities, is mainly a summer community, though a few families choose to live there year-round. Children attend the Fire Island School District in Corneille Estates until grade 6, at which point they are bussed to public schools in Bay Shore or Islip, or to one of the many private and parochial schools on the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
mainland for grades 7–12. The neighboring communities of Dunewood
Dunewood, New York
Dunewood is a small beach community in the western end of Fire Island, New York State. With about 100 homes originally all built on an identical floor plan, some old-time residents would frequently refer to Dunewood as "Levittown on the bay." While the community specifically does not market...
and Lonelyville
Lonelyville, New York
Lonelyville is a small beach community located in the western end of Fire Island in the town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States....
, to the east, rely on many of Fair Harbor's services, such as the Fire Department and the two markets.
Lifestyle
Fair Harbor is a seasonal beach community. Many of the homes have been passed down from generation to generation, while others are newly constructed. The town has a strong rental market, with houses renting for the season, month or week. Since there is limited car access to Fire Island, biking and walking is the main mode of transportation. It also has a volunteer Fire Department and EMT service, and lifeguards on the bay and beach during the summer months.
Economy
Being a seasonal community, Fair Harbor offers only a few services. The Pioneer Market is the only grocer in the hamlet; Le Dock, the only restaurant, is open for lunch and dinner and offers both indoor and outdoor dining. The Loading Dock sells liquor and wine, and Corliss on the Bay (pictured) sells miscellaneous items including bikes, souvenirs, hardware, toys, magazines, books, paint, and garden items.These stores are open 7 days a week in season and closed during the off season (October through May).
Geography
Fair Harbor is located on the western part of Fire IslandFire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
between the Great South Bay
Great South Bay
Great South Bay is a lagoon situated between Long Island and Fire Island, in the State of New York. It is approximately long. It's protected from the Atlantic Ocean by Fire Island, a barrier island, as well as the eastern end of Jones Beach Island and Captree Island.Robert Moses Causeway adjoins...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Saltaire
Saltaire, New York
Saltaire is a village on Fire Island in the southern part of the town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The year-round population was 43 at the 2000 census, which, as a summer beach community, increases many times over in the summer.- History :Incorporated in 1910.In early 2009...
is the Incorporated Village immediately west of Fair Harbor while Dunewood
Dunewood, New York
Dunewood is a small beach community in the western end of Fire Island, New York State. With about 100 homes originally all built on an identical floor plan, some old-time residents would frequently refer to Dunewood as "Levittown on the bay." While the community specifically does not market...
and Lonelyville
Lonelyville, New York
Lonelyville is a small beach community located in the western end of Fire Island in the town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, United States....
are directly to the east. To get to Fair Harbor, take the ferry from Bay Shore.