Fair Harbor, New York

Hamlet and census-designated place in New York, United States

Fair Harbor

Hamlet and census-designated place

Fair Harbor

Location within the state of New York

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Fair Harbor

Location on Fire Island

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Coordinates: 40°38′21″N 73°11′5″W﻿ / ﻿40.63917°N 73.18472°W﻿ / 40.63917; -73.18472
Country| United States
State| New York
County| Suffolk
Township| Islip
Time zone| UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code|

11706

Area code| 631
Corliss on the Bay at the bayfront in Fair Harbor.

Fair Harbor is a small community hamlet located near the western end of Fire Island.[1] It is a part of the Town of Islip on Long Island, New York.[2] With approximately 350 homes within its 13-block town limits,[3] the town features a few stores and other amenities, giving it old-style charm with the security of a state-of-the-art Fire Department and EMS. Moreover, the small town is mere steps away from the easily accessible beach, and the bay front is incredibly active during the summer months.[4]

## History

[edit]

The community was first founded in the late 1800s.[5] A few of Fair Harbor's 350 houses date to the 1920s, but most were built in the 1970s and many have been built recently.[4]

## Community

[edit]

Fair Harbor—like most other Fire Island communities—is mainly a summer community, although a few families choose to live there year-round. Many of the homes have been passed down from generation to generation. The town has a strong summer rental market, with most houses renting for the entire summer season or by the month. During the off-season there is limited car access to Fire Island while during the summer there is no car access and the town can only be reached by ferry[6] or private boat. Biking and walking are the main modes of transportation. Fair Harbor falls under the police jurisdiction of Suffolk County Marine Bureau and is protected by its own volunteer fire department, the Fair Harbor Fire Department, founded in 1931. During the summer months lifeguards are stationed on both the bay beach and ocean beach.

Pioneer Market, in downtown Fair Harbor

Children of the year-round families attend the Fire Island School District in Corneille Estates until grade 6,[7] at which point they are bussed to public or parochial schools in Bay Shore or Islip for grades 7–12. The neighboring communities of Dunewood and Lonelyville, to the east have no stores or services so they rely on many of Fair Harbor's services, such as the Fire Department and EMS[8] and Fair Harbor's one grocery store, hardware emporium, liquor store and restaurant. The population in the summer swells to about 1,500.[5]

Fair Harbor is famous for its annual Pine Walk Arts and Crafts Fair, a Fire Island favorite, which was established in 1972, however the event did not take place in the summer of 2023, and the future of the event is so far uncertain.[9] The event itself adds to this community's bohemian beach vibe while still being an intimate family community where neighbors congregate at the bay to watch the sunsets. Some 400 modest yet gracious beach houses adorn the narrow residential walks. There are no hotels or B&B's in Fair Harbor, however AirBnBs have become common for short term rentals, while a thriving real estate agent industry handles longer term rentals and sales. Fair Harbor also has its own direct ferry line out of Bay Shore and a private community marina.[10]

## Economy

[edit]

Being a seasonal community, Fair Harbor offers only a few services and shops. These stores are open 7 days a week in season and closed during the off season (October through May).[5]

## Geography

[edit]

Fair Harbor is located on the western part of Fire Island between the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 47 miles (76 km) by car to the ferry dock in Bay Shore, NY. From there, it is six miles (9.7 km) by ferry across the water to Fair Harbor.[11] Saltaire is the incorporated village immediately west of Fair Harbor while Dunewood and Lonelyville are directly to the east. To get to Fair Harbor, it is necessary to take the ferry from Bay Shore.[6]

## Medical care

[edit]

The Fair Harbor Fire Department The Fair Harbor Doctor's Office

While there are no hospitals or clinics in the town, medical service is provided in the summer months by the Fair Harbor Medical District. The district hires doctors, on one week intervals, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The district provides a walk-in doctor's office and doctor's residence. The doctors are not paid but get a free week at the beach, are allowed to keep modest fees from patients and have office hours two hours a day—from 11 to Noon and 5 to 6 PM. For medical emergencies, the Fair Harbor Fire Department provides emergency medical services (EMS) which transports patients by its ambulance or by Suffolk County Police boat to Good Samaritan or Southside hospitals on the mainland, or by SCPD helicopter.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Fair Harbor". FireIslandFerries.com. February 12, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
2. ^ Williams, Stephen P. (August 6, 2004). "HAVENS; Weekender | Fair Harbor, N.Y." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
3. ^ "Fair Harbor | Fire Island Living". www.fireislandliving.com. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
4. ^ a b "Fair Harbor, Fire Island". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
5. ^ a b c d Williams, Stephen P. (August 6, 2004). "HAVENS; Weekender - Fair Harbor, N.Y." New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
6. ^ a b "FireIslandFerries.com". FireIslandFerries.com.
7. ^ "Fire Island School District". www.fi.k12.ny.us. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
8. ^ "Fair Harbor Fire Department – For emergencies, please dial 911". fairharborfd.org. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
9. ^ "Fair Harbor's Pine Walk Fair Turns 45". Fire Island News. June 24, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
10. ^ "Fair Harbor". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
11. ^ "Fair Harbor, Fire Island". Fair Harbor Community Association. Retrieved May 28, 2019.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fair Harbor, New York.

* v
* t
* e

Fire Island

Communities|

* Kismet
* Saltaire (village)
* Fair Harbor
* Dunewood
* Lonelyville
* Atlantique
* Robbins Rest
* Fire Island Summer Club
* Corneille Estates
* Ocean Beach (village)
* Seaview
* Ocean Bay Park
* Point O'Woods
* Oakleyville
* Cherry Grove
* Fire Island Pines
* Water Island
* Davis Park/Ocean Ridge

Destinations|

* Great South Bay
* Fire Island National Seashore
* Fire Island Inlet
* Robert Moses State Park
* Fire Island Lighthouse
* Lighthouse Beach
* Seabay Beach
* Sunken Forest
* Talisman/Barrett Beach
* Blue Point Beach
* Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness
* Bellport Beach
* Smith Point County Park
* Moriches Inlet
* Watch Hill

Towns|

* Babylon
* Islip
* Brookhaven

Education|

* Fire Island School District

Bay Shore School District and Islip School District serve residents of Fire Island school district for secondary grades.

* v
* t
* e

Town of Islip, New York

County|

* Suffolk

Villages|

* Brightwaters
* Islandia
* Ocean Beach
* Saltaire

Hamlets|

* Bay Shore
* Bayport
* Baywood
* Bohemia
* Brentwood
* Central Islip
* Dunewood
* East Islip
* Fair Harbor
* Great River
* Hauppauge
* Holbrook
* Holtsville
* Islip
* Islip Terrace
* Kismet
* Lake Ronkonkoma
* Lonelyville
* North Bay Shore
* North Great River
* Oakdale
* Ronkonkoma
* Sayville
* West Bay Shore
* West Islip
* West Sayville

Preceded by

Dunewood

|  Beaches of Fire Island | Succeeded by

Saltaire

|
|

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