Water Mill is a tiny hamlet located in Southampton town, which offers all of the quaint charm of a small town, with beautiful views of the water, refreshing sea breezes, and lovely homes. Water Mill is also a town rich in history. It, in fact, originated as a mill in 1644, set up in order for settlers of the nearby town of Southampton to be able to grind grain for their food. Edward Howell was granted the land—40 acres—by England, in order to start this mill, and it soon after became known as a landmark. It became the focal point of a number of other communities, which began to crop up around it, inspired by proximity to the mill. By the 19th century, people began referring to the town itself as Water Mills, and the “s” was later dropped. Water Mill is famous today for being the only place in Southern Long Island to have both a windmill and watermill that both continue to function.
