Remsenburg sits upon three miles of Moriches Bay shoreline, and enjoys additional waterfront acreage along the inlets that bore into its landmass. While most of its homes are owned by summer and weekend residents, Remsenburg boasts a growing year-round community. It's elementary school, one of the best in the area, received a "10" rating in 2007 from the website "Great Schools: A Parent's Guide to K-12 Success" (http://www.greatschools.net/).

Most of the homes along Remsenburg's quiet Main Street date from the 19th century, and those that have been renovated have maintained their architectural roots. Walking along South Country Road, one almost expects to see a stagecoach emerge from around the next bend. But coming upon a rider on horseback is not as far-fetched as it sounds in Remsenburg. A few residents have maintained large open spaces as horse corrals - against tremendous temptation to parcel them out for development, no doubt - adding a truly country feel to the place.

Remsenburg's history mirrors that of other small hamlets in the area. As early as 1712, "the meadows along the South Shore in what was then Speonk were leased to cattle owners from Southampton," according to a history of the area published by the Long Island Newsday. "Eventually, the cattlemen found it easier to build small houses near the meadows to tend the herds." 

The hamlet is home to two beautifully designed churches, both Presbyterian. The first, a simple white frame structure known as "the Chapel," was built in 1854. Forty years later, in 1894, a prominent area resident, Dr. Charles Remsen, offered to build a second, larger church for the community. This gift, that prompted those eager for a name change to propose thanking Dr. Remsen by calling the hamlet Remsenburg. The dispute escalated when the "Remsenburg faction" removed the "Speonk" sign at the railroad station and replaced it with Remsenburg. The name was formally changed in 1895, when Remsenburg became a separate postal district from Speonk. That second church, of red-brick construction, opened in 1896 and maintains an active congregation to this day.