For decades, Bridgehampton was a place people would drive through to get to the other Hamptons, recalls Paul Brennan, a lifelong resident and regional manager of Prudential Douglas Elliman. But by the late 1970s, the summer crowds had "discovered" the hamlet, Brennan said, and it is now a destination in its own right.

Although it's still quieter than other well-known Hampton communities, Bridgehampton's attractions include antique shops, restaurants, a quaint village center, historical sites, a few wineries, private golf courses, nature trails and sandy beaches.

Bridgehampton is also home to The Hampton Classic, one of the country's largest horse shows. Other popular events include the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival and the Vintage Road Rally and Road Tour, one of several events sponsored by the Bridge Hampton Historical Society.

The Community Preservation Fund was established by the towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southold and Riverhead with the goal of land preservation. A transfer tax of 2 percent on real estate purchases over $250,000 in these five towns goes into the fund, Brennan said, adding that Southampton town has preserved 5,000 acres in the last five years.

The community's housing stock evolved from 1970s contemporaries that gave way to the postmodern architecture, followed by oversized gambrel or Dutch Colonials. But smaller houses are making a come-back, Brennan said, noting that they are scaled in proportion to the lots on which they sit.

House prices range from $750,000 to more than $4.5 million. Homes south of Montauk Highway usually command the higher price range. About one- third of the population live here full-time.

-Lisa Doll Bruno (11/25/2005)