Opening from On This Site - Native Long Island

Neapeague (Napeague Beach)

Neapeague, now commonly Napeague, is the sandy and marshy water-land connecting Montauk with the main part of Long Island in East Hampton town. Neapeague is connected with the long sandy and marshy beach between the Amagansett hills and Montauk. The placename remains visible in modern Napeague, Napeague Beach, and Napeague Bay. Neapeague is part of the Montaukett eastern Long Island landscape, where beach, marsh, whale, and fish contexts are closely connected. Dated source context appear in the Historic Timeline. Recorded forms include Neapeague, Napeake, Napeage, Napeag, Napeague, Nap-peag, Nap-peeg, and Niepeage. The name is interpreted as water land, from Montauk dialect elements for water and land. Why Place Names Matter “Place names are therefore important symbolic markers in preserving or changing cultural identities, and in marking or facilitating socio-political changes and...