About Us

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 Originally purchased from the Indians in 1701 and established by an English Royal Patent in 1708, Bay Shore has steadfastly retained its unique heritage as a waterfront community.

Its location on the Great South Bay provided the livelihoods of its earliest residents-fishing, clamming, wood cutting and salt hay harvesting.

Bay Shore Landmarks are rich with tradition. A glimpse into our town’s past during the early 1900’s.

The bay also made Bay Shore the ideal place for summer visitors. Known as “The Garden Spot Of Long Island”, its enormous appeal as a resort community led early entrepreneurs to construct many legendary hotels and inns. They included the Dominy House, Prospect House and Cortland House on Main Street. Bay Shore’s charm captivated many famous and affluent visitors to take up residence along its shady, tree-lined streets and waterfront vistas.

The coming of the railroad in the late 1800’s contributed greatly to the expansion of the downtown.

Bay Shore continued to grow steadily into a bustling, thriving community, becoming the “Gateway to Fire Island”, while maintaining the quaintness of an old, small, fishing village with Victorian homes, canals, waterways, docks and marinas.

Even today, its winding Main Street is a center for retail specialty shops and family businesses with strong ties to the early founders… standing tall along the picturesque waterfront it embraces.

 The Bay Shore Union Free School District has upheld outstanding academic standards since it was chartered over a century ago. More than 5,000 students are presently enrolled in the district, which employs a staff of 750. Bay Shore Schools offer a full range of programs and a firm foundation for students at every academic level and achievement capability. Bay Shore Schools and St. Patrick Parochial School offer a fine education. There are numerous points of pride within Bay Shore Schools, among them: SAT Scores that exceed state and national averages; an expanded roster of accelerated courses at all grade levels; earning up to thirty credits through a cooperative venture with several area colleges; the next generation of computer and multimedia technology; participation in the trend-setting state pilot program, Universal Pre-K; a superior record of academic and athletic scholarships; two New York State Blue Ribbons (out of 28 statewide); national, state and county student award recipients in excellence for academics, sport,s and music; national and state teaching excellence award honorees. In addition to Bay Shore Schools, community families have an array of educational facilities from which to choose. Several private and parochial schools accommodate nursery through graduate levels. Schools such as St. Patrick and St. Peter’s-by-the-Sea Day School have long established traditions of excellence in academics. From the opening bell on the first day of school to High School Graduation, Bay Shore students can be proud of their highly acclaimed school system, a role model for educational innovation throughout America  

The Great South Bay YMCA is an integral part of the Bay Shore Community. In 1991, the Y opened its 55,000 square-foot health, aquatic, recreation, and chid-care community center. As a testament to its success, only seven years later, an 11,000 square-foot addition, the Martha and William Entenmann Pavilion, was dedicated. True to its motto, “We build Strong Kids, Strong Families, Strong Communities,” the Y offers hundreds of programs, including child-care, teen, summer and holiday day camps, aquatics, health enhancement, sports, recreation and cultural arts.

 Begun over one hundred years ago, the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library has served the community and grown with it over the years. The library has become a thriving community center for residents of all ages and now serves a sophisticated suburban population with varied taste and a diversity of interests. In addition to traditional offerings, the library provides programs, workshops, meeting rooms for all local organizations and a kaleidoscope of cultural, as well as educational, opportunities. 

 The Bay Shore Community Band Shell, located by the water in Dr. George S. King Park in the center of Main Street, brings our community together throughout the year for special events and activities such as summertime concerts, holiday celebrations, award ceremonies and parades. 

Bay Shore is the true American community where moms wave to the school bus driver, folks work long hours to pay bills and cars are a way of life. Some lead active lives, others lives of leisure. Employment is high. Businesses flourish.

Bay Shore, known as the heart of the South Shore, is a friendly place, where people take pride in their families, their homes, their neighborhoods and their quality of life.

From salt boxes to mansions, a slice of life in neighborhoods that live up to high expectations

Many historical avenues are showcases of vintage architecture, that proudly portray the unrivaled beauty of their day… Tudors, Victorian homes, Georgian Colonials, Mediterranean inspired estates and English cottages can be found throughout Bay Shore and Brightwaters.

Luxury apartments, co-ops, condominiums, townhouses and senior citizen housing can be found among the different neighborhoods, so many of which have retained the elegance of days of yore and others, the splendor of beautiful modern structures.

Whether on the waterfront or a tree-lined street, local realtors report a very healthy market in Greater Bay Shore.

Representing almost all religious denominations, our churches and synagogues serve the spiritual needs and welfare of the community. More than 20 recognized houses of worship co-exist in Greater Bay Shore including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and independent faiths.

The doors are open to all faiths in Bay Shore…United Methodist Church, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Bay Shore Jewish Centre, St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, and many others grace the town

The Interfaith Clergy Association interacts to unite and enhance a mutual respect and understanding of the different faiths. It also provides counsel on community issues and offers extensive outreach programs to ensure that all community members are positively supported when there is need. Whether one of the historically important structures built in the 19th century or a modern edifice, the houses of worship in Greater Bay Shore offer ONE VISION OF SERVICE AMONG MANY WELCOME FAITHS.

With its close proximity to both Robert Moses Beach and Jones Beach, a warm summer day will find families throughout Bay Shore flocking to the soft sands and refreshing cool waters that gently caress the shores of a modern, nautical community situated just minutes from the renowned, sea-scaped beaches of Fire Island.

Fishing, boating and sailing enthusiasts enjoy the Great South Bay as do beachgoers yearning for a day at the shore.

Pleasure fishermen abound on the plentiful docks, as well as on bay and ocean charter crafts. They are searching for their catch of tasty flounder, fluke and bass. Commercial baymen make their living on the sea as they have for generations. Public launching ramps and abundant dock space, both public and private, paint the waterfront landscape.
Residents have access to bay and ocean beaches as well as thousands of acres of neighboring parkland and wildlife conservation preserves.

The crown jewel of the area, the Bay Shore Marina, is one of the largest publicly owned marinas on the East Coast. From here and many adjacent points, residents have access to endless nautical enjoyment throughout the year. Renowned boat shows and fishing tournaments are hosted here.