Editing Bellport, New York (section)

==History==
The land that is now Bellport was purchased along with what is now the hamlet of [[Brookhaven (CDP), New York|Brookhaven]] (then called Fireplace Neck) and western [[South Haven, New York|South Haven]] from the [[Poospatuck Reservation|Unkechaug]] Indians in 1664 by settlers from nearby [[Setauket, New York|Setauket]], who were attracted by the plentiful harvests of [[Spartina patens|salt hay]]. The part that became Bellport was named Occumbomock Neck. Jonathan Rose was the first permanent settler in the 1680s, and by 1720 the Rose family owned much of Occumbomock Neck. In 1829, Captain Thomas Bell, a Scottish immigrant, bought land there. He sold sections of it, and by 1843 the village had 30 dwellings and 200 inhabitants. He changed the name to Bell-Port (now Bellport),<ref>Cities That Ring by Marcia A. Mitchell</ref> envisioning a seaport, since Bellport was very close to the Old Inlet, a breach in the barrier island Fire Island, which gave Bellport easy access to the open ocean. With Colonel William Howell, Bell built a dock and a road to the dock. But the breach healed over, and Bellport instead became a tourist attraction, with wealthy visitors coming by railroad and then coach from New York City. Although all seven hotels eventually closed, the last in the 1950s, Bellport remained associated with wealthy New Yorkers, who eventually established year-round residences. After [[World War II]], nearby [[Camp Upton]] was converted into [[Brookhaven National Laboratory]], bringing in more, highly educated, year-round residents.<ref>Bellport Village and Brookhaven Hamlet, by Victor Principe</ref>

Bellport was incorporated as a village in 1910.<ref name="incorporation">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellportvillage.org/?q=node/6|title=About our village|publisher=Incorporated Village of Bellport, NY|quote=Bellport will commemorate the 100th anniversary of its incorporation in 2010 and a gala year-long celebration is being planned.|access-date=May 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327055713/http://www.bellportvillage.org/?q=node%2F6|archive-date=March 27, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 4, 1980, the [[Bellport Academy]] and [[Bellport Village Historic District]] were listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

On March 8, 1963, Bellport High School burned down. No one was killed, but 40 students and teachers were hospitalized. The replacement school was built in Brookhaven, but is still called Bellport High School.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIRE IN SCHOOL INJURES SCORES; 50 Children Hurt as Fire Sweeps New York School |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/03/09/archives/fire-in-school-injures-scores-50-children-hurt-as-fire-sweeps-new.html |access-date=May 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=4 |date=March 9, 1963}}</ref>

On November 26, 1983, the New York Pyrotechnic Products Company factory (now known as [[Fireworks by Grucci]]) just north of the village exploded, killing two and injuring 24. The explosion had the effect of an earthquake, causing significant damage to hundreds of homes.<ref>{{cite news |title=2 ARE KILLED AND 24 HURT AS BLASTS RIP THROUGH L.I. FIREWORKS PLANT |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/27/nyregion/2-are-killed-and-24-hurt-as-blasts-rip-through-li-fireworks-plant.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=May 18, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=1 |date=November 27, 1983}}</ref>