Northport was established in 1656 and incorporated in 1894. Its nickname is Cow Harbor because of the cows that used to graze on the waterfront. The zip code is 11768. It shares that zip code with the Village of Asharoken, Eaton's Neck, Crab Meadow and Fort Salonga.
Northport sits in the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County, but has its own Board of Trustees made up of a mayor and four trustees; a police department; municipal court; highway and parks departments; and an administrative staff housed at Village Hall.
The village, with a population of approximately 7,500, sits on New York State Route 25A, also known as Fort Salonga Road in some parts of Northport, on Long Island's picturesque North Shore.
Northport is known for its secluded deep-water harbor, beautiful parks and beaches, wealth of quaint 19th-century architecture and pedestrian-friendly downtown with a wide variety of stores and restaurants.
Main Street ends at the village dock and village green, site of numerous arts events and concerts in the gazebo.
The children who live within the village borders and attend public school go to Ocean Avenue Elementary, Northport Middle School and Northport High School. The Northport-East Northport School District's administration building is located within the village, as well.
Within its borders are two public beaches: Scudder and Steers. There are also several public parks including Northport Village Park, which features the dock and gazebo. The village offers dinghy racks, awarded annually by lottery, at all three locations.