The Matinecocks (one of the 13 Native American tribes of Long Island) were the original inhabitants of the Northport area, which was the called Opcathontyche, meaning "wading place creek." In 1656, Chief Asharoken, head of the tribe, sold the area to three Englishmen who grazed cattle on pastures around the harbor. The harbor became known as Cow Harbor. In 1932, the village of Northport purchased the land along the harbor and created Northport Memorial Park, which remains a strong feature of Northport today.