Somers Point, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Somers Point is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 11,614.
The City of Somers Point is in the eastern part of Atlantic County, southwest of Atlantic City.
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[edit] History
Somers Point was once known as the Somers Plantation and its settlement started around 1693.
Somers Point was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 24, 1886, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held five days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on April 2, 1890, based on the previous day's referendum. Somers Point was incorporated as a city on April 9, 1902, from all of Somers Point borough and additional portions of Egg Harbor Township.[1]
[edit] Geography
Somers Point is located at (39.319165, -74.600300)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²). 10.4 km² (4.0 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (22.05%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,073 |
|
|
| 1940 | 1,992 | -3.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,480 | 24.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,504 | 81.6% | |
| 1970 | 7,919 | 75.8% | |
| 1980 | 10,330 | 30.4% | |
| 1990 | 11,216 | 8.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,614 | 3.5% | |
| Est. 2005 | 11,701 | [2] | 0.7% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[3] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 11,614 people, 4,920 households, and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,112.7/km² (2,883.1/mi²). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 517.5/km² (1,341.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.66% White, 7.01% African American, 0.25% Native American, 3.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.25% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% of the population.
There were 4,920 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,222, and the median income for a family was $51,868. Males had a median income of $39,650 versus $28,691 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,229. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Mayor is elected to a four-year term. The Mayor is generally responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the municipality. As Chief Executive Officer, the Mayor is charged with putting into effect the municipal laws, known as ordinances. The Mayor is not a member of the governing body, but has the statutory authority to veto ordinances, and may vote in the event of a tie. The Mayor makes appointments to certain boards, including the Planning Board, Recreation Commission, and Environmental Commission.
The City Council consists of seven members. There are three members from each of two wards, elected for staggered three-year terms, and one at large representative, elected four years. The Council elects one of its members as President to chair the Council meetings and perform the other duties of a presiding officer. The City Council is the governing body of the City. They enact ordinances. The Council is responsible for adopting the annual budget, and setting other policy for the municipality.
The Mayor of Somers Point is Dan Reilly, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2007. The members of the City Council are Council President and Councilmember-at-Large Carl D'Adamo (2008), Ward One Councilmembers Pat Bingham (2008), Frank Cosgrove (2009) and Jack Glasser (2007); and Ward Two Councilmembers Bobby Donovan (2009), John DiMaria (2008) and David Parker (2007).[4]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Somers Point is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.[5]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Vineland). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Asselta (R) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders, administers all county business. Atlantic County's Freeholders are Francis Sutton, James Curcio, Frank Finnerty (Freeholder Vice Chairman), Alisa Cooper, Joe Kelly, Rev. Lawton Nelson, Thomas Russo, Sue Schilling and Joseph F. Silipena (Freeholder Chairman).
[edit] Education
Students in grades K - 8 are served by the Somers Point Public Schools. Schools in the district are New York Avenue School for pre-school, Dawes Avenue School with 550 students in grades K-6 and Jordan Road Middle School with 710 students in Pre-K through 8th grade.
Students in grades 9 - 12 attend the Mainland Regional High School, and which serves students from Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point. The high school is located in Linwood.
[edit] Somers Point in Popular Culture
The 1983 movie Eddie and the Cruisers was largely filmed in Somers Point, using the defunct Tony Mart's nightclub as a setting.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70.
- ^ Census data for Somers Point, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Somers Point City Government, accessed March 3, 2007.
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 64, accessed August 30, 2006
[edit] External links
- Somers Point webpage
- Somers Point Public Schools
- 300 Years at the Point - The History of Somers Point, NJ
- Somers Point Public Schools's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Somers Point Public Schools
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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(County seat: Mays Landing) |
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| Boroughs | Buena | Folsom | Longport | |  |
| Cities | Absecon | Atlantic City | Brigantine | Corbin City | Egg Harbor City | Estell Manor | Linwood | Margate City | Northfield | Pleasantville | Port Republic | Somers Point | Ventnor City | |
| Town | Hammonton | |
| Townships | Buena Vista | Egg Harbor | Galloway | Hamilton | Mullica | Weymouth | |
| CDPs and other communities | Collings Lakes | Elwood-Magnolia | Mays Landing | Pomona | Richland | Smithville | |
