Somers Point, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Somers Point, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | April 24, 1886 |
| Government | |
| - Type | City (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Jack Glasser |
| Area | |
| - Total | 5.2 sq mi (13.4 km²) |
| - Land | 4.0 sq mi (10.4 km²) |
| - Water | 1.1 sq mi (2.9 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 11,573 |
| - Density | 2,883.1/sq mi (1,113.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08244 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-68430[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885397[4] |
| Website: http://www.somerspoint-nj.com | |
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.
Contents |
[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.[5]
[edit] Geography
Somers Point is located at (39.319165, -74.600300)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.4 km²), of which, 4.0 square miles (10.4 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (22.05%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,073 |
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| 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. 2006 | 11,573 | [2] | −0.4% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,614 people, 4,920 households, and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,883.1 people per square mile (1,112.7/km²). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 1,341.0/sq mi (517.5/km²). 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.
As of 2008, the Mayor of Somers Point is John L. Glasser, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2011. The members of the City Council are Council President Francis X. Cosgrove (2009), Councilmember-At-Large Carl D’Adamo (2008), Ward One Councilmembers Patrick Bingham (2008), Sean McGuigan (2010) and Francis X. Cosgrove (2009); and Ward Two Councilmembers John DiMaria (2008), Bobby Donovan (2009) and David Parker (2010).[8]
In elections held on November 6, 2007, Republican Party mayoral candidate John L. (Jack) Glasser, Jr. (1,445 votes) defeated Ward 2 Councilmember Democrat John DiMaria (868). Republican Sean McGuigan (865) defeated Democrat Genevieve L. DeVito (523) in Ward 1, while Democrat David C. Parker (465) was re-elected in Ward 2 over Republican challenger Christopher Marshall (431).[9]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Somers Point is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.[10]
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, Ventnor). 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).[11] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[12]
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood).[13] The Board of Chosen Freeholders, the county's legislature, consists of nine members elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2008, Atlantic County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman Joseph F. Silipena, (Egg Harbor City, term expires December 31, 2008), Freeholder Vice Chairman Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2008), Alisa Cooper (Linwood, 2008), James Curcio (Hammonton, 2009), Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2010), Charles Garrett (Atlantic City, 2010), Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2009), Joseph McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2010) and Thomas Russo (Atlantic City, 2009).[14]
[edit] Education
Students in grades K - 8 are served by the Somers Point Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are New York Avenue School with 68 students in pre-school, Dawes Avenue School with 385 students in grades K-6 and Jordan Road Middle School with 710 students in Pre-K through 8th grade.
Students in public school for grades 9 - 12 attend the Mainland Regional High School, and which serves students from Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point.[16] The high school is located in Linwood.
[edit] 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] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Somers Point include:
- Doug Colman, former NFL linebacker.[17]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: City of Somers Point, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Somers Point, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 12, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Somers Point City Government, City of Somers Point. Accessed March 7, 2008.
- ^ Atlantic County election results", Press of Atlantic City, November 6, 2007. Accessed November 12, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ County Executive Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Somers Point Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 7, 2008.
- ^ Mainland Regional High School 2005-2006 Profile, accessed May 13, 2007. "Mainland Regional High School, located eight miles southwest of Atlantic City, serves the municipalities of Linwood, Northfield, and Somers Point -- total population 26,511."
- ^ Doug Colman, database Football. Accessed November 6, 2007.
[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 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Somers Point Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- The Current of Somers Point
- Somers Point, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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