| Belmar, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
| Map of Belmar in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Belmar, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Monmouth |
| Incorporated | April 9, 1885 as Ocean Beach borough |
| Renamed | April 16, 1889 as City of Elcho borough |
| Renamed | May 14, 1889 as City of Belmar borough |
| Government | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) |
| • Mayor | Matthew Doherty |
| • Administrator | Robbin Kirk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2) |
| • Land | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[1] | |
| • Total | 5,794 |
| • Density | 5,921.7/sq mi (2,286.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 07715, 07719 |
| Area code(s) | 732 |
| FIPS code | 34-04930[2][3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0874659[4] |
| Website | http://www.belmar.com |
Belmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,794. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) system of municipal government.
What is now Belmar was originally incorporated as Ocean Beach borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1885, from portions of Wall Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. On April 16, 1889, it became the City of Elcho borough, which lasted for a few weeks until the name was changed to the City of Belmar Borough as of May 14, 1889. The city acquired its current name, Borough of Belmar, on November 20, 1890.[5]
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Belmar is located at (40.178342, -74.022446).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which, 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (39.65%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 3,491 |
|
|
| 1940 | 3,435 | −1.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,636 | 35.0% | |
| 1960 | 5,190 | 11.9% | |
| 1970 | 5,782 | 11.4% | |
| 1980 | 6,771 | 17.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,877 | −13.2% | |
| 2000 | 6,045 | 2.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,794 | −4.2% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[1][7] | |||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 6,045 people, 2,946 households, and 1,316 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,921.7 people per square mile (2,288.2/km2). There were 3,996 housing units at an average density of 3,914.5 per square mile (1,512.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.53% White, 3.46% Black, 0.18% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 1.99% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.85% of the population.
There were 2,946 households out of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.3% were non-families. 44.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,896, and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $40,557 versus $34,323 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,456. About 4.5% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 census, 28.2% of Belmar's residents were of Irish ancestry, the 12th highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all communities in which at least 1,000 people listed their ancestry.[8]
Belmar is a popular vacation destination because of its natural and recreational resources and close proximity to New York and Philadelphia. It features wide beaches for sunbathing, surfing, swimming, and fishing. The boardwalk and town offer shops, restaurants, an active arts scene, sporting events, festivals, and a variety of family-oriented activities (see "Annual Events" below).
Belmar beach (as well as those of towns to the south, such as Manasquan and Point Pleasant) is among the most popular surf spots on the East Coast. Belmar frequently hosts surfing events and competitions. Along with surfing, Belmar also has an active skate community and skatepark constructed by American Ramp Company.[9] The Jersey Shore Basketball League, a competitive summer basketball league, takes place at St. Rose High School every summer.[10]
The Belmar Arts Council (BAC) sponsors regular art shows, workshops, concerts, and performances year around. BAC's gallery and workshop, the Boatworks, is located at 608 River Road, Belmar, around the corner from Klein's Seafood Restaurant near the Shark River Inlet.
In July 1990, the voters of Belmar overwhelmingly passed a referendum changing Belmar's form of government from a three-person, non-partisan Commission form of government under the Walsh Act to the Small Municipality Plan form of government under the Faulkner Act. This referendum followed nine months of research and hearings by a Charter Study Commission elected by the residents at a referendum that occurred in November 1989.
Under the version of the Small Municipality Plan form applicable to Belmar, the Council consists of four members who are elected for staggered, three-year terms at partisan elections each November, and the Mayor, who is directly elected by the voters for a four-year term. The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer of the municipality, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Borough. The Mayor sits as a member of the Council, and chairs Council meetings. He is able to vote as a Councilmember, but has no veto over the Council's actions.[11]
As of 2011[update], members of the Belmar Borough Council are Mayor Matthew Doherty , Claire Deicke, Brian Magovern, Jennifer Nicolay and Richard Wright. The Borough Administrator is Robbin Kirk.[12]
Belmar is in the 6th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district.[13] The borough was relocated to the 30th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[1] The new district will be in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[13]
New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Sean T. Kean (R, Wall Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Mary Pat Angelini (R, Ocean Township) and Dave Rible (R, Wall Township).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[15] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[16]
Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats up for election each year. [17] As of 2011, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan; term ends December 31, 2013)[18], Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Curley (R, Red Bank; 2012)[19], Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2013), Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; 2011)[20] and Amy A. Mallet (D, Fair Haven, 2011).[21][22][23]
The Belmar School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Belmar Elementary School consists of a single school that served an enrollment of 540 students as of the 2005-06 school year.[24] The district also serves students from Lake Como who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[25] The school was constructed in 1909 and has had additions built in 1929, 1949, 1969 and 1993. There are 65 certified staff members. This includes administrators, teachers, nurses and child study team personnel. Thirty non-certified staff members support them. The single school is two schools in one, a primary school for grades preschool through fifth and a middle school organization plan for grades six through eight.
Students attending public high school are assigned based on sending/receiving relationships to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School.[26] Manasquan High School also serves students from Avon-by-the-Sea, Brielle, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights who attended Manasquan High School as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective districts.[27][28] Students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School.
Students may also attend Academy Charter High School, located in Lake Como, which serves residents of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como, and accepts students on a lottery basis.[29]
Belmar is also the home of St. Rose High School, which operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.[30]
Mesivta Keser Torah of Central Jersey, a Yeshiva and Yeshiva High school for men serves Haredi students mainly from Lakewood, Deal and Brooklyn, has existed since the 1920s.[31]
The Belmar Public Library, one of New Jersey's original thirty-six Carnegie libraries is in need of repairs and may be consolidated into the town's borough hall, and possibly join the Monmouth County Library system. The building may be demolished or possibly relocated from the intersection made famous by the E Street Band.[32]
In August 2008, the borough established a Sister City relationship with Balbriggan, a town of nearly 16,000 in County Dublin, Ireland.[33]
Notable current and former residents of Belmar include:
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