| Somers Point, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Map of Somers Point in Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Somers Point, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | April 24, 1886 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | John L. Glasser (term ends 2011)[1] |
| • Administrator | Wes Swain[2] |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 5.159 sq mi (13.361 km2) |
| • Land | 4.030 sq mi (10.437 km2) |
| • Water | 1.129 sq mi (2.924 km2) 21.88% |
| Elevation[4] | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[5][6] | |
| • Total | 10,795 |
| • Density | 2,678.8/sq mi (1,034.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08244[7] |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-68430[8][9] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885397[10] |
| Website | http://www.somerspointgov.org |
Somers Point is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 10,795.[5]
The City of Somers Point is in the eastern part of Atlantic County, southwest of Atlantic City.
Contents |
Somers Point was once known as the Somerset 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.[11]
The Capt. John Jeffries Burial Marker and Somers Mansion are landmarks from earlier times.
Somers Point is located at (39.31608,-74.60677). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 5.159 square miles (13.361 km2), of which, 4.030 square miles (10.437 km2) of it is land and 1.129 square miles (2.924 km2) of it (21.88%) is water.[12]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 604 |
|
|
| 1920 | 843 | 39.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,073 | 145.9% | |
| 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% | |
| 2010 | 10,795 | −7.1% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[13] 1900-1990[14] 2000[15][16] 2010[5][17][6] |
|||
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,795 people, 4,655 households, and 2,826 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,678.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,034.3 /km2). There were 5,556 housing units at an average density of 1,378.7 per square mile (532.3 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.75% (8,501) White, 10.68% (1,153) African American, 0.25% (27) Native American, 3.08% (332) Asian, 0.06% (6) Pacific Islander, 4.17% (450) from other races, and 3.02% (326) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.49% (1,024) of the population.[5]
There were 4,655 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% 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 2.90.[5]
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.[5]
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $47,312 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,646) and the median family income was $51,489 (+/- $7,704). Males had a median income of $45,385 (+/- $6,862) versus $37,536 (+/- $3,731) for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,626 (+/- $1,822). About 11.9% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[18]
At the 2000 census[8], there were 11,614 people, 4,920 households and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,883.1 per square mile (1,112.7/km2). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 1,341.0 per square mile (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.[15][16]
There were 4,920 households 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.[15][16]
Age distribution was 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.[15][16]
The median household income was $42,222, and the median family income 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.[15][16]
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 2011[update], the Mayor of Somers Point is John L. Glasser, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2015. The members of the City Council are Council President Sean T. McGuigan (2013), Councilmember-At-Large Carl D’Adamo (2012), Ward One Councilmembers Thomas G. Smith (2012), Sean T. McGuigan (2013) and Ralph Triboletti (2014); and Ward Two Councilmembers, Howard Dill (2012), Maureen Kern (2014) and Dennis Tapp (2013). The mayor and all councilmembers, with the exception of D'Adamo, are Republican.[19]
In elections held on November 8, 2011, Glasser defeated Democrat-turned Independent Daniel Gudauskas in a landslide 1,650-558, making it the largest margin of victory in a contested election on the municipal level in Somers Point history. Triboletti and Kern ran unopposed in the first and second wards respectively.[20]
Somers Point is in the 2nd Congressional district. New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Somers Point is in the 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City), and in the Assembly by John F. Amodeo (R, Margate) and Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township).[21][17]
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood), whose term of office ends on December 31, 2011.[22] 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 of which four members are elected at-large and one member from each of the five districts. As of 2011, Atlantic County's Freeholders are four at-large members Alisa Cooper (Linwood, term expires December 31, 2011)[23], Vice Chairman Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2012)[24], Joseph J. McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2013)[25] and Jim Schroeder (Northfield, 2011)[26]; and five members elected from districts District 1 (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville) Charles T. Garrett (Atlantic City, 2013)[27], District 2 - (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor), Chairman Frank D. Formica (Atlantic City, 2012)[28], District 3 (Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield) - Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2011)[29], District 4 (Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic - Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2013)[30] and District 5 (Buena Borough Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth) - Vacant.[31][32]
Students in grades K - 8 are served by the Somers Point Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[33]) are New York Avenue School with 81 students in pre-school, Dawes Avenue School with 400 students in grades K-6 and Jordan Road Middle School with 611 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.[34] The high school is located in Linwood.
St. Joseph Regional School is a Catholic elementary school, operated under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden.[35]
The 1983 movie Eddie and the Cruisers was largely filmed in Somers Point, using the defunct Tony Mart's nightclub as a setting.[36]
Notable current and former residents of Somers Point include:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||