Somers Point, New Jersey
Somers Point is a city and the oldest settlement in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. It was settled by Europeans in 1693 and was incorporated as a borough in 1886. Somers Point was incorporated as a city in 1902. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 10,795, reflecting a decline of 819 (-7.1%) from the 11,614 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 398 (+3.5%) from the 11,216 counted in the 1990 Census. The City of Somers Point is in the eastern part of Atlantic County, southwest  of Atlantic City. History. John Somers was the first European settler in what is now Somers Point. Somers purchased the land along the northern periphery of the Great Egg Harbor Bay from Thomas Budd in 1693, making it the oldest European settlement in what is now Atlantic County. Great Egg Harbour Township was designated in 1693 from the eastern portions of Gloucester County, which included Somers Point. Somers named the area Somerset Plantation, Somers Ferry, and Somers Plantation, until the name Somers Point became established in 1750. In 1695, John Somers operated the first ferry service across the Great Egg  Harbor Bay to Cape May County. His son Richard built Somers Mansion overlooking the harbor sometime between 1720 and 1726, which remains the county's oldest existing home. Somers Point was designated as a port of entry in 1791 and remained one until it was abolished in 1915. By the 1830s, when Somers Point became part of Atlantic County, it was a popular summer resort with several boarding houses. Somers Point was 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. At that time, there were 48 people registered to vote in the borough. Somers Point was reincorporated as a borough 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. The borough was named for John Somers. Geography. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 5.23 square miles (13.55 km), including 4.01 square miles (10.39 km) of land and 1.22 square miles (3.17  km) of water (23.37%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ocean Heights. The city borders Egg Harbor Township, Longport and Linwood in Atlantic County; and both Ocean City and Upper Township in Cape May County. Demographics. 2010 Census. 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. 2000 Census. At the 2000 United States Census, 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/km). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 1,341.0 per square mile (517.5/km). 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, 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. 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. 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. Economy. The largest employer in Somers Point is Shore Medical Center, with 1,500 employees, 370 physicians, and 296 beds. Somers Point is the home to the largest crabbing tournament in the United States, the Assault on Patcong Creek. Founded in 2010, the tournament takes place annually in June and attracts participants from over a dozen states. Government. Local government. Somers Point is governed  under the City form of government, as one of 15 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use this traditional form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the seven-member City Council, all elected on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor serves a four-year term, with a single council at-large seat and one council member from each of the two wards up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Mayor is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the municipality. As the city's  Chief Executive Officer, the Mayor puts into effect the municipal laws, known as ordinances. The Mayor can 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 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 enacts ordinances, adopts an annual budget and sets policy for the city. , the Mayor of Somers Point is Republican John L. "Jack" Glasser Jr., whose term of office ends on  December 31, 2023. Members of the City Council are Council President Sean T. McGuigan (R, 2022; 1st Ward), Carl D'Adamo (D, 2020; At Large), Howard W. Dill (R, 2021; 2nd Ward), Kirk J. Gerety (R, 2020; 1st Ward), Janice Johnston (R, 2021; 1st Ward - elected to serve an unexpired term), Michael Owen (R, 2022; 2nd Ward) and James J. Toto (R, 2020; 2nd Ward). In August 2019, the City Council selected Janice Johnston from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the First Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by  Ronald Meischker until he resigned the previous month after announcing that he was moving out of the city. In September 2017, the City Council selected Ron Meischker from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican Municipal Committee to fill the vacant 1st Ward seat expiring in December 2018 that had been held by Thomas Smith until he resigned from office earlier that month. In January 2016, the City Council selected James Toto from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the 2nd Ward seat expiring in 2017 that was vacated by Maureen Kern when she  took office as a member of the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Toto served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term. In elections held on November 8, 2011, Jack Glasser defeated Democrat-turned Independent Daniel Gudauskas by 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. Federal, state and county representation. Somers Point is located in the 2nd Congressional District and  is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Somers Point had been in the 1st Legislative District. Politics. As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,619 registered voters in Somers Point City, of which 1,624 (24.5% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,979 (29.9% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 3,009 (45.5% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered to other parties. Among the city's 2010 Census population, 61.3% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including  77.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,506 votes (53.5% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,077 votes (44.4% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 53 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,681 ballots cast by the city's 7,075 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.2% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,597 votes (51.5% vs. 56.5% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,309 votes (45.8% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 71 votes (1.4 % vs. 1.1%), among the 5,042 ballots cast by the city's 7,120 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.8% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,529 votes (51.2% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,313 votes (46.9% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 43 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,936 ballots cast by the city's 6,642 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county). In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,963 votes (64.3% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of  Democrat Barbara Buono with 938 votes (30.7% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.6% vs. 1.3%), among the 3,052 ballots cast by the city's 7,272 registered voters, yielding a 42.0% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,677 votes (51.3% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,282 votes (39.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 224 votes (6.8% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.3% vs. 1.2%), among the 3,271 ballots cast by the city's 6,794 registered voters, yielding a 48.1% turnout (vs.  44.9% in the county). Somers Point native Maureen Kern currently serves as a member of the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Historic district. The Bay Front Historic District is a historic district encompassing an area roughly bounded by Decatur Avenue, Egg Harbor Bay, George Avenue, and Shore Road in the community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 1989 for its significance in architecture, entertainment/recreation, and social history. The district includes 189 contributing buildings. Education. Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Somers Point Public Schools. As of  the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 894 students and 95.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are New York Avenue School with 70 students in pre-kindergarten, Dawes Avenue School with 387 students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade and Jordan Road Middle School with 425 students in 4th through 8th grade. Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Mainland Regional High School, which also serves students  from Linwood and Northfield. The high school is located in Linwood. For the 1997–98 school year, Mainland Regional High School was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,226 students and 112.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. City public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in  Somers Point. St. Joseph Regional School is an elementary school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, operated under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Transportation. Roads and highways. , the city had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Atlantic County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The Garden State Parkway passes through the city, connecting Egg Harbor Township on either side of the city. Interchange 30 for the Parkway is located in the city, signed for Somers Point and Downtown Ocean  City. On the city's southern border, bridges connect to Cape May County via the Garden State Parkway to Upper Township, into Ocean City via Route 52 and over the Beesley's Point Bridge, which has been demolished. As part of a $400 million project completed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation in 2012, a new causeway for Route 52 was completed over Great Egg Harbor Bay, replacing the Howard S. Stainton Memorial Causeway that had been completed in 1933. the Beesley's Point Bridge was demolished in 2013 as part of a project adding a new bridge  for traffic on the Parkway. Public transportation. NJ Transit offers bus transportation in the city between Ocean City and Atlantic City on the 507 and 509 routes. 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. Notable people. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Somers Point include: