Somers Point, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Somers Point, New Jersey
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Somers Point in Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Somers Point, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Atlantic
government_footnotes =
government_type = City (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jack Glasser
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 24, 1886

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 13.4
area_land_km2 = 10.4
area_water_km2 = 2.9
area_total_sq_mi = 5.2
area_land_sq_mi = 4.0
area_water_sq_mi = 1.1

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 11420
population_density_km2 = 1113.2
population_density_sq_mi = 2883.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|885397|City of Somers Point, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 4
elevation_ft = 13
latd = 39 |latm = 19 |lats = 02 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 36 |longs = 24 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08244
area_code = 609
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-68430GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0885397GR|3
website = http://www.somerspointgov.org
footnotes =

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.

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."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70.]

Geography

Somers Point is located at coor dms|39|19|9|N|74|36|1|W|city (39.319165, -74.600300)GR|1.

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.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 2073
1940= 1992
1950= 2480
1960= 4504
1970= 7919
1980= 10330
1990= 11216
2000= 11614
estimate=11420
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3460600&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3460600&_street=&_county=somers+point&_cityTown=somers+point&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Somers Point] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 5, 2008.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 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.

Government

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). [ [http://www.somerspoint-nj.com/government.htm Somers Point City Government] , City of Somers Point. Accessed March 7, 2008.]

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). [ [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/campaign/local_results/story/7513959p-7412669c.html Atlantic County election results"] , "Press of Atlantic City", November 6, 2007. Accessed November 12, 2007.]

Federal, state and county representation

Somers Point is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

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 [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3415030 Data for the Somers Point Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed march 7, 2008.] ) are [http://www.somersptschools.org/newyorkave.htm New York Avenue School] with 68 students in pre-school, [http://www.somersptschools.org/dawes.htm Dawes Avenue School] with 385 students in grades K-6 and [http://www.somersptschools.org/jordan.htm 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. [ [http://www.mainlandregional.net/ 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."] The high school is located in Linwood.

[http://www.sjrs.org/ St. Joseph Regional School] is a Catholic elementary school, operated under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden. [ [http://www.camdendiocese.org/schools/ac.html Atlantic County Schools] , Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed July 22, 2008.]

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.Fact|date=September 2008

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Somers Point include:
*Doug Colman (born 1973), former NFL linebacker. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=COLMADOU01 Doug Colman] , database Football. Accessed November 6, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.somerspointgov.org Somers Point webpage]
* [http://www.somersptschools.org Somers Point Public Schools]
* [http://mca3.com/magic/index.cgi?code=3&cat=5 300 Years at the Point] - The History of Somers Point, NJ
*NJReportCard|01|4800|0|Somers Point Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3415030 Data for the Somers Point Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.shorenewstoday.com/nls The Current of Somers Point]