Sea Isle City, New Jersey
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| Sea Isle City, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Incorporated | May 22, 1882 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) |
| - Mayor | Leonard C. Desiderio |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.5 sq mi (6.6 km²) |
| - Land | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 2,949 |
| - Density | 1,287.3/sq mi (497.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08243 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-66390[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885389[4] |
| Website: http://www.sea-isle-city.nj.us/ | |
Sea Isle City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 2,835. Sea Isle City is located on Ludlam Island, which also contains part of Dennis Township.
Sea Isle City was originally incorporated as a borough on May 22, 1882, from portions of Dennis Township, based on the results of a referendum held six days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on March 31, 1890. On April 20, 1907, the area was reincorporated as the City of Sea Isle City, based on the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1907.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Sea Isle City is located along the Atlantic Ocean at (39.145755, -74.698654)[6].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (13.73%) is water.
Sea Isle City borders Upper Township, Dennis Township, Middle Township, Avalon Borough, and the Atlantic Ocean.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 850 |
|
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| 1940 | 773 | -9.1% | |
| 1950 | 993 | 28.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,393 | 40.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,712 | 22.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,644 | 54.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,692 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,835 | 5.3% | |
| Est. 2006 | 2,949 | [2] | 4.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,835 people, 1,370 households, and 794 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,287.3 people per square mile (497.5/km²). There were 6,622 housing units at an average density of 1, 162.2/km² (3,006.9/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 97.88% White, 0.28% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 30.5% of Sea Isle City residents were of Irish ancestry, the 34th-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and sixth-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.[8]
There were 1,370 households out of which 15.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,708, and the median income for a family was $62,847. Males had a median income of $42,713 versus $31,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,754. About 6.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Sea Isle City is a beach town with most of its housing used for vacation rentals and second homes. It has a 1.5 mile beachfront promenade and several arcades, shops, restaurants and bars in the center of town.
[edit] Coastal storms
There have been many hurricanes and huge storms that have hit the small island of Sea Isle City, New Jersey. The storms of the 1890's, 1920's, and the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane have been some of the worst natural disasters to hit the coast of New Jersey. The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, a major Nor'easter that hit on March 6, 1962, tops all other storms that have hit the area in the recent past. The storm lasted three days of continuous rain. It was categorized as a "100-year storm." Almost every beach front home or property was destroyed or damaged. Many people evacuated in time to save their lives, but came back to find their homes and assets destroyed. Eventually, the only way out of town was the causeway, and when that flooded, rescuers had to use helicopters to evacuate the rest of the town.
About a week later when the storm had subsided, Sea Isle City citizens moved back into their homes and began the needed revisions. As a result of the storm, a "dune line" was formed, and this caused beach front businesses and homes to move back from the shoreline an average of one block.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Sea Isle City had been governed under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government, by a three-member commission, starting in 1913.[9][10] As of July 1, 2007, Sea Isle City is now governed under a Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) form of government by a mayor and a five-member city council.[11]
The Mayor of Sea Isle City is Leonard C. Desiderio.[12] Members of the Council are Council President Michael J. McHale, John J. Divney, Frank P. Edwardi, Jr., William J. Kehner and Mary Tighe.[13]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Sea Isle City is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.[14]
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).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[16]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office. Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel (Upper Township, term expires December 31, 2008), Freeholder Vice-Director Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (2008), Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. (2010), Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2009) and Gerald M. Thornton (2010).[17]
[edit] Education
The Sea Isle City School District serves public school students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. The Sea Isle City School had an enrollment of 98 students in the 2005-06 school year.[18]
For grades 9-12, public school students attend Ocean City High School, in Ocean City, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Ocean City School District.[19]
[edit] Transportation
Exit 17 on the Garden State Parkway provides access to Sea Isle City via Sea Isle Boulevard which becomes JFK Blvd.
Sea Isle City has no public transportation to speak of, nor does it offer jitney service. However, New Jersey Transit does offer the 315 inter-city bus route that runs through the town once a day and shuttles people to and from Philadelphia
There was a train service that ran the length of the island on Pleasure Avenue. The train was in use from the early 1900s until the mid 1930s when the tracks were removed and the streets were paved due to increase use of cars.
[edit] Notable residents
Current and former notable residents of Sea Isle City include:
- Richard M. Atwater (1844-1922), chemist and glassmaker, who served as mayor of Sea Isle City from 1913-1917.[citation needed]
- John C. Gibson, former member of the New Jersey General Assembly.[20]
- Josh Lomberger, professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment
[edit] Miscellaneous
From 1885 until 1962, Sea Isle City was the location of Ludlam's Beach Lighthouse.
[edit] Trivia
- The tallest building in Sea Isle City is The Spinnaker condominium towers. The tallest freestanding structure is the town water-tower.
- The water-tower always had "Welcome to Sea Isle City" painted on it until 2002 when the printed message was change to "Smile! You're in Sea Isle City"
- Sara The Turtle Day is the city's local holiday, celebrating a fictional turtle named Sara who became the city's unofficial mascot. The city also hosts an annual Polar Bear Plunge every February
- As of 2001, the only amusement park, Fun City, was closed and the land was sold for development of beach homes.
- The average price for a weekly summer beach house rental during peak season is $1,500 a week.
- Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City's main street, is named for the city's founder, Charles K. Landis, who was also the founder of Vineland, New Jersey.
- Contrary to popular belief, Strathmere (located at the north end of Ludlam Island) is not part of Sea Isle City. It is part of Upper Township. Townsend Inlet, located at the south of the island, is part of the city
- Technically speaking, Sea Isle is not an "island city" as it shares its land on Ludlam Island with Strathmere. Neighboring Ocean City, however, is an island city as the entire land mass surrounded by water, belongs to the town.
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: City of Sea Isle City, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Sea Isle City city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 11, 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. 115.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Irish Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.
- ^ The Commission Form of Municipal Government, p. 53. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8.
- ^ Burczewski, Ron. "Sea Isle City 11/07/07 Our new government", Cape May County Herald, November 7, 2007. Accessed April 30, 2008.
- ^ Mayor, Sea Isle City. Accessed April 30, 2008.
- ^ Council, Sea Isle City. Accessed April 30, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Sea Isle City School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 30, 2008.
- ^ Ocean City High School 2006 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 7, 2007. "Ocean City is a comprehensive high school serving the communities of Ocean City, Upper Township, Sea Isle City, and Corbin City, with an enrollment of over 1,400 students."
- ^ 2006 Distinguished Service Award Recipients, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, accessed April 14, 2007. "Jack Gibson's roots are deeply imbedded in South Jersey. He was born in Atlantic City and has been a life long resident of Sea Isle City."
[edit] External links
- Sea Isle City web site
- Sea Isle City Information
- Sea Isle City School
- Sea Isle City School's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Sea Isle City School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Sea Isle City Beach Patrol
- Sea Isle City Tourism Commission
- Sea Isle City tourism guide
- Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce
- The Upper Township Gazette serving Sea Isle Local community newspaper
- Sea Isle City, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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