SOMERS POINT, NEW JERSEY

'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.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Somers Point in Popular Culture

References

External links

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 (39.319165, -74.600300).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²). 10.4 km² (4.0 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (22.05%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,614 people, 4,920 households, and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,112.7/km² (2,883.1/mi²). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 517.5/km² (1,341.0/mi²). 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.
The Mayor of Somers Point is Dan Reilly, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2007. The members of the City Council are Council President and Councilmember-at-Large Carl D'Adamo (2008), Ward One Councilmembers Pat Bingham (2008), Frank Cosgrove (2009) and Jack Glasser (2007); and Ward Two Councilmembers Bobby Donovan (2009), John DiMaria (2008) and David Parker (2007).^[1]

Federal, state and county representation

Somers Point is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.^[2]

Education

Students in grades K - 8 are served by the Somers Point Public Schools. Schools in the district are
New York Avenue School for pre-school,
Dawes Avenue School with 550 students in grades K-6 and
Jordan Road Middle School with 710 students in Pre-K through 8th grade.
Students in grades 9 - 12 attend the Mainland Regional High School, and which serves students from Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point.^[3] The high school is located in Linwood.

Somers Point in 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.

References

1. Somers Point City Government, accessed March 3, 2007.
2. League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 64, accessed August 30, 2006.
3. 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."

External links

★ Somers Point webpage

★ Somers Point Public Schools

★ 300 Years at the Point - The History of Somers Point, NJ

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★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Somers Point Public Schools