Ocean City

Ocean City, New Jersey The Ocean City Boardwalk on a busy summer weekend Ocean City highlighted in Cape May County. Inset map: Cape May County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. Census Bureau map of Ocean City, New Jersey Coordinates: 39°15′55″N 74°35′38″W / 39.26528°N 74.59389°W / 39.26528; -74.59389Coordinates: 39°15′55″N 74°35′38″W / 39.26528°N 74.59389°W / 39.26528; -74.59389 Country United States State New Jersey County Cape May Incorporated May 3, 1884 Government  - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)  - Mayor Salvatore Perillo  - Administrator Jim Rutala[1] Area  - Total 11.1 sq mi (28.7 km2)  - Land 6.9 sq mi (17.9 km2)  - Water 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km2) Elevation [2] 3 ft (1 m) Population (2006)[3]  - Total 15,124  - Density 2,222.8/sq mi (858.2/km2) Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)  - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4) ZIP code 08226 Area code(s) 609 FIPS code 34-54360[4][5] GNIS feature ID 0885332[6] Website http://www.ocnj.us/

Kites on the beach.

The Sun rising over an Ocean City beach.

Ocean City Music Pier

Ocean City Boardwalk, looking south Historical populations Census Pop.  %± 1930 5,525 — 1940 4,672 −15.4% 1950 6,040 29.3% 1960 7,618 26.1% 1970 10,575 38.8% 1980 13,949 31.9% 1990 15,512 11.2% 2000 15,378 −0.9% Est. 2006 15,124 [3] −1.7% Population 1930 - 1990[7]

Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 15,378. In the summer months, with an influx of tourist and second homeowners, there are estimated to be 115,000 to 130,000 within the city's borders. ^[8][9]

Ocean City was originally formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 3, 1884, from portions of Upper Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1884, and was reincorporated as a borough on March 31, 1890. Ocean City was incorporated as a city, its current type of government, on March 25, 1897.^[10]

Ocean City is known as a family seaside resort that has prohibited the sales of alcoholic beverages within its limits since the city's founding in 1879. Ocean City possesses miles of guarded beaches, a 2.5 mile boardwalk, and a quaint downtown.

The Travel Channel rated Ocean City as the Best Family Beach of 2005.^[11] It was ranked the third best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.^[12] In the 2009 Top 10 Beaches Contest, Ocean City ranked first.^[13]

Ocean City requires purchase of a beach tag for all individuals age 12 and up to go on the beach from early June through Labor Day.^[14] For the 2008 season, tags could be purchased on a daily basis for $5, weekly for $10 or $20 for the entire season.^[15]

Geography

Ocean City is located at 39°15′55″N 74°35′38″W / 39.265371°N 74.593814°W / 39.265371; -74.593814 (39.265371, -74.593814).^[16]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 4.2 square miles (10.8 km²) of it (37.58%) is water.

Ocean City is a barrier island with bridge connections to Marmora (Upper Township) via the 34th Street (Roosevelt Boulevard) Bridge , Egg Harbor Township via the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, Somers Point via the 9th Street Bridge (NJ 52), and Strathmere (Upper Township) via the Corson's Inlet Bridge. The Eastern side of Ocean City borders the Atlantic Ocean, while the Western side faces the Great Egg Harbor Bay, Beach Thoroughfare, Pecks Bay and Crook Horn Creek.

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 15,378 people, 7,464 households, and 4,008 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,222.8 people per square mile (858.0/km²). There were 20,298 housing units at an average density of 2,934.0/sq mi (1,132.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.57% White, 4.31% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.

There were 7,464 households out of which 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the city the population was spread out with 16.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,158, and the median income for a family was $61,731. Males had a median income of $42,224 versus $31,282 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,217. About 4.3% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The City of Ocean City was incorporated on March 25, 1897. Since July 1, 1978, the City has operated under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.^[17]

The Mayor is the chief executive of the community who is chosen for a four-year term at the Municipal Election in May and serves part-time for a yearly salary. The Mayor does not preside over, nor have a vote on the Council. The Mayor has a veto power over ordinances, but vetoes can be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of the Council.

City Council is the legislative body. There are seven elected members. Four members represent individual wards and three are elected at large. Each of the Councilpersons serves a staggered four-year term.

The Mayor of Ocean City is Salvatore Perillo. Members of the City Council are:^[18]

• At-Large - Scott Ping, Council President
• At-Large - Keith Hartzell, Council Vice President
• At-Large - Michael Allegretto
• First Ward - John Kemenosh
• Second Ward - Karen Bergman
• Third Ward - Susan Sheppard
• Fourth Ward - Roy Wagner

Federal, state and county representation

Ocean City is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.^[19]

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 Jeff Van Drew (D) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Dennis Township).^[20] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).^[21]

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).^[22]

Education

The Ocean City School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are Ocean City Primary School (K-3), Ocean City Intermediate School (4-8) and Ocean City High School (9-12).

Students from Corbin City, Upper Township and Sea Isle City attend Ocean City High School for grades 9-12, as part of sending/receiving relationships.^[23]

St. Augustine Regional School a K-8 coeducational Catholic school which closed in June 2008.[1]

History

Known first as Peck's Beach, a seven-mile stretch of sand dunes, meadows and cedar swamps was probably named for John Peck, a whaler who used the island as a staging spot for his whaling operation.

The island had served as a summer fishing camp for local Native Americans, a grazing land for cattle driven out from the mainland and an occasional hunting or picnic spot for mainland residents who would come out by boat. Original ownership of the land was by the Somers family.

Several individuals had made their home on the island, most notable of which was Parker Miller who had served as an agent for marine insurance companies. He and his family lived in a home at about what is now the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Asbury Avenue.

September 10, 1879, four Methodist ministers, Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake and William Burrell chose the island as a suitable spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp meeting on the order of Ocean Grove^[24]. They met under a tall cedar tree, which stands today in the Lobby of the Ocean City Tabernacle. Having chosen the name “Ocean City”, the founders incorporated the “Ocean City Association”, laid out street and lots for cottages, hotel and businesses. The Ocean City Tabernacle was built between Wesley and Asbury Avenues and between 5th and 6th Streets. Camp Meetings were held by the following summer.

From these beginnings Ocean City has grown into the town as it exists today. The first bridge was built to the island in 1883, while the first railroad soon followed. The first school began in 1881. The boardwalk grew and was relocated several times. The ship Sindia joined other shipwrecks on the beach on December 15, 1901, on its way to New York City from Kobe, Japan, but has since sunk below the sand. A failed salvage attempt was launched in the 1970s, but none have been tried since. It was assumed by treasure hunters that after sailing back from Asia large amounts of treasure and plunder from the Boxer Rebellion had been on board, although both crew and captain said otherwise.^[25] A large fire in 1927 changed the town significantly.

Popular culture references

• Clare Quilty, the villain of Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita, was from Ocean City.

Sports

The Ocean City Barons of the USL Premier Development League play at Carey Stadium.

Media

Media publications in Ocean City include it's two major newspapers, The Gazette and The Sentinel, in addition to its two other weekly prints, The Sandpaper and The Sure Guide.

Noted residents

Gay Talese

Noted current and former residents of Ocean City include:

• David Akers, kicker for the Eagles, owns a house on the beach at the south end of the island.^[26]
• A. R. Ammons, author and poet, winner of the National Book Award.^[27]
• Maurice Catarcio, former professional wrestler with the World Wrestling Federation and record holder in The Guinness Book of World Records.^[28]
• Bobby Clarke, played 15 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and led them to two Stanley Cups and was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times.^[29]
• Pat Croce, former owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, owns a summer home in the Gardens section of the city.^[30]
• Stephen Dunn, poet.^[31]
• Rich Gannon (1965-), former Oakland Raiders quarterback and league MVP in 2002, owns a home on the beach in the mid-section of the island.^{[citation needed]}
• Andrew Golota (1968-), boxer.^[32]
• Grace Kelly (1929-1982), Academy Award-winning actress, and Princess of Monaco, was a summer resident of Ocean City.^[33]
• Kurt Loder (1945-), Former Editor of Rolling Stone Magazine and anchor for MTV News, graduated from Ocean City High School in 1963
• Dave Mustaine (1961-), Guitar player of Megadeth and former guitar player for Metallica owns a summer home here.^{[citation needed]}
• Brian Propp (1959-), former NHL hockey player who is now a broadcaster for the Philadelphia Flyers.^{[citation needed]}
• Ed Rendell (1944-), Governor of Pennsylvania, owns a summer home.^[34]
• James Stewart (1908-1997), actor, spent summers at his family's vacation home during his childhood.^[34]
• Gay Talese (1932-), author grew up in the "Italian" section of the city. He still vacations there with his wife.^[35]
• Walter Trout (1951-), blues musician.^[36]
• Mike Tyson, former heavyweight champion, owns a summer home in the Gardens section of Ocean City.^{[citation needed]}
• Brian Westbrook (1979-), a Philadelphia Eagles running back, owns a summer home in the Gardens section of Ocean City.
• Tom Williams, 5-time winner of NJ Sportscaster of the Year, award-winning columnist for The Ocean City Gazette.
• The Wrigley Family, founders of the Wrigley Gum Company, once owned a summer home in the Gardens.
• Jay Wright (1961-), coach of Villanova University Men's Basketball team has a beach residence in Ocean City

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ocean City, New Jersey

• Ocean City website
• Ocean City Chamber of Commerce
• Ocean City Tourism Commission
• Ocean City School District
• Ocean City School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Ocean City School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• The Ocean City POPS
• A View From Macaroni Street - The Italian-American Experience in Ocean City, New Jersey
• The Boardwalk Benches of Ocean City, NJ
• The Sindia
• The Ocean City Gazette
• The SandPaper
• Around Our Town with Cathy Finnegan
• The Morning Wave

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