Somers Point is a city situated on the Jersey Shore that is the oldest settlement in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was settled by Europeans in 1693 and was incorporated as a borough in 1886. Somers Point was incorporated as a city in 1902. The city is located in eastern Atlantic County, southwest of Atlantic City, in the South Jersey region of the state.
The earliest residents of the area were the LenapeNative Americans. 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. 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.[25][26][27][28][29] Early names for the area were Somerset Plantation, Somers Ferry, and Somers Plantation, until the name Somers Point was established in 1750. Somers Point was designated as a port of entry in 1791 and remained one until it was abolished in 1915.[30][31] By the 1830s, when Somers Point became part of Atlantic County, it was a popular summer resort with several boarding houses.[32]
Panoramic map of "Somers-Point" with list of landmarks and images of several inset (1925)
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.[26] At that time, there were 48 people registered to vote in the borough.[28] Somers Point was subsequently reincorporated as a borough on April 2, 1890 based on the previous day's referendum, and was finally incorporated as a city on April 9, 1902, from all of Somers Point borough and additional portions of Egg Harbor Township. All were named for John Somers.[26][33][34][35]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 5.23 square miles (13.55 km2), including 4.01 square miles (10.39 km2) of land and 1.22 square miles (3.17 km2) of water (23.37%).[2][3]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ocean Heights.[36]
Of the 4,655 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18; 36.8% were married couples living together; 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.3% were non-families. Of all households, 31.9% were made up of individuals and 11.1% 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 2.90.[21]
21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 84.5 males.[21]
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.[48]
2000 census
At the 2000 United States census,[18] there were 11,614 people, 4,920 households and 2,952 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,883.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,113.2/km2). There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 1,341.0 per square mile (517.8/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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
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.[46][47]
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.[51]
Parks and recreation
Portions of the Right-of-way of the Atlantic City and Shore Railroad, running for 6 miles (9.7 km) between Pleasantville and Somers Point have been repurposed as the Somers Point Bike Path.[52] Along the Somers Point bay lays a 6.18 acre park named after 35th United .States President John F. Kennedy.
Government
Local government
Somers Point is governed under the City form of government, as one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.[53] 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.[8][54] 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.[55]
As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Somers Point is Republican Dennis Tapp, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2027.[4] Members of the City Council are Council President Janice Johnston (R, 2024; 1st Ward), Richard L. DePamphilis III (R, 2026; 1st Ward), Charles J. Haberkorn (R, 2026; 2nd Ward), Howard W. Dill (R, 2024; 2nd Ward), Joseph T. McCarrie Jr. (R, 2024; At Large), Sean T. McGuigan (R, 2025; 1st Ward) and Michael Owen (R, 2025; 2nd Ward).[56][57][58][59][60][61]
After Stacy Ferreri resigned in January 2022 from her seat expiring in December 2023, the City Council appointed Ken Adams, though Adams was forced to step down in February after it was discovered that he had a felony conviction that disqualified him from serving. In March 2022, Richard DePamphilis was appointed to fill the vacant seat.[62] In the November 2022 general election, DePamphilis won the balance of the term of office.[60]
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 Ron Meischker until he resigned the previous month after announcing that he was moving out of the city.[63]
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.[64]
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.[65] Toto served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term.[66]
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.[67]
Federal, state and county representation
Somers Point is located in the 2nd Congressional District[68] and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.[69][70][71]
Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected county executive and a nine-member Board of County Commissioners, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the commissioners are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the commissioners represent equally populated districts.[75][76] As of 2025[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[77] Members of the Board of County Commissioners are:
Atlantic County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Joesph J. Giralo (R, 2026, Hammonton),[88][89]
Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue (R, 2026, Egg Harbor Township)[90][91] and
Surrogate James Curcio (R, 2025, Hammonton).[92][93][94]
Politics
As of March 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 as Libertarians or Greens.[95] 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).[95][96]
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).[97][98] 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).[99] 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).[100]
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).[107][108] 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).[109]
The Bay Front Historic District is a 82-acre (33 ha) 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.[113]
Education
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Somers Point Public Schools.[114] As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 763 students and 78.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.[115] The Somers Point School District consists of three school facilities: Jordan Road School, constructed in 1966 with an addition in 1991; Dawes Avenue School, constructed in 1998; and New York Avenue School, constructed in 1914 with an addition in 1922 and a refurbishing project in 2005, which houses preschool and the district's central offices.[116] Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[117]) are
New York Avenue School[118] with 4 students in pre-kindergarten,
Dawes Avenue School[119] with 384 students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade and
Jordan Road Middle School[120] with 366 students in 4th through 8th grade.[121][122][123][124]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 55.39 miles (89.14 km) of roadways, of which 43.19 miles (69.51 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.45 miles (8.77 km) by Atlantic County and 3.73 miles (6.00 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.02 miles (4.86 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[133]
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.[136] 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.[137] the Beesley's Point Bridge was demolished in 2013 as part of a project adding a new bridge for traffic on the Parkway.[138]
^Kuperinsky, Amy. "'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Somers Point, rich with views of Atlantic County's Great Egg Harbor Bay, has signs that say 'The Shore Starts Here'. They went up this past summer, says Michael Bray, chairman of the Somers Point Economic Development Advisory Commission. 'We're positioned in such a way that we're a year-round community,' he says."
^"A Short History of Somers Point", Somers Point Historical Society. Accessed May 22, 2017. "Somers Point was originally settled by John Somers, an Englishman and practicing Quaker, who bought the land from Thomas Budd. Early names for the area were Somerset Plantation, Somers Ferry, and Somers Plantation, named after the first settlers in 1693."
^Somers' Mansion, Col. Richard Somers Chapter. Accessed May 22, 2017. "Somers Mansion, situated on Shore Road in Somers Point, NJ, is the oldest house in Atlantic County. It was built about 1725 by Richard Somers, oldest son of John Somers."
^Marino, Suzanne. "Patcong Creek Foundation, crab tourney support environmental initiatives", The Current of Egg Harbor Township, January 25, 2017. Accessed May 22, 2017. "Harbormaster Ron Meischker organizes the annual Assault on Patcong Creek crabbing tournament here – the success of which spawned the Patcong Creek Foundation, a nonprofit organization that looks to help the local environment through education. The tournament, scheduled for Saturday, June 24, began in 2010 with a few friends getting together for a crabbing tournament on Patcong Creek, with the winner getting bragging rights and everyone enjoying a day on the water.... Today organizers are billing the Assault on Patcong Creek as the largest crabbing tournament in the country, with crabbers and their families coming from as far away as Texas."
^Klenk, Steffen. "On The Move: History of South Jersey Railroads", Shore Local, March 29, 2018. Accessed March 21, 2023. "The six-mile long Somers Point Bike Path, a six-mile long trail that stretches between Somers Point and Pleasantville, runs along the former Atlantic City and Shore Railroad. This railroad, also known as the Shore Fast Line, operated from 1907 until 1948 and provided service between Atlantic City and Ocean City."
^"Somers Point Council picks DePamphilis",Ocean City Sentinel, March 2, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2022. "Republicans cited his lengthy government experience in appointing Richard DePamphilis to the open Ward I seat Feb. 24, despite strong support for another nominee.... Members voted 4-1 in favor of DePamphilis over Democrat Lisa Bender.... Former Councilwoman Stacy Ferreri resigned in January, one year into her term.... City Council then unanimously appointed Ken Adams on Jan. 27 to take her place. However, Adams was forced to resign Feb. 3 because it was revealed that his felony conviction in 2004 for theft and misconduct while chief of the Northfield Police Department barred him from serving."
^Kelleher, Kristen. "Johnston is new council member in Somers Point", Ocean City Sentinel, August 29, 2029. Accessed March 8, 2020. "Somers Point City Council swore in a new council member, Janice Johnston, during a Thursday, Aug. 22, meeting. Johnston will take over former City Councilman Ron Meischker’s term. Meischker resigned from the council last month. In his resignation letter, Meischker wrote that he purchased a property outside of Somers Point and planned to move out of the city."
^Marino, Suzanne. "Somers Point Harbormaster Meischker appointed to City Council", The Current of Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point, September 20, 2017. Accessed January 23, 2018. "Longtime local Republican campaign chairman Ron Meischker was selected last week to replace 1st ward Councilman Thomas Smith on City Council.... Meischker was one of three names proffered by the Republican Club to replace Smith, a seven-year veteran of the governing body who resigned effective Sept. 11."
^Lowe, Claire. "Toto selected to replace Kern on Somers Point Council", The Press of Atlantic City, January 19, 2016. Accessed June 15, 2016. "Republican James Toto will fill the vacancy on Somers Point Council created by newly seated Freeholder Maureen Kern. Kern, who represented the 2nd Ward, resigned effective Jan. 5 with two years left of her third three-year term. At its Jan. 14 meeting, council approved Toto to fill the vacancy until December 2016."
^Smith, Shaun. "Glasser, Kern, Triboletti win re-election in Somers Point ", Shore News Today, November 9, 2011. Accessed November 27, 2011. "Republican John L. "Jack" Glasser has been elected here to his second term as mayor, and he will be joined by fellow incumbent council members Maureen Kern and Ralph Triboletti."
^Somers Point Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Somers Point Public Schools, adopted July 23, 1998. Accessed June 15, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 8 in the Somers Point School District. Composition: The Somers Point School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Somers Point."
^About, Somers Point Public Schools. Accessed January 26, 2025. "The Somers Point School District (Preschool through 8th grade) consists of three schools. The Jordan Road School, constructed in 1966 with an addition in 1991, is a Fourth through Eighth-grade building. Dawes Avenue School was constructed in 1998 and sits on the other side of town and houses Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Our third school is the New York Avenue School, constructed in 1914 with an addition in 1922 and refurbished in 2005. The New York Avenue School houses five full-day Preschool classes."
^Shott, Meghan. "Mainland Regional High School", SouthJersey.com, February 23, 2015. Accessed January 26, 2025. "Mainland Regional High School is a regional public high school serving students from the communities of Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point in Atlantic County."
^One Family, One School, One Community, Mainland Regional High School. Accessed January 26, 2025. "The Mainland Regional High School District is a comprehensive, four-year public high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students serving the communities of Somers Point, Northfield and Linwood, New Jersey. The District also participates in school choice, which permits 44 students that reside outside of the sending districts to attend Mainland Regional High School."
^Frequently Asked Questions, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed May 17, 2017. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."
^Home Page, Saint Joseph Regional School. Accessed February 20, 2023. "St. Joseph Regional School is located in Somers Point, New Jersey and is staffed by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and lay teachers."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 20, 2023.
^Campbell, Braden. " As one bridge goes up, one comes down at Beesley's Point Contractor balances two jobs at once", The Press of Atlantic City, November 6, 2013. Accessed July 28, 2014. "This is the task facing Route 52 Contractors - the same outfit responsible for the new roadway between Somers Point and Ocean City - which earlier this year was awarded a $130 million contract by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to take down the decaying Beesleys Point Bridge and build a new southbound Garden State Parkway span bridging Somers Point and Upper Township."
^Matt Brommall, Rutgers Newark men's soccer. Accessed July 26, 2020. "Hometown: Somers Point, NJ; High School: Mainland H.S."
^Witz, Dalkey Archive Press. Accessed June 15, 2020. "Joshua Cohen, born in 1980 in Somers Point, NJ, is one of the most ambitious young novelists in English."
^Stewart, Zan. "Drummer Discovers Small Is Beautiful", Los Angeles Times, April 25, 1993. Accessed November 19, 2013. "Last year, [Peter Erskine], along with bassist John Patitucci, traveled through the United States for a month with a threesome led by pianist Chick Corea. The Somers Point, N. J., native also worked in Italy and Spain as part of pianist Joey Calderazzo's trio, then recorded on the latter's upcoming Blue Note release."
^Van Atta, Burr. "John Hamilton Jr., 67, Former State Legislator", The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 12, 1986. Accessed November 30, 2014. "John H. Hamilton Jr., 67, who represented a large portion of northwestern Philadelphia in the state House during the 1960s and 1970s, died Sunday night at his summer home in Somers Point, N.J. He lived in the Roxborough section of the city."
^Joe MaloyArchived 2016-08-13 at archive.today, United States Olympic Committee. Accessed August 10, 2016. "Birthplace: Somers Point, N.J.; Hometown: Wildwood Crest, N.J.; Current Residence: San Diego, Calif.; High School: Wildwood Catholic High School"
^LeConey, Bill. "Osunniyi’s triple-double powers Mainland past Absegami", The Press of Atlantic City, December 21, 2016. Accessed March 17, 2021. "The Absegami High School boys basketball team found out just how tough it is to play against Mainland Regional’s 6-foot-8 center Osun Osunniyi on Wednesday night.... I’m just a rim protector,' said Osunniyi, a 6-foot-8 Somers Point resident."
^Lemongello, Steven. "Playmate's journey began in Somers Point", The Press of Atlantic City, April 19, 2009. Accessed March 31, 2011. ""From Gregory's to Caroline's to the Anchorage", Jennifer Pershing, 28, listed her hometown drinking establishments, 'pretty much any time I walk into one, I see somebody I know.' The former Jennifer Ackley, a 1998 graduate of Mainland Regional High School, returned to the area this weekend for an appearance at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort - or, as this week's At The Shore puts it, locals and visitors had the chance to 'Party with a Playmate.'"
^Hilt, Ed. "Brief time with Pats enough to make Stone a believer", The Press of Atlantic City, February 3, 2008. Accessed November 19, 2013. "'That was after they came off that (playoff) loss to Denver,' said Stone, from Somers Point, who was in the Patriots' camp in 2006 as a wide receiver after three years with the Oakland Raiders."
^Gregory L. Verdine C.V., Studylib.net. Accessed December 17, 2017. "Born:June 10, 1959, Somers Point, New Jersey, USA"
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