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Belmar, New Jersey

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"Belmar" redirects here. For the racehorse, see Belmar (horse).
Belmar, New Jersey
Borough
Map of Belmar in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Belmar in Monmouth County. Inset: Location of Monmouth County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Belmar, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Belmar, New Jersey
CountryUnited States
StateNew Jersey
CountyMonmouth
IncorporatedApril 9, 1885 as Ocean Beach borough
RenamedApril 16, 1889 as City of Elcho borough
RenamedMay 14, 1889 as City of Belmar borough
RenamedNovember 20, 1890 as Borough of Belmar
Government
 • TypeFaulkner Act (Small Municipality)
 • MayorKenneth E. Pringle
Area
 • Total1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2)
 • Land1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2009)[1]
 • Total5,896
 • Density5,921.7/sq mi (2,286.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
07715, 07719
Area code732
FIPS code34-04930Template:GR[2]
GNIS feature ID0874659Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.belmar.com

Belmar is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 6,045. The Borough of Belmar is governed under the Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) system of municipal government.

What is now Belmar was originally incorporated as Ocean Beach borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1885, from portions of Wall Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. On April 16, 1889, it became the City of Elcho borough, which lasted for a few weeks until the name was changed to the City of Belmar Borough as of May 14, 1889. The city acquired its current name, Borough of Belmar, on November 20, 1890.[3]

Geography

Belmar is located at 40°10′42″N 74°01′21″W / 40.178342°N 74.022446°W / 40.178342; -74.022446 (40.178342, -74.022446).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.6 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.7 km2) of it (39.65%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19303,491—
19403,435−1.6%
19504,63635.0%
19605,19011.9%
19705,78211.4%
19806,77117.1%
19905,877−13.2%
20006,0452.9%
2009 (est.)5,896[1]
Population 1930 - 1990.[4]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,045 people, 2,946 households, and 1,316 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,921.7 people per square mile (2,288.2/km2). There were 3,996 housing units at an average density of 3,914.5/sq mi (1,512.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.53% White, 3.46% Black, 0.18% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 1.99% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.85% of the population.

There were 2,946 households out of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.3% were non-families. 44.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,896, and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $40,557 versus $34,323 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,456. About 4.5% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2000 census, 28.2% of Belmar's residents were of Irish ancestry, the 12th highest of any municipality in New Jersey, for all communities in which at least 1,000 people listed their ancestry.[5]

Recreation

Belmar is a popular vacation destination because of its natural and recreational resources and close proximity to New York and Philadelphia. It features wide beaches for sunbathing, surfing, swimming, and fishing. The boardwalk and town offer shops, restaurants, an active arts scene, sporting events, festivals, and a variety of family-oriented activities (see "Annual Events" below).

Belmar beach (as well as those of towns to the south, such as Manasquan and Point Pleasant) is among the most popular surf spots on the East Coast. Belmar frequently hosts surfing events and competitions. Along with surfing, Belmar also has an active skate community and skatepark constructed by American Ramp Company.[6] The Jersey Shore Basketball League, a competitive summer basketball league, takes place at St. Rose High School every summer.[7]

The Belmar Arts Council (BAC) sponsors regular art shows, workshops, concerts, and performances year around. BAC's gallery and workshop, the Boatworks, is located at 608 River Road, Belmar, around the corner from Klein's Seafood Restaurant near the Shark River Inlet.

Panorama of Belmar's beach from 9th Ave. and Ocean Ave.

Government

Local government

In July 1990, the voters of Belmar overwhelmingly passed a referendum changing Belmar's form of government from a three-person, non-partisan Commission form of government under the Walsh Act to the Small Municipality Plan form of government under the Faulkner Act. This referendum followed nine months of research and hearings by a Charter Study Commission elected by the residents at a referendum that occurred in November 1989.

Under the version of the Small Municipality Plan form applicable to Belmar, the Council consists of four members who are elected for staggered, three-year terms at partisan elections each November, and the Mayor, who is directly elected by the voters for a four-year term. The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer of the municipality, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Borough. The Mayor sits as a member of the Council, and chairs Council meetings. He is able to vote as a Councilmember, but has no veto over the Council's actions.[8]

Members of the Belmar Borough Council are:[9]

In August 2008, the borough established a Sister City relationship with Balbriggan, a town of nearly 16,000 in County Dublin, Ireland.[10]

Federal, state and county representation

Belmar is in the 6th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 11th Legislative district.[11]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch).[12][13] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[14] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[15][16]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 11th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vin Gopal (D, Long Branch) and in the General Assembly by Margie Donlon (D, Ocean Township) and Luanne Peterpaul (D, Long Branch).[17] Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Monmouth County Freeholders

Education

The Belmar School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Belmar Elementary School consists of a single school that served an enrollment of 540 students as of the 2005-06 school year.[18] The district also serves students from Lake Como who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[19] The school was constructed in 1909 and has had additions built in 1929, 1949, 1969 and 1993. There are 65 certified staff members. This includes administrators, teachers, nurses and child study team personnel. Thirty non-certified staff members support them. The single school is two schools in one, a primary school for grades preschool through fifth and a middle school organization plan for grades six through eight.

Students attending public high school are assigned based on sending/receiving relationships to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School.[20] Manasquan High School also serves students from Avon-by-the-Sea, Brielle, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights who attended Manasquan High School as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective districts.[21][22] Students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School.

Students may also attend Academy Charter High School, located in Lake Como, which serves residents of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como, and accepts students on a lottery basis.[23]

Belmar is also the home of St. Rose High School.

Mesivta Keser Torah of Central Jersey, a Yeshiva and High School catering for Male Haredi students mainly from Lakewood, Deal and Brroklyn is also located in Belmar.

Annual events

The intersection of E Street & 10th Avenue in Belmar, which inspired Bruce Springsteen's naming of the E Street Band and the song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out"
  • Belmar 5 Mile Run
  • New Jersey Seafood Festival
  • New Jersey Sand Castle Contest
  • St. Patrick's Day Parade
  • Belmar Pro Surf Contest
  • Belmar Fall Festival
  • Belmar Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Belmar Spring Kite Festival
  • Adam O'Donnell Memorial Run-Swim-Run
  • Howard Rowland Memorial Lifeguard Tournament
  • Belmar Mile Swim
  • Belmar Sprint Triathlon
  • Belmar Elks Club Polar Bear Plunge
  • The Jersey Shore Relay Run which has a leg that goes through Belmar

Trivia

Boardwalk in Belmar
  • Belmar is home to the first and oldest first-aid squad in the United States.[24][25]
  • Belmar's "E" Street is world famous as it gave rise to Bruce Springsteen's "E Street Band". Springsteen's original keyboardist, David Sancious, was a resident of E Street in Belmar at the time the band was formed. The Sancious' family home was often used as a practice venue where they honed their musical craft in the formative pre-fame years.
  • Monmouth County Regional Airport in nearby Wall Township is designated with the call letters "BLM" in honor of Belmar which provided machinery for clearing fields to establish runway space.
  • Tony Soprano's Boat is stored in Belmar. As shown on the back of the Stugots.
  • The MTV reality show Jersey Shore was filmed in Belmar in Episode 9, Season 1. Ronnie and Sammi are seen going out to dinner at Connolly Station.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Belmar include:

References

  1. ^ a b Census data for Belmar borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 4, 2011.
  2. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  3. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 178.
  4. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  5. ^ Irish Communities, Epodunk. Accessed August 22, 2007.
  6. ^ NJ, Belmar Online
  7. ^ Big-time games played in a small gym on Seventh, Asbury Park Press, July 2, 2000.
  8. ^ Belmar's Form of Government, Borough of Belmar. Accessed September 1, 2006.
  9. ^ Borough of Belmar Municipal Directory, Borough of Belmar. Accessed November 10, 2008.
  10. ^ Reiss, Fraidy. "Belmar now blessed with an Irish sister: Borough, Balbriggan seem to have a a lot in common", Asbury Park Press, August 8, 2008. Accessed August 22, 2008.
  11. ^ 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed February 8, 2011.
  12. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
  13. ^ Biography, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Frank Pallone, Jr., was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he grew up and still resides."
  14. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  15. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  16. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Legislative Roster for District 11, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Data for the Belmar Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 20, 2008.
  19. ^ Belmar Elementary School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 8, 2008. "The Belmar Elementary School has a long history of providing the students of Belmar and Lake Como with an outstanding education as well as enriching extracurricular activities."
  20. ^ Cheslow, Jerry. " LIVING IN/Belmar, N.J.; Pushing Back on a Rowdy Reputation", The New York Times, June 20, 2004. Accessed October 23, 2007. "From Belmar Elementary, students are slotted to go to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School, according to a 56-44 percent formula worked out with the New Jersey Department of Education in the late 1940's."
  21. ^ Manasquan Public Schools 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 18, 2008. "Manasquan High School receives students from seven different districts; Avon, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Spring Lake Heights."
  22. ^ About MBOE, accessed September 7, 2006.
  23. ^ Academy Charter High School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  24. ^ "Belmar First Aid Squad" "The Belmar First Aid Squad was organized in 1927 and is believed to be the oldest independent volunteer squad in the U.S."
  25. ^ Sucato, Kristy. "ON THE MAP ; A First-Aid Station That Faces an Emergency of Its Own", The New York Times, September 21, 1997. Accessed February 4, 2008. "Belmar's first aid squad this year is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and it is the oldest volunteer squad in the United States and Canada."
  26. ^ Webster, Sarah. "Twisting and changing: Jay Alders is a graphic artist, painter and photographer", Asbury Park Press, January 24, 2008. Accessed February 4, 2011. "Now Alders resides in Belmar as a selfemployed businessman graphic artist painter and photographer."
  27. ^ Tim Brower, Hawaii State Legislature. Accessed February 4, 2011. "He also lived in Belmar and Spring Lake on the New Jersey Shore as a child, where he attended grammar school and high school."
  28. ^ "Clijsters, Lynch wed in Belgian ceremony", Asbury Park Press, July 14, 2007. Accessed July 25, 2007. "Retired tennis star Kim Clijsters and U.S. basketball player Brian Lynch, a Belmar resident, were married Friday in a secret early morning ceremony.... Clijsters said she wanted to focus on her wedding and a new life with Lynch, a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy who went on to play basketball at Villanova and plays professionally in the Belgian league."
  29. ^ Polyn, Glenn. "Belmar resident part of the new wave of wrestling", Asbury Park Press, July 5, 2001. Accessed February 4, 2011. "Rechner made a request to the ECW brass that Balls Mahoney be an extension of his own personality.... The 24-year-old Belmar resident sat beside his co-workers, Dave Michaels and Brian Sexton, and explained how he dreams of the day when thousands of people to scream their displeasure at him."
  30. ^ Staff. "JOSEPH MAYER; Former Mayor of Belmar Was Director of Freeholders", The New York Times, November 19, 1942. Accessed February 9, 2011. "He was born in Hazelton, Pa., Where he was elected to the Common Council at the age of 21 and later served as its president. He moved to Belmar in 1908 after residing in Lakewood."
  31. ^ Marks, Peter. "On Stage, and Off", The New York Times, September 8, 1995. Accessed August 9, 2008. "Fortunately, the 36-year-old actor, a native of Belmar, N.J., needs a lot of padding on his 200-plus-pound frame to play Otto, whose eating compulsion feeds into one of the central themes of Nicky Silver's new comedy, which opened last month to largely enthusiastic reviews."
  32. ^ Bruntjen, Scott; Young, Melissa L. "Douglas C. McMurtrie, bibliographer and historian of printing", p. 1. Scarecrow Press, 1979. ISBN 081081188X.
  33. ^ Wilkowe, Ellen S. "Man with a horn", Asbury Park Press, February 8, 2009. Accessed February 4, 2011. "After joining the Jukes Rosenberg moved to the Shore area and lived in Belmar, Long Branch and even across from the Stone Pony he said."
  34. ^ Lustig, Jay. "Revisiting E Street: Ex-Springsteen sideman looks forward to Shore gig", The Star-Ledger, July 15, 2005. Accessed July 30, 2007. "Sancious grew up in Asbury Park and Belmar. The E Street Band was named after the address of his mother's Belmar home, where they sometimes practiced. Sancious lived in Red Bank in the late '70s, before relocating to his current hometown, Woodstock, N.Y."
  35. ^ Staff. "E.D. STERNER NAMED HOFFMAN SECRETARY; Head of the Republican State Committee of Jersey Will Take Office Jan. 15.", The New York Times, November 20, 1934. Accessed February 4, 2011. "E. Donald Sterner of Belmar, chairman of the Republican State Committee, is to be secretary to Harold G. Hoffman, when the latter becomes Governor Jan. 15."
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