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 on May 14, 1889. The city acquired its current name, Borough of Belmar, on November 20, 1890.[22] The borough's name means "beautiful sea" in Italian.[23]
Geography
View of Belmar, New Jersey from across Shark River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.18 km2), including 1.05 square miles (2.71 km2) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2) of water (35.19%).[1][2]
Of the 2,695 households, 18.1% had children under the age of 18; 33.9% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 53.0% were non-families. Of all households, 41.9% 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 2.14 and the average family size was 2.98.[19]
16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 108.3 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $59,928 (with a margin of error of ± $6,993) and the median family income was $59,929 (± $10,255). Males had a median income of $52,215 (± $4,278) versus $44,453 (± $11,259) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,223 (± $4,105). About 9.2% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.[32]
2000 census
Belmar Fishing Club, a Belmar landmark, 2021
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 6,045 people, 2,946 households, and 1,316 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,921.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,286.4/km2). There were 3,996 housing units at an average density of 3,914.5 per square mile (1,511.4/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.[33][31]
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.[34]
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.[33][31]
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.[33][31]
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.[33][31]
Parks and recreation
Panorama of Belmar's beach from 9th Ave. and Ocean Ave.
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 sits on the south side of the Shark River and boasts a large municipal marina in the bay and on the inlet itself, including the only private marina in town, Seaport Inlet Marina.
Belmar beach (as well as those of municipalities 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.[35]
A view of Belmar beach from 2nd Avenue looking south on July 23, 2023.
The Jersey Shore Basketball League, a competitive summer basketball league, takes place at St. Rose High School every summer.[36]
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 near the Shark River Inlet.[37]
Government
Belmar Police Van
Local government
In July 1990, the voters of Belmar overwhelmingly passed a referendum changing Belmar's form of government from a three-person, non-partisancommission form of government under the Walsh Act to the Small Municipality plan 3 form of government under the Faulkner Act. This referendum followed nine months of research, analysis and hearings by a Charter Study Commission elected by the residents at a referendum that passed in November 1989 and implemented effective January 1, 1991.[6][38][39] The borough is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is only available to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.[40]
Under the version of the Small Municipality Plan form applicable to Belmar, the Borough Council is comprised of four members who are elected to staggered, three-year terms at partisan elections each year as part of the November general election, with either one or two seats up for vote in a three-year cycle. The Mayor is directly elected by the voters for a four-year term and serves as Belmar's chief executive officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Borough. The Mayor sits as a member of the council, chairs Council meetings and is able to vote as a member of the council, but has no veto over the council's actions.[41]
As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Belmar is Democrat Gerald Buccafusco, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Belmar Borough Council are Council President Mark Levis (D, 2025), Caitlin Donovan (D, 2026), Jodi Kinney (R, 2024), and Maria Rondinaro (D, 2025).[3][42][43][44][45]
Federal, state and county representation
Belmar is located in the 4th Congressional District[46] and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.[47]
Monmouth County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director.[54] As of 2024[update], Monmouth County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,823 registered voters in Belmar, of which 1,074 (28.1%) were registered as Democrats, 765 (20.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,982 (51.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were two voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[69]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.5% of the vote (1,310 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.0% (1,196 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (36 votes), among the 2,584 ballots cast by the borough's 4,011 registered voters (42 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.4%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 49.5% of the vote (1,389 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.4% (1,332 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (44 votes), among the 2,808 ballots cast by the borough's 3,938 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3%.[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.4% of the vote (1,394 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.0% (1,327 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (32 votes), among the 2,764 ballots cast by the borough's 4,014 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.9.[73]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.6% of the vote (1,440 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.2% (555 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (45 votes), among the 2,096 ballots cast by the borough's 4,043 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 51.8%.[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 57.4% of the vote (1,173 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 34.0% (694 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.8% (138 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (20 votes), among the 2,044 ballots cast by the borough's 3,698 registered voters, yielding a 55.3% turnout.[76]
Education
The Belmar School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Belmar Elementary School.[77][78][79] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 448 students and 52.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.5:1.[80] The district also serves students from Lake Como who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[81] The school was constructed in 1909 and has had additions built in 1929, 1949, 1969 and 1993. There are 61 certified staff members, including the district's administrators, teachers, nurses and child study team personnel, with an additional 12 paraprofessionals. The single school facility is two schools in one, a primary school for Pre-K–5 and a middle school structure for 6–8.[82]
Mesivta Keser Torah of Central Jersey, a yeshiva and high school for men that serves Haredi students mainly from Lakewood Township, Deal and Brooklyn, has been in the borough since the 1920s.[94]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 26.12 miles (42.04 km) of roadways, of which 20.85 miles (33.55 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.40 miles (5.47 km) by Monmouth County and 1.87 miles (3.01 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[95]
The intersection of E Street & 10th Avenue in Belmar, which inspired Bruce Springsteen's naming of the E Street Band. A large replica of Springsteen's Fender Esquire guitar has been placed there. The Belmar Public Library is behind the guitar.
Belmar 5 Mile Johnny Cobb Memorial Run
New Jersey Seafood Festival celebrated its 30th year in 2016. The festival, which attracted an estimated 200,000 visitors in 2015, had to be modified in scope to allow the borough to cope with the volumes of traffic.[100]
New Jersey Sand Castle Contest, which featured 200 participants at the 27th annual event in 2013[101]
St. Patrick's Day Parade, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023[102]
Beach in BelmarRenovated Belmar Boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy in 2013
Belmar was home to the first and oldest first-aid squad in the United States. The Squad, organized in 1927 ceased operations in 2021.[106][107]
Belmar's "E" Street is the original source of 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.[108]
Monmouth Executive Airport in nearby Wall Township is designated with the call letters "BLM" based on its initial name of Belmar Airport.[109]
Brian Lynch (born 1978), professional basketball player who played for the Belgian team Euphony Bree and is married to former World No. 1-ranked tennis star Kim Clijsters[124]
Jay Lynch (1945–2017), cartoonist best known for his comic strip Nard n' Pat[125]
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Monmouth County Government, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed July 19, 2022. "Monmouth County is governed by five commissioners elected at-large for three-year terms. Each January, the freeholders select one of their members to serve as the director of the board for the year to preside over the meetings and activities of the Board."
^Belmar Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Belmar School District. Accessed April 10, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Belmar School District. Composition: The Belmar School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Belmar."
^Belmar Elementary School 2013 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2020. "The school also provides for the educational needs of students from the neighboring community of Lake Como, a small interior municipality which has a total area of 0.3 square miles.... Students from the Belmar and Lake Como communities who attend public high school are assigned based on sending/receiving relationships to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School. Students may also attend one of the Career Academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District, which are Academy of Allied Health & Science (AAHS), Biotechnology High School (BTHS) Communications High School (CHS), High Technology High School (HTHS), and Marine Academy of Science & Technology (MAST), as well as Red Bank Regional High School."
^ abAbout Our School, Belmar Elementary School. Accessed June 3, 2020. "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 to Manasquan, Asbury Park, Red Bank Regional, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Allied Health and Sciences, Academy Charter School, High Tech High Schools, Communications High School and the newest Monmouth County Vocational School - Biotechnology High School."
^ abManasquan Public Schools 2016-17 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Students from the communities of Avon, Belmar, Brielle, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Spring Lake Heights attended MHS in 2016-2017, amassing an enrollment of 960 students. There were 260 students in the senior class, as well as 256 juniors, 220 sophomores, and 224 freshmen."
^Cheslow, Jerry. "Living In/Belmar, N.J.; Pushing Back on a Rowdy Reputation", The New York Times, June 20, 2004. Accessed February 1, 2020. "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 1940s."
^Sending DistrictsArchived February 16, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Manasquan Public Schools. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Manasquan High School receives students from seven different districts; Avon, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Spring Lake Heights. Including our Manasquan students, the high school population is just under one thousand students."
^High School InformationArchived July 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Belmar Elementary School. Accessed August 28, 2013. "Links To The Sending District High Schools: Asbury Park High School / Manasquan High School. Other Area High Schools: Academy Charter High School / Red Bank Regional High School... Monmouth County Vocational Schools"
^About Us[permanent dead link], Academy Charter High School. Accessed August 27, 2013. "Academy Charter High School is a free public high school for residents of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken, and Lake Como."
^Mullen, Shannon; Shields, Nancy; and Matheson, Kathy. "Crime, school solutions costly as city seeks rebirth; High school improving, but not enough, many say", Asbury Park Press, January 27, 2005. Accessed August 28, 2013. "It was the day of the charter school's annual lottery, when names of applicants are drawn at random to fill the last remaining slots in next fall's freshman class. Academy Charter, now in its seventh year, is free to students in Asbury Park and the seven nearby towns that are sending districts for Asbury Park High School: Allenhurst, Avon, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como, formerly South Belmar."
^History, St. Rose High School. Accessed August 26, 2013. "The Parish of St. Rose and the Sisters of Saint Joseph founded St. Rose High School in 1923 under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Trenton."
^Larsen, Erik. "Neighbor upset with conditions at Belmar yeshiva", Asbury Park Press, May 11, 2007. Accessed February 23, 2011. "On Thursday Mayor Kenneth E Pringle a Democrat said that Mesivta Keser Torah School on 11th Avenue near D Street has been a fixture in Belmar in some form or another since about the 1920s."
^Williams, Paul. "Belmar Seafood Festival to be scaled back in 2016", Asbury Park Press, December 7, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2016. "The borough's annual Seafood Festival will be scaled back and held one month earlier than normal in 2016, after record crowds at this year's festival in June forced the borough to close its entrances for four hours when its streets became overcrowded and gridlocked with traffic.... Officials have estimated that 200,000 people flocked to the borough during the three-day event in 2015."
^Murray, Ed. "New Jersey Sandcastle Contest in Belmar has more than 200 entries", The Star-Ledger, July 17, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Belmar beach was a construction zone today filled with castles, a giant sea horse, a shark named Bruce and a Kraken.More than 200 entries were made for this year's New Jersey Sandcastle Contest, said John Bonevich, one of the contest judges. This is the 27th annual event."
^"N.J. St. Patrick’s Day parades 2024: Here’s the list of celebrations", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 6, 2024. Accessed March 17, 2024. "The Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day parade was first held in 1974, three decades before South Belmar changed its name to Lake Como.... The parade marked its 50th anniversary last year."
^Robbins, Christopher. "Surfers' camaraderie, love of ocean shreds competition at Belmar Pro", NJ.com, September 14, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Belmar – The Tao of surfing was spread across the 18th Avenue beach Saturday morning like a blanket. At the tenth Fosters Pro surfing competition, dozens of experienced surfers shredded the mushy swells of the Jersey Shore, as hundreds of spectators gathered to watch them."
^Parker, Chris. "Manasquan takes Belmar's Howard Rowland Lifeguard Tournament", Asbury Park Press, July 9, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. "There are a few differences this summer at the 10th Avenue Pavilion on the beach in Belmar.... It's the first summer since superstorm Sandy ravaged the Jersey Shore, and the state slogan "Stronger Than The Storm" was on full display at the 18th annual Howard Rowland Lifeguard Tournament, where eight local crews competed."
^Our History, Belmar First Aid Squad. Accessed July 8, 2023. "Belmar First Aid Squad was the oldest dedicated first aid (EMS) service in the US. Formed in 1927, Our Squad served the residents and visitors of Belmar and Lake Como 24/7 with a dedicated group of volunteers and paid staff. The Squad has ceased EMS operations as of 07:00 04/01/2021."
^Cahillane, Kevin. "Two Guys Left Behind In the E Street Shuffle", The New York Times, May 1, 2005. Accessed July 29, 2012. "Without David Sancious, there would be no E Street Band. Which is to say that one night in 1973 as the band returned home from touring in Texas, the van pulled up to Mr. Sancious' childhood home at 1105 E Street in Belmar and Mr. Springsteen now had a name for the band."
^Long, Daniel W. "Are You A Made Man?", Boating, September 2002, Vol. 75, No. 9, p. 106. Accessed August 26, 2013. "55. Where's home port for Stugots? a. Belmar, New Jersey b. Point Pleasant, New Jersey c. Manasquan, New Jersey" Answer "a" is shown on p. 108.
^10th Avenue Burrito, Food Network. Accessed September 17, 2013. "As Seen On - Show: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - Episode: Wings 'n Things Hosted by: Guy Fieri"
^Tom Brower, Hawaii State Legislature. Accessed July 17, 2017. "He also lived in Belmar and Spring Lake on the New Jersey Shore as a child, where he attended grammar school and high school."
^Petruncio, Nick. "Belmar native is new leader of LGBT group", Asbury Park Press, June 3, 2016. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Christian Fuscarino, the 25-year-old recently appointed head of the state’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, remembers the day he held in his hand a gold pocket watch that belonged to his hero, Bayard Rustin, a gay man who was Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest community organizer."
^Lamb, Brian. "Q&A With Michael Gerson", C-SPAN, January 3, 2007. Accessed April 2, 2020. "[Brian Lamb] For the first 10 years of your life you grew up where? [Michael J. Gerson] In New Jersey, actually. [Brian Lamb] Where? [Michael J. Gerson] Was born in Belmar, New Jersey, the central coast. My father worked in Newark and we were - but then was moved for his business to St. Louis when I was about 10 years old."
^"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."
^LoGiudice, Daniel. "WNBA Draft 2019: Marina Mabrey selected by Los Angeles Sparks", Asbury Park Press, April 10, 2019. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Mabrey, a Belmar native, became the second player ever from the Shore Conference to be drafted in the WNBA Draft after Neptune and Seton Hall alum Shakena Richardson was selected 30th overall by the Dallas Wings in 2016."
^Polyn, Glenn. "Belmar resident part of the new wave of wrestling"Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, 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."
^Marks, Peter. "On Stage, and Off", The New York Times, September 8, 1995. Accessed July 29, 2012. "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."
^Wilkowe, Ellen S. "Man with a horn"Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, 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."
United States
New Jersey
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