What is now Surf City was originally formed as Long Beach City borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 19, 1894, from portions of Stafford Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. The borough was renamed Surf City by a resolution of the Borough Council as of May 26, 1899.[23] The name was changed to avoid confusion with other places on the island and along the Jersey Shore.[24][25]
History
Present-day Surf City was home to one of the earliest big boarding hotels on the Jersey Shore, called the Mansion of Health, one of whose owners was Hudson Buzby. In the 1830s and 1840s, the area surrounding this hotel was called "Buzby's Place". The Mansion of Health burned down in 1874, but some old-timers still call the cove at the foot of South First Street on the bay side "Mansion Cove."[26]
In 1875, the 20 or so permanent residents of the area decided to call the area Long Beach City, even though the area was still part of Stafford Township. In 1894, Surf City was incorporated, changing its name to Surf City in 1899 after the United States Postal Service required a name change before the town could incorporate, preventing it from being confused with Long Branch in Monmouth County.[27][28]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.32 square miles (3.43 km2), including 0.74 square miles (1.93 km2) of land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2) of water (43.94%).[2][3]
The borough is located 57 mi (92 km) east-southeast of Philadelphia and 71 mi (114 km) south of New York City. Surf City is also 60 mi (97 km) from the capitol of New Jersey, Trenton.
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Surf City has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Surf City, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values at or above 95.0 °F (35.0 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0.0 °F (−17.8 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Surf City Beach is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.7 °F (−15.7 °C).[32] The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is 12 to 18 in (30 to 46 cm) and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.
Climate data for Surf City Beach, NJ (1981–2010 Averages)
The 2010 United States census counted 1,205 people, 622 households, and 366 families in the borough. The population density was 1,616.5 inhabitants per square mile (624.1/km2). There were 2,566 housing units at an average density of 3,442.4 per square mile (1,329.1/km2). The racial makeup was 95.52% (1,151) White, 1.33% (16) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.58% (7) Asian, 0.33% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.41% (17) from other races, and 0.83% (10) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.06% (61) of the population.[20]
Of the 622 households, 10.5% had children under the age of 18; 48.6% were married couples living together; 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.2% were non-families. Of all households, 35.9% were made up of individuals and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.45.[20]
9.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 14.6% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 38.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 59.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.4 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,908) and the median family income was $74,479 (+/− $16,901). Males had a median income of $58,750 (+/− $18,197) versus $51,000 (+/− $27,120) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,677 (+/− $4,230). About 2.9% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.[43]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 1,442 people, 706 households, and 420 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,990.4 inhabitants per square mile (768.5/km2). There were 2,621 housing units at an average density of 3,617.9 per square mile (1,396.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.06% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.42% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.[41][42]
There were 706 households, out of which 13.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.61.[41][42]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 12.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 34.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.[41][42]
The median income for a household in the borough was $38,190, and the median income for a family was $50,268. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $25,208 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,632. About 5.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.[41][42]
Sports
The Surf City Yacht Club participates in weekly races against other yacht clubs throughout the Island, with many sailors and swimmers ranging in age dedicating their summers to the Yacht Club.[44]
The Surf City Beach Patrol won the Surf City Epic, Lavallette, Ortley Beach, Island Beach State Park, the Midway Beach, and "Islands" Tournaments in 2008, narrowly missing out on victories at Sandy Hook (2nd) and the Ship Bottom (2nd) "State Tournament" losing by only a combined 4.5 points. The SCBP squad were back-to-back LBIBPA Island Champions (2007 & 2008) for the first time in the last 25+ years. The high point of the season came during the IBSP tournament when Surf City won by 23 points.[45]
Government
Local government
Surf City is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[46] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by Surf City is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[47][48]
As of 2022[update], the mayor of Surf City Borough is Republican Francis R. Hodgson Sr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. After serving 46 years on the borough council, Hodgson succeeded Leonard T. Connors Jr., who had served as the state senator from the 9th Legislative District and spent 50 years as mayor. Members of the Surf City Borough Council are Council President John H. Klose (R, 2024), Peter M. Hartney (R, 2022), William D. Hodgson (R, 2023), John D. McMenamin (R, 2023;appointed to serve an unexpired term), James B. Russell (R, 2024) and Jacqueline L. Siciliano (R, 2022).[4][49][50][51][52][53][54]
John D. McMenamin was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2023 that was vacant following the resignation of John G. Hadash III that same month.[55]
In January 2016, John G. Hadash III was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Francis R. Hodgson Sr., until he stepped down in January 2016 to take office as mayor.[56] Hadash served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters chose him to serve the balance of the term of office.[57]
Federal, state and county representation
Surf City is located in the 2nd Congressional District[58] and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[59]
Ocean County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a director and a deputy director from among its members.[65] As of 2024[update], Ocean County's Commissioners (with party affiliation, term-end year and residence) are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2025, Barnegat Light),[73][74]
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy (R, 2025; Toms River)[75][76] and
Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2028, Beachwood).[77][78][79]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,030 registered voters in Surf City, of which 166 (16.1%) were registered as Democrats, 433 (42.0%) were registered as Republicans and 427 (41.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 85.5% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 94.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).[80][81]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 61.8% of the vote (402 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.8% (246 votes), and other candidates with 0.3% (2 votes), among the 655 ballots cast by the city's 1,108 registered voters (5 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 59.1%.[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60.9% of the vote (485 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.5% (299 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (8 votes), among the 797 ballots cast by the borough's 1,078 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9%.[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60.8% of the vote (511 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 38.0% (320 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (5 votes), among the 841 ballots cast by the borough's 1,153 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.9.[85]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 82.8% of the vote (448 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 15.9% (86 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (7 votes), among the 559 ballots cast by the city's 1,070 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.2%.[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.2% of the vote (417 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 31.0% (211 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.9% (40 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (2 votes), among the 681 ballots cast by the borough's 1,043 registered voters, yielding a 65.3% turnout.[88]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 16.97 mi (27.31 km) of roadways, of which 15.30 mi (24.62 km) were maintained by the municipality and 1.67 mi (2.69 km) by Ocean County.[108]
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways serve Surf City. The main road serving the borough is County Route 607 (Long Beach Boulevard).[109][110]
Surf City is served primarily by Philadelphia and New York television stations, Atlantic City and Philadelphia-based radio stations and two daily newspapers, The Press of Atlantic City and Asbury Park Press.
Leonard T. Connors (1929–2016), politician who served in the state senate from 1982 to 2008 representing the 9th Legislative District, and served for nearly 50 years as mayor of Surf City, from 1966 to 2015[118][119]
References
^Municipal Code, Borough of Surf City. Accessed May 17, 2023.
^Borough of Surf City History, LBI.net. Accessed October 11, 2015. "The residents of the Great Swamp area (now sometimes referred to as Old Mansion) wanted their community to acquire the same prestige and popularity, so in 1875, they elected to call their town Long Beach City. However, the name lasted for only nineteen years because it was too similar to other area names such as Long Beach, Long Branch and Long Island. The name Surf City was selected and has been used since 1894."
^Somerville, George B. The Lure of Long Beach, p. 52. Long Beach Board of Trade, 1914. Accessed October 11, 2015. "Next down the beach from Harvey Cedars is Surf City. The original name of this resort, founded in 1873, was Long Beach City, but the similarity of the name with that of Long Branch caused much confusion in mails, freights and express, and the name was changed to Surf City."
^Scala, Gina G. "McMenamin Appointed to Surf City Borough Council", The Sand Paper, October 20, 2021. Accessed September 4, 2022. "Changes are in store for the Surf City Borough Council after one member resigned and another was granted relief from attending meetings due to a temporary illness by his peers at their monthly meeting last week. John G. Hadash III tendered his resignation earlier this month after selling his home in town."
^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.."
^LAN Associates. Study of School Consolidation Long Beach Island, New JerseyArchived 2013-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, January 21, 2011. Accessed September 25, 2013. "The Long Beach Island Consolidated School District serves the needs of the citizens of Long Beach Island including the communities of Barnegat Light Borough, Long Beach Township, Harvey Cedars Borough, Surf City Borough, and Ship Bottom Borough. The remaining community of Beach Haven at the south end of the island currently has its own school. The Long Beach Island Consolidated Schools serve children from the age of pre-school through sixth grade after which the students attend Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin."
^Long Beach Island Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Long Beach Island Consolidated School District. Accessed July 4, 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 six in the Long Beach Island School District. Composition The Long Beach Island School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, and Surf City."
^Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, New Jersey Department of Education, June 30, 2021. Accessed July 4, 2022. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Ocean, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members appointed to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three members' terms expire each year. The District provides a full range of educational services appropriate to grades levels kindergarten through 6th grade."
^"Four on Ballot for LBI School Board", The SandPaper, October 23, 2019. Accessed July 4, 2022. "The LBI school board is comprised of nine members, four from Long Beach Township, two from Surf City, and one each from Ship Bottom, Harvey Cedars and Barnegat Light."
^Southern Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 2, 2016. "Located in Manahawkin, the Southern Regional School District draws from the constituent districts of Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars and Stafford Township, as well as the tuition sending district of Ocean Township (Waretown).
^About Us, Southern Regional School District. Accessed July 4, 2022. "Our school is a 7-12 comprehensive regional high school district. Our middle school covers grades 7-8 and our high school covers grades 9-12. The district is comprised of the constituent members of Stafford Township, Beach Haven, Long Beach Township, (which includes the municipalities [sic] of Loveladies, North Beach, High Bar Harbor and Brant Beach and Long Beach Township) Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom, and Surf City. Waretown is our sending district."
^LBI Shuttle, Borough of Barnegat Light. Accessed August 9, 2015.
^Franclis L.Bodine, Lewis Funeral Home. Accessed February 13, 2023. "Francis L. Bodine, On Jan. 11, 2023 age 87 of Surf City. NJ formerly Moorestown."
^Staff. "Mayor got his ears wet in politics as a tot", Asbury Park Press, January 27, 1986. Accessed December 14, 2016. "Chris Connors grew up around politics. He was five years old when his father became a Surf City councilman. During his father's campaigns, he did everything from licking envelopes to going door-to-door in Surf City to promote his father."
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