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Ocean City, New Jersey




Ocean City is a '', February 9 , {Link without Title} ].

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 ."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 115.

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 is a very popular vacation area in , March 2005


GEOGRAPHY


Ocean City is located at (39.265371, -74.593814).

According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 28.7 Km&2 (11.1 Mi&2 ). 17.9 km&2 (6.9 mi&2) of it is land and 10.8 km&2 (4.2 mi&2) of it (37.58%) is water.

Ocean City is a barrier island with bridge connections to Upper Township , Atlantic County , Somers Point , and Strathmere . The Eastern side of Ocean City borders the Atlantic Ocean , while the Western side faces the Great Egg Harbor .


DEMOGRAPHICS

  1930 5525
  1940 4672
  1950 6040
  1960 7618
  1970 10575
  1980 13949
  1990 15512
  2000 15378
  Estimate 15124
  Estyear 2006
  Estref Census data for Ocean City city , United States Census Bureau Accessed August 5 , 2007
  Footnote Population 1930 - 1990 Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990 , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network Accessed March 1 , 2007


As of the Census of 2000, there were 15,378 people, 7,464 households, and 4,008 families residing in the city. The Population Density was 858.0/km&2 (2,222.8/mi&2). There were 20,298 housing units at an average density of 1,132.5/km&2 (2,934.0/mi&2). 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.

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 , 2007 .

Members of the City Council are: City Council Members , Ocean city. Accessed March 7 , 2007 .
  • At-Large - Michael Allegretto

  • At-Large - Keith Hartzell

  • At-Large - Scott Ping

  • First Ward - Jody Alessandrine, Council Vice President

  • Second Ward - Gregory Johnson

  • Third Ward - Jack Thomas, Council President

  • 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. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government , New Jersey League Of Women Voters , p. 62. Accessed August 30 , 2006 .






EDUCATION

The (9-12).

Public school students from Corbin City , a non-operating school district, attend the Ocean City schools as part of a Sending/receiving Relationship . Students from Upper Township and Sea Isle also attend Ocean City High School for grades 9-12, also as part of sending/receiving relationships.

St. Augustine Regional School is a K-8 Coeducation al Catholic School that serves approximately 150 students.


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 Indians, 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.

In 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 . They met under a tall cedar tree, which stands today at 6th Street and Asbury Avenue. Having chosen the name “Ocean City”, the founders incorporated the “Ocean City Association”, laid out street and lots for cottages, hotel and businesses. The 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 , 2007 . A large fire in 1927 changed the town significantly.


POPULAR CULTURE REFERENCES



SPORTS

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


MEDIA

Media publications in Ocean City include ''The Gazette'',''The Sentinel'', ''The Sandpaper'', and ''The Sure Guide''.


NOTED RESIDENTS

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Noted current and former residents of Ocean City include:
  • '', August 4 , 2007 . Accessed August 5 , 2007 "Punter Sav Rocca went home to his native Australia for a few weeks and spent some time in Ocean City with place-kicker David Akers, who owns a home there."

  • '', June 22 , 2007 . Accessed August 14 , 2007 . "The late poet A.R. Ammons, formerly of Ocean City, Northfield and Millville, won the prestigious National Book Award."

  • '', May 7 , 2004 . Accessed August 14 , 2007 . ""

  • '', accessed March 17 , 2007 .

  • Stephen Dunn , poet.

  • , 2005 . "John Kelly, Grace's father, and family were famous summer residents of Ocean City. Grace spent many summers on the Ocean City beach before becoming Hollywood movie star."

  • Dave Mustaine , Guitar player of Megadeth and former guitar player for Metallica owns a summer home here.

  • Brian Propp , former NHL hockey player who is now a broadcaster for the Philadelphia Flyers .

  • Ed Rendell , Governor Of Pennsylvania , owns a summer home.

  • '', accessed December 17 , 2006 . "In his best-selling book, "Unto the Sons," Ocean City native and journalist Gay Talese provides a vivid account of growing up on Marconi Street, the stretch of Simpson Street between 9th and 12th streets that, in the early 1900s, was Ocean City's Little Italy.

  • '', February 1 , 2002 . Accessed June 4 , 2007 . "TROUT GREW UP on the island of Ocean City, off the Jersey shore."

  • , 2007 . "First of all, Ocean City, N.J., is dry, as in, NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED. Not on the beach. Not at restaurants.... When the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce decided to throw a film festival for the first time this June, it included only G-rated films. Smoking is permitted on the boardwalk— but in designated areas only. Heck, Jimmy Stewart used to vacation here.... Now there’s Cousin’s, an excellent Italian eatery where Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell often dines (he owns a house in town)."

  • Brian Westbrook , a Philadelphia Eagles Running Back , owns a summer home in the Gardens section of Ocean City.

  • The Wrigley Family, founders of the Wrigley Gum Company, once owned a summer home in the Gardens.



REFERENCES



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