Longport, New Jersey

History

James Long, an absentee owner, purchased a parcel in 1857 that grew over the years as sand accumulated and as additional property was purchased. Acquired by M. Simpson McCullough in 1882, the community was named Longport in honor of Long.

Longport was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1898, from portions of Egg Harbor Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.560 square miles (4.040 km²), including 0.385 square miles (0.998 km²) of land and 1.175 square miles (3.043 km²) of water (75.31%).

The borough neighbors Margate City, and shares Absecon Island with Ventnor City and Atlantic City.

Longport is located on the southwest corner of 8.1-mile (13.0 km) long Absecon Island, along with Margate City, Ventnor City and Atlantic City to the northeast.

Streets at the southern end of the borough start at 11th Street, as the 180 acres (73 ha) that made up the ten numbered streets below it were washed out on the barrier island by a series of storms between 1900 and 1916. The Great Egg Harbor Inlet shifted north, and Ocean City island was extended by what is now the Gardens neighborhood of that city.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 895 people, 470 households, and 251.9 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,323.7 per square mile (897.2/km²). The borough contained 1,656 housing units at an average density of 4,299.4 per square mile (1,660.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.88% (885) White, 0.34% (3) Black or African American, 0.11% (1) Native American, 0.45% (4) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.11% (1) from other races, and 0.11% (1) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.12% (10) of the population.

Out of a total of 470 households, 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 43.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.90 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the borough, 11.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 10.6% from 25 to 44, 36.3% from 45 to 64, and 37.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 88.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,625 (with a margin of error of +/- $13,665) and the median family income was $107,188 (+/- $48,480). Males had a median income of $72,143 (+/- $53,388) versus $65,357 (+/- $24,760) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $78,988 (+/- $16,924). About 1.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,054 people, 544 households, and 317 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,765.2 people per square mile (1,070.9/km²). There were 1,574 housing units at an average density of 4,129.5 per square mile (1,599.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.58% White, 0.09% African American, 1.14% Asian, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 544 households out of which 10.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% 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 2.53.

In the borough the population was spread out with 11.4% under the age of 18, 2.6% from 18 to 24, 18.9% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 34.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,324, and the median income for a family was $68,194. Males had a median income of $53,250 versus $36,146 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,884. About 2.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Longport offers surfing and other water sports recreation on the beaches at 32nd Avenue and Pelham Avenue.

Local government

Longport operates under the Walsh Act commission form of New Jersey municipal government. Three non-partisan commissioners are elected at-large to four-year terms of office in non-partisan elections held as part of the May municipal election. Each commissioner is assigned a specific department to head in addition to their legislative functions and one is chosen to serve as mayor.

As of 2016, members of the Longport Borough Commission are Mayor Nicholas Russo (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Daniel Lawler (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and James P. Leeds Sr. (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all of whom are serving terms that end May 31, 2020.

Federal, state and county representation

Longport is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 2nd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City) and in the General Assembly by Chris A. Brown (R, Ventnor City) and Vince Mazzeo (D, Northfield). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected executive and a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts. As of 2015, Atlantic County's Executive is Republican Dennis Levinson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are Chairman Frank D. Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor (R, 2015), Vice Chairman James A. Bertino, Freeholder District 5, including Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth (R, 2015), Colin G. Bell, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2015), John Carman, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part) (R, 2017), Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville (R, 2016), Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic (D, 2016), Alexander C. Marino, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017), Will Pauls, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2016) and John W. Risley, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Edward P. McGettigan (2016), Sheriff Frank X. Balles (R, 2017) and Surrogate James Curcio (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 774 registered voters in Longport, of which 146 (18.9% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 366 (47.3% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 262 (33.9% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 86.5% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 97.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 337 votes (66.5% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 160 votes (31.6% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 4 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 507 ballots cast by the borough's 791 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.1% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 372 votes (64.4% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 195 votes (33.7% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 578 ballots cast by the borough's 903 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.0% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 412 votes (62.0% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 242 votes (36.4% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 2 votes (0.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 664 ballots cast by the borough's 946 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.2% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 306 votes (76.1% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 81 votes (20.1% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with votes (0.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 402 ballots cast by the borough's 803 registered voters, yielding a 50.1% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 280 votes (63.9% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 135 votes (30.8% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 14 votes (3.2% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 4 votes (0.9% vs. 1.2%), among the 438 ballots cast by the borough's 817 registered voters, yielding a 53.6% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

For kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students from Longport attend the Margate City Schools in Margate City as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Longport is a non-operating school district that had 49 students in the Margate district and 8 in Atlantic City for high school as of 2010, operating with a three-member board of education that oversaw its relationships with its sending districts.

As of the 2011-12 school year, the Margate district's two schools had an enrollment of 492 students and 48.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.25:1. Schools in the district (with 2010–11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are William H. Ross Elementary School (grades K-4; 249 students) and Eugene A. Tighe Middle School (grades 5-8; 243 students).

As of the 2014-15 school year, public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Ocean City High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Ocean City School District. Through the 2013-14 school year, Longport's students had attended Atlantic City High School, along with those from Brigantine, Margate City and Ventnor City, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Atlantic City School District. The Longport Board of Education had investigated the possibility of offering city students the option of attending either Atlantic City High School or Ocean City High School, as part of an effort to control the costs for the average of ten Longport students sent to attend public high school annually. With the Atlantic City district charging tuition estimated at nearly $24,000 per student as of 2013–14 and the Ocean City School District charging 25% less per student, district officials estimated prospective savings of $128,000 in the first five years, though those savings could disappear if more of the nearly two-thirds of students attending private high schools were to shift to choose the new Ocean City option. In June 2014, the Acting State Commissioner of Education approved the end of the relationship with the Atlantic City district under which Longport's students could start attending Ocean City High School starting with the 2014-15 school year.

Borough public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing, New Jersey section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

Private school options in the area include Holy Spirit High School in Absecon.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 13.56 miles (21.82 km) of roadways, of which 12.78 miles (20.57 km) were maintained by the municipality and 0.78 miles (1.26 km) by Atlantic County.

The Longport Bridge

There is access to and from the mainland and Ocean City by way of a series of bridges and causeways including the JFK Memorial Bridge, The Ocean City Bridge, and the Dolores G. Cooper Bridge, also known as Longport-Somers Point Boulevard.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 505 route between the borough and Atlantic City.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Longport include: