Beachwood, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Beachwood is a borough situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 10,859,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 186 (−1.7%) from the 2010 census count of 11,045,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 670 (+6.5%) from the 10,375 counted in the 2000 census.<ref name=Census2000/><ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>
Beachwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1917, from portions of Berkeley Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 12, 1917.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 201. Accessed May 11, 2012.</ref>
History
[edit]What is now the borough of Beachwood dates its settlement to a 1914 plan backed by the publishers of the New-York Tribune, under which Template:Convert of Berkeley Township were purchased and sectioned off as a summer colony called "Beachwood". Buyers paid $19.60 for a plot of land measuring Template:Convert and received a six-month subscription to The Tribune as a bonus. The first residents of the community moved in during April 1915, and work on a Club House, the Pier, the Bath House, the Lodge, a dining hall and a railroad station were planned to be completed by the end of May. Other offerings within the development included tennis courts, and facilities along the beach and on the river for canoeing, sailing and swimming. The first "cottages" in the community were constructed during that first summer season.<ref name=FiftyYears>Perry, Ruth. Fifty Years of Beachwood, 1917 - 1967 Template:Webarchive, Borough of Beachwood, 1967. Accessed at the website of the Beachwood Historical Alliance, August 20, 2013.</ref>
A Property-Owner's Association was established in 1916. In addition to overseeing local services within the development, the organization also advocated that the community should become an independent municipality.<ref name=FiftyYears/> Legislation was passed by the Legislature on March 22, 1917, and a referendum approving the establishment of the borough passed on April 12.<ref name=Story/> On May 11, the borough's first council was elected, along with Joseph H. Senior, who was chosen by the voters as Beachwood's first mayor. A board of education was formed the following year, with school transportation provided on the back of a truck outfitted with wooden benches.<ref name=FiftyYears/>
In December 2008, the Beachwood Historical Alliance was established, with the goal of the creation of an official town-run Preservation Commission for the purpose of recognizing, restoring and preserving aspects of Beachwood's formation, history, and heritage.<ref>Home Page, Beachwood Historical Alliance. Accessed October 29, 2016.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.76 square miles (7.16 km2), including 2.76 square miles (7.16 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km2) of water (0.04%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township, Pine Beach and South Toms River.<ref>Areas touching Beachwood, MapIt. Accessed March 6, 2020.</ref><ref>Ocean County Map Template:Webarchive, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 6, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.<ref>Toms River Watershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 11,045 people, 3,682 households, and 2,953 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 92.81% (10,251) White, 1.79% (198) Black or African American, 0.07% (8) Native American, 1.50% (166) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.44% (269) from other races, and 1.38% (152) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% (898) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 3,682 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18; 60.7% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.8% were non-families. Of all households, 15.6% were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.31.<ref name=Census2010/>
25.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,611 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,668) and the median family income was $83,083 (+/− $4,210). Males had a median income of $58,981 (+/− $3,686) versus $46,632 (+/− $5,031) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,366 (+/− $1,915). About 5.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Beachwood borough, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 10,375 people, 3,475 households, and 2,818 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,623 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.66% White, 0.97% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Beachwood borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Beachwood borough, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
There were 3,475 households, out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.31.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the borough was $59,022, and the median income for a family was $64,190. Males had a median income of $41,204 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,247. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]
Beachwood was originally governed under the Walsh Act commission form of government, which was maintained until the mid-1970s.<ref>The History of Beachwood, NJ, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2011.</ref> Beachwood is now 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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 includes 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49.</ref> The borough form of government used by Beachwood 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>
Template:As of, the mayor of Beachwood is Republican Ronald F. Roma Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Beachwood Borough Council are John P. Farro Jr. (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Steven Komsa (R, 2026), Gerald "Jerry" LaCrosse (R, 2025), Thomas Prince (R, 2026), Dan Santos (R, 2024; appointed to an unexpired term) and Edward Zakar (R, 2025).<ref name=Officials>Our Elected Officials, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanProfile>Borough of Beachwood, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed June 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanOfficials>2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2023>General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Ocean2022>2022 General Election Official Results November 8, 2022, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Ocean2021>2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>
In January 2024, John Farro was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when William Cairns took office as mayor.<ref>Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for January 17, 2024, Borough of Beachwood. Accessed June 3, 2024.</ref>
Bill Cairns was appointed to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Thomas Miserendino, who died in office in June 2015.<ref>Staff. "Tom Miserendino, Beachwood Fire Chief & Councilman, 1944 – 2015" Template:Webarchive, The Riverside Signal, June 8, 2015. Accessed August 9, 2015. "This week the borough mourns the passing of Thomas D. Miserendino, former and sitting borough councilman, ex-chief of the Beachwood Vol. Fire Company (noted as the company's longest-serving chief and also member since 1971, the year he moved to Beachwood), Vietnam war veteran and Navy Senior Chief, who passed away Thursday, June 4th at the age of 71."</ref>
Federal, state, and county representation
[edit]Beachwood is located in the 4th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>
Template:NJ Congress 04 Template:NJ Senate
Template:NJ Ocean County Commissioners
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,714 registered voters in Beachwood, of which 1,329 (19.8%) were registered as Democrats, 1,661 (24.7%) were registered as Republicans and 3,718 (55.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.8% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 81.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.9% of the vote (2,264 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.0% (2,048 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (48 votes), among the 4,397 ballots cast by the borough's 6,979 registered voters (37 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 63.0%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 51.5% of the vote (2,610 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.2% (2,342 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (68 votes), among the 5,064 ballots cast by the borough's 7,008 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.3%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58.9% of the vote (2,755 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 40.0% (1,869 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (38 votes), among the 4,676 ballots cast by the borough's 6,492 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.0.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.8% 3,682 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.2% 2,064 | 2.0% 5 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|60.0% 3,587 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|37.4% 2,234 | 2.6% 5 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|63.7% 3,088 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|31.5% 1,525 | 4.8% 231 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.9% 2,264 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.0% 2,048 | 1.1% 48 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.5% 2,610 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|46.2% 2,342 | 1.3% 68 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2012.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|58.9% 2,755 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|40.0% 1,869 | 0.6% 38 |
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.4% of the vote (2,064 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.1% (782 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (43 votes), among the 2,960 ballots cast by the borough's 6,897 registered voters (71 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.3% of the vote (2,169 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 27.8% (937 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.2% (175 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (57 votes), among the 3,375 ballots cast by the borough's 6,933 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Ocean County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
Education
[edit]Public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Toms River Regional Schools, a regional public school system based primarily in Toms River Township that is the state's largest suburban district. In addition to students from Toms River, the district also serves the boroughs of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River.<ref>Toms River Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 11, 2016. "Toms River Regional is the largest suburban school district in the state, with a population of approximately 16,000 students learning in a pre-kindergarten early learning center, twelve elementary schools, three intermediate schools and three high schools. Despite its size, the district takes enormous pride in providing a neighborhood school concept with high-quality educational programs, facilities, and services for students from our four sending towns of Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River."</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of 18 schools, had an enrollment of 15,472 students and 1,171.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Toms River Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Students in kindergarten through 5th grades attend either Beachwood Elementary School in Beachwood or Pine Beach Elementary in the neighboring community of Pine Beach. Intermediate school students attend Toms River Intermediate School South in Beachwood for grades 6–8. High school students attend Toms River High School South in Toms River Township for grades 9–12. The district's board of education has nine members; seats are allocated based on population, with one seat allocated to Beachwood.<ref>Board of Education, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed March 6, 2020. "The Toms River Board of Education is comprised of nine members. Six are elected from Toms River Township, and one each from the Boroughs of Pine Beach, Beachwood and South Toms River."</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_between_Exit_77_and_Exit_81_in_Beachwood,_Ocean_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Ocean County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Ocean County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
The Garden State Parkway passes through the borough, connecting Berkeley Township in the south to South Toms River in the north.<ref>Garden State Parkway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, August 2014. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Ocean County Road Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit offers local bus service to and from Lakewood Township/Toms River and Atlantic City on the 559 route.<ref>Ocean County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed December 25, 2012.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Beachwood include:
- Melbourne Armstrong Carriker (1879–1965), ornithologist<ref>Wiedenfeld, David A.; and Carriker, Melbourne R. "In Memoriam: Melbourne Armstrong Carriker Jr., 1879-1965", The Auk, January 2007. Accessed July 26, 2016. "So Vista Nieve was sold, and the Carriker family moved to Beachwood, New Jersey. Times were hard for the family for the next year and a half. While waiting for the position to open at the academy, Carriker—a skilled carpenter—worked in that trade as a contractor, and was active in local politics."</ref>
- Ashley Alexandra Dupré (born 1985), former Emperors Club VIP Diamond Girl, who was a central figure in the prostitution scandal with Eliot Spitzer, then New York Governor<ref>via Associated Press. "Spitzer call girl sues 'Girls Gone Wild' impresario", Asbury Park Press, April 29, 2008. Accessed April 29, 2008. "Dupre, born Ashley Youmans, lived in Beachwood and Wall while growing up and attended Wall High School."</ref>
- Mark Geiger (born 1974), soccer referee who officiated at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup<ref>Clunn, Nicholas. "Project Earns High Marks; Lacey schools rave about renovations", Asbury Park Press, October 1, 2003. Accessed May 11, 2012. "Mark Geiger, a math teacher from Beachwood, said his new classroom in the high school's addition - referred to as the 'West Wing' here - has made teaching a bit easier."</ref>
- Jeffrey Moran (born 1946), Ocean County Surrogate and former member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1986 to 2003, who served on the Beachwood Borough Council from 1970 to 1972<ref>Cronin, Steve. "9th Legislative District / Jeffrey Moran", The Press of Atlantic City, November 6, 1989. Accessed July 26, 2016. "In some ways, it can be said Assemblyman Jeffrey Moran has conducted only one campaign for office. That campaign started when Moran entered the 1985 Republican primary and continues as the Beachwood man now seeks his third term in the lower house."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Beachwood municipal website
- Beachwood Historical Alliance
- Toms River Regional Schools
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Toms River Regional Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Beachwood Branch of Ocean County Library
- Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company Station 16
Template:Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Jersey Shore region Template:Authority control