Belmar, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Hatnote group Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Belmar is a borough located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,907,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 113 (+2.0%) from the 2010 census count of 5,794,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 251 (−4.2%) from the 6,045 counted in the 2000 census.<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>
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.<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. 178. Accessed July 29, 2012.</ref> The borough's name means "beautiful sea" in Italian.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>
Geography
[edit]Template:Stack 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%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Belmar borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Monmouth County municipalities of Avon-by-the-Sea to the north, Neptune to the northwest, Wall Township to the west, and Lake Como and Spring Lake to the south.<ref>Areas touching Belmar, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 5,794 people, 2,695 households, and 1,267 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,931 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 87.06% (5,044) White, 3.49% (202) Black or African American, 0.24% (14) Native American, 0.91% (53) Asian, 0.14% (8) Pacific Islander, 5.66% (328) from other races, and 2.50% (145) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.76% (971) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
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.<ref name=Census2010/>
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.<ref name=Census2010/>
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.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Belmar borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]
As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 6,045 people, 2,946 households, and 1,316 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,996 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Belmar borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Belmar borough, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 29, 2012.</ref>
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.<ref>Irish Communities Template:Webarchive, EPodunk. Accessed August 22, 2007.</ref>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Parks and recreation
[edit]
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.<ref>Skaepark, Borough of Belmar. Accessed January 23, 2025</ref>
The Jersey Shore Basketball League, a competitive summer basketball league, takes place at St. Rose High School every summer.<ref>Big-time games played in a small gym on Seventh, Asbury Park Press, July 2, 2000.</ref>
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.<ref>About the BAC, Belmar Arts Council. Accessed August 11, 2013.</ref>
Government
[edit]
Local government
[edit]In July 1990, the voters of Belmar overwhelmingly passed a referendum changing Belmar's form of government from a three-person, non-partisan commission 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 63.</ref><ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed September 17, 2013.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>
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.<ref>Belmar's Form of Government Template:Webarchive, Borough of Belmar. Accessed September 1, 2006.</ref>
Template:As of, 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, 2027), and Maria Rondinaro (D, 2025).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council, Borough of Belmar. Accessed January 23, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Belmar. Accessed May 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2024>November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2023>November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey, updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Monmouth County, New Jersey Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Belmar is located in the 4th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>
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Politics
[edit]Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRowTemplate:PresRowTemplate:PresRow |}
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.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 3, 2012.</ref>
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%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 3, 2012.</ref> 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.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 3, 2012.</ref>
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%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>2009 Governor: Monmouth County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 3, 2012.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Belmar School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Belmar Elementary School.<ref>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."</ref><ref>County School list A-D, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2022.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Belmar Elementary School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref> 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.<ref name=NCES>District information for Belmar Elementary School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> The district also serves students from Lake Como who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.<ref>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."</ref> 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.<ref name=AboutUs>About 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."</ref>
Students attending public high school for ninth through twelfth grades are assigned to either Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School based on sending/receiving relationships with the Manasquan Public Schools and Asbury Park Public Schools, respectively.<ref name=NJSRC/><ref>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."</ref> Manasquan High School also serves students from Avon-by-the-Sea, Brielle, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective districts.<ref name=NJSRC>Manasquan 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."</ref><ref>Manasquan Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2020. "Manasquan High School receives students from seven sending districts; Avon, Belmar, Lake Como, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Brielle, as well as our Manasquan Elementary School students."</ref><ref>Sending Districts Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, Manasquan High School had an enrollment of 1,006 students and 76.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.1:1,<ref>School data for Manasquan High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> while Asbury Park High School had an enrollment of 682 students and 54.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.<ref>School data for Asbury Park High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>
Students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School.<ref name=AboutUs/><ref>High School Information Template:Webarchive, 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"</ref>
Students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como, which accepts students on a lottery basis from the communities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como.<ref>About UsTemplate: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."</ref><ref name=APP2005>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."</ref>
Belmar is home of St. Rose High School, which was established in 1923 by the local parish and the Sisters of St. Joseph, and operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.<ref>Monmouth County Catholic Schools Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Accessed July 17, 2017.</ref><ref>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."</ref>
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.<ref>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."</ref>
The Belmar Public Library is one of New Jersey's original 36 Carnegie libraries.
Transportation
[edit]_at_16th_Avenue_in_Belmar,_Monmouth_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 Monmouth County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Monmouth County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
Route 35 and Route 71 are the two main highways that pass through Belmar. The closest limited access roads are all in neighboring Wall Township: Route 18, the Garden State Parkway and I-195.
Public transportation
[edit]
NJ Transit provides rail transportation at the Belmar Station<ref>Belmar station, NJ Transit. Accessed October 16, 2013.</ref> to and from New York Penn Station, Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal on the North Jersey Coast Line.<ref>North Jersey Coast Line Template:Webarchive, NJ Transit. Accessed October 16, 2013.</ref> New Jersey Transit also provides bus transportation between Belmar and Philadelphia on the 317 route and service on the 830 route.<ref>Bus Routes, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed April 30, 2023.</ref>
Airport
[edit]Monmouth Executive Airport is a public-use airport located west of Belmar.<ref>Monmouth Executive, Federal Aviation Administration. Accessed March 19, 2023.</ref>
Annual events
[edit]
- 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.<ref>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."</ref>
- New Jersey Sand Castle Contest, which featured 200 participants at the 27th annual event in 2013<ref>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."</ref>
- St. Patrick's Day Parade, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023<ref>"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."</ref>
- Belmar Pro Surf Contest<ref>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."</ref>
- Belmar Fall Festival
- Belmar Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Belmar Spring Kite Festival
- Howard Rowland Memorial Lifeguard Tournament – an bi-annual tournament of lifeguard teams from the Jersey Shore<ref>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."</ref>
- Meters for Mike
- Belmar Sprint Triathlon
- The Jersey Shore Relay Run, which has a leg that goes through Belmar
- Surfer's Healing
Sister city
[edit]In August 2008, the borough established a Sister City relationship with Balbriggan, a town of nearly 16,000 in County Dublin, Ireland.<ref>Reiss, Fraidy. "Belmar now blessed with an Irish sister: Borough, Balbriggan seem to have a lot in common", Asbury Park Press, August 8, 2008. Accessed August 22, 2008.</ref>
Community
[edit]
- Belmar was home to the first and oldest first-aid squad in the United States. The Squad, organized in 1927 ceased operations in 2021.<ref>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."</ref><ref>Sucato, Kristy. "On The Map; A First-Aid Station That Faces an Emergency of Its Own", The New York Times, September 21, 1997. Accessed July 29, 2012. "Belmar's first aid squad this year is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and it is the oldest volunteer squad in the United States and Canada."</ref>
- 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.<ref>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."</ref>
- Monmouth Executive Airport in nearby Wall Township is designated with the call letters "BLM" based on its initial name of Belmar Airport.<ref>Mueller, Naomi. "What's in a name? A glimpse of the future, owner believes", Asbury Park Press, July 23, 2001. Accessed July 29, 2012. "At about the same time, he gave the site its first name: Belmar Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration assigned the airport its three-letter abbreviation, BLM."</ref>
- In the HBO series The Sopranos, Belmar is shown as the home port of Tony Soprano's boat, the Stugots.<ref>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.</ref>
- Guy Fieri featured Belmar and local restaurant 10th Avenue Burrito in an episode of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives which originally aired on December 13, 2010.<ref>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"</ref>
Climate
[edit]According to the Köppen climate classification system, Belmar has a Humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Template:Weather box Template:Weather box
Ecology
[edit]According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Belmar would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions), Data Basin. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Belmar include:
- Jay Alders (born 1973), artist and photographer<ref>Webster, Sarah. "Twisting and changing: Jay Alders is a graphic artist, painter and photographer", Asbury Park Press, January 24, 2008. Accessed February 4, 2011. "Now Alders resides in Belmar as a self-employed businessman graphic artist painter and photographer."</ref>
- Tom Brower (born 1965), member of the Hawaii House of Representatives<ref>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."</ref>
- Dave Calloway (born 1968), college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Monmouth University<ref>Dave Calloway, Monmouth Hawks men's basketball. Accessed July 3, 2019. "They have one son, Dave, and currently reside in Belmar, New Jersey."</ref>
- Harriett Ephrussi-Taylor (1918–1968), geneticist, microbiologist and educator, who initiated and made crucial contributions to the fields of transformation and bacterial recombination<ref>"Harriett Ephrussi-Taylor: April 10, 1918 - March 30, 1968", National Library of Medicine. Accessed March 4, 2023. "Harriett Taylor was bor on April 10, 1918, in Belmar, New Jersey, completed her secondary education in Washington, D.C., and then pursued her undergraduate studies in Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts."</ref>
- Christian Fuscarino (born Template:Circa), community organizer and LGBT activist who is the executive director of Garden State Equality<ref>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."</ref>
- James Gallagher (1909–1992), soccer player who earned two caps with the United States national soccer team<ref>"James A. Gallagher", Asbury Park Press, April 18, 1992. Accessed August 14, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Gallagher was born in Kearny and lived in Belmar since 1932."</ref>
- Michael Gerson (born 1964), political writer and commentator who served as chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006<ref>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."</ref>
- Stephen L. Hoffman (born 1948), physician-scientist, tropical medicine specialist and vaccinologist<ref>Mancuso, Donna. "'Cunning' parasite thwarts scientists' tries for malaria cure", Asbury Park Press, January 14, 1992. Accessed July 12, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "'We need new and better drugs to treat people, better methods of controlling mosquitoes and the infrastructure to deliver the technology,' said Hoffman, who was born in Belmar and grew up in Ocean Township."</ref>
- 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<ref>"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."</ref>
- Jay Lynch (1945–2017), cartoonist best known for his comic strip Nard n' Pat<ref>Sandomir, Richard. "Jay Lynch, Underground Comics Creator, Dies at 72", The New York Times, March 12, 2017. Accessed March 13, 2017. "Mr. Lynch's early life was a bit unconventional. Jay Patrick Lynch was born in Orange, N.J., on Jan. 7, 1945, and grew up in Belmar."</ref>
- Marina Mabrey (born 1996), basketball player with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association<ref>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."</ref>
- Balls Mahoney (1972–2016), professional wrestler<ref>Polyn, Glenn. "Belmar resident part of the new wave of wrestling" Template:Webarchive, 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."</ref>
- Joseph Mayer (1877–1942), Mayor of Belmar who later served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders<ref>Staff. "Joseph Mayer; Former Mayor of Belmar Was Director of Freeholders", The New York Times, November 19, 1942. Accessed February 9, 2011. "He was born in Hazelton, Pa., Where he was elected to the Common Council at the age of 21 and later served as its president. He moved to Belmar in 1908 after residing in Lakewood."</ref>
- Tom McGowan (born 1956), actor<ref>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."</ref>
- Douglas Crawford McMurtrie (1888–1944), type designer<ref>Bruntjen, Scott; Young, Melissa L. "Douglas C. McMurtrie, bibliographer and historian of printing", p. 1. Scarecrow Press, 1979. Template:ISBN.</ref>
- David Sancious (born 1953), early member of the E Street Band<ref>Lustig, Jay. "Revisiting E Street: Ex-Springsteen sideman looks forward to Shore gig", The Star-Ledger, July 15, 2005. Accessed July 30, 2007. "Sancious grew up in Asbury Park and Belmar. The E Street Band was named after the address of his mother's Belmar home, where they sometimes practiced."</ref>
- Joe Shimko (born 2000), American football long snapper for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League<ref>Carino, Jerry. "NC State Wolfpack football: Wall NJ grad Joe Shimko excelling on and off the field", Asbury Park Press, August 30, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. "Growing up in Belmar, Shimko has been involved in good causes back home alongside his father Robert Shimko, who is the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 400, a labor union based in Wall."</ref>
- Sarah Spiegel, singer and actress<ref>Staff. "Two Days: Louis Prima Jr., oysters and festivals", The Star-Ledger, September 8, 2012. Accessed December 16, 2017. "Alongside him: the Witnesses, featuring singer Sarah Spiegel, an actress who grew up in Belmar and has appeared on The King of Queens."</ref>
- Neal Sterling (born 1992), tight end who played in the NFL for the New York Jets<ref>Newman, Josh. "Monmouth's Neal Sterling Chosen in NFL Draft by Jacksonville Jaguars", Asbury Park Press, May 3, 2015. Accessed May 17, 2015. "Sterling, a Belmar native and a 2009 graduate of Manasquan High School, finished in the top three on the career list of every receiving category."</ref>
- E. Donald Sterner (1894–1983), politician<ref>Staff. "E.D. Sterner Named Hoffman Secretary; Head of the Republican State Committee of Jersey Will Take Office Jan. 15.", The New York Times, November 20, 1934. Accessed February 4, 2011. "E. Donald Sterner of Belmar, chairman of the Republican State Committee, is to be secretary to Harold G. Hoffman, when the latter becomes Governor Jan. 15."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Commons category Template:Portal
- Borough of Belmar official website
- Belmar Elementary School
- School Data for the Belmar Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Template:NJReportCard
Template:S-start Template:Succession box Template:S-end
Template:Monmouth County, New Jersey
Template:Geographic Location (8-way) Template:Jersey Shore region Template:Authority control