Avalon, New Jersey

File:AvalonBeach.jpg

One of Avalon's beaches on the New Jersey shore

Avalon is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is located on Seven Mile Island. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,243,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 91 (−6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 1,334,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn declined by 809 (−37.8%) from the 2,143 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> The borough's population swells to as many as 45,000 during the summer.<ref>Kirby, David. "Havens; Weekender | Avalon, N.J.", The New York Times, November 8, 2002. Accessed February 10, 2023. "Indeed, Avalon's neighborly small-town atmosphere -- like a Mayberry by the sea -- is what has drawn generations of families to this century-old resort on the southern Jersey Shore. Though it swells to some 45,000 sun-seeking souls during the peak of summer, the town's year-round population is only about 2,140, and spring and fall are especially lovely times to be there, many residents say."</ref>

Geographically part of the South Jersey region, the community is one of the most affluent communities along the Jersey Shore and is home to some of the most expensive real estate on the East Coast. In 2007, Forbes listed Avalon as the 65th most expensive ZIP Code in the United States.<ref>Staff. "In Pictures: Most Expensive ZIP Codes - 65. Avalon, N.J.", Forbes, September 10, 2007. Accessed June 28, 2011.</ref> Washingtonian "named Avalon the 'chicest beach' in the mid-Atlantic, the place to see women in diamonds and designer swimwear."<ref>Raymond, Alexis. "Stone Harbor and Avalon, N.J.: These upscale communities are rich in beauty, tranquility and pleasure.", The Baltimore Sun, August 25, 2003. Accessed June 28, 2011.</ref> A small portion of Avalon is not on Seven Mile Island. The borough, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref>

Avalon is known as a South Jersey seashore resort and has the motto "Cooler by a Mile" since it juts out into the Atlantic Ocean about a mile farther than other barrier islands.<ref>Avalon, Visit New Jersey. Accessed December 14, 2021. "Like a page out of Pleasantville, things are just nicer in the beach town of Avalon. The town’s slogan, 'Cooler by a Mile,' refers to its position one mile farther into the Atlantic than other barrier islands in the state, but you may feel like you’re a hundred miles away from the busier beach towns."</ref> Alternatively, the motto is because Avalon, at four miles long, is one mile longer than its neighboring town on the southern end of Seven Mile Island, Stone Harbor.Template:Citation needed It was ranked the seventh-best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.<ref>Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Triumph for South Jersey", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Accessed October 29, 2015. "Neighboring Wildwood Crest came in second, followed by Ocean City, North Wildwood, Cape May, Asbury Park in Monmouth County, Avalon, Point Pleasant Beach in northern Ocean County, Beach Haven in southern Ocean County and Stone Harbor."</ref>

History

Around 14,000 years ago, the barrier islands of Cape May County formed, likely from spits and lines of dunes.<ref name="geo">Lucey, Carol S. Geology of Cape May County in Brief, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 1976. Accessed October 26, 2019.</ref> Originally a thriving juniper forest occupied by Lenni Lenape Native Americans, the area was purchased by Aaron Leaming in December 1722 for 79 pounds. Known as Seven Mile Beach (which included present-day Avalon and Stone Harbor), it was owned and retained by the Leamings for approximately 100 years. Unconfirmed legends say that pirates buried their bounty on Seven Mile Island, and that Henry Hudson may have dropped anchor somewhere offshore. The island served as a cattle range and was also used for its plentiful timber. The Leamings eventually sold the land, and the island exchanged hands in a number of transactions afterwards. In April 1887, the Seven Mile Beach company was formed. As early as 1893, Avalon was advertised as a resort town. With this rapid development, homes and businesses were erected. The native juniper forest was graded and cut, and the sandy hills were leveled off, making the island mostly flat. Today it is extremely rare to see hills or native juniper in Avalon.

Avalon was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 18, 1892, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on March 6, 1896, and again on May 4, 1897. Another portion of Middle Township was annexed in 1910. On December 27, 1941, portions of Avalon were ceded to Stone Harbor.<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. 113. Accessed July 7, 2012.</ref> The borough is named for Avalon of Arthurian legend.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>

On January 4, 1890, the Commonwealth, piloted by Captain W.S. Willets, sank. This 197-ton ship was en route from New York City to Philadelphia with a cargo of molasses, coffee, tobacco, tea, coconut oil, and camphor. Straying from its course in rough weather, the Commonwealth ran aground in Townsend's Inlet. The crew was rescued and most of the cargo was salvaged. However, after a week trapped in the sandy bottom of the inlet, the ship began to come apart in the waves. Some of the remaining cargo washed ashore and most of it was taken by the early residents of Avalon. The wreck, unable to be recovered, was sold to John Townshend on February 2.

File:AvalonPier.jpg

A plaque placed in July 2004, recognizing the “Site of the Avalon Pier 1929-1980”.

By the early 1900s, the Leaming Railroad bridge was constructed, allowing train connections into the town. This increased the traffic from nearby Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Around 1944 the West Jersey and Seashore railroad lines merged with the Reading Railroad. This effectively ended the era of travel by train to the island. A hurricane took several streets and Avalon now has a north end beginning at 7th street. In the mid-1950s the Wolfington Family of Philadelphia purchased and operated the Puritan Hotel later enlarged and renamed the Whitebriar Hotel on the beach block at 21st Street. The Whitebriar was managed for two seasons in the mid-1950s, one of the future 'great hosts' of several hotels in the Greater Philadelphia area, Robert C. Bennett. He was the son of another 'famous' hotelier, Claude H. Bennett of the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Currently the most widely used method of transportation to and from Avalon is by car or boat; however, buses run on a regular schedule all over the shore towns.

Geography

File:Avalon NJ beach looking north at 78th Street.jpeg

Avalon beach at 78th Street

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.06 square miles (13.09 km²), including 4.27 square miles (11.06 km²) of land and 0.79 square miles (2.04 km²) of water (15.53%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Peermont.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Dennis Township, Middle Township, Sea Isle City and Stone Harbor, as well as the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>Areas touching Avalon, MapIt. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref><ref>Cape May County Template:Webarchive, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,334 people, 692 households, and 416 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,434 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 98.05% (1,308) White, 0.30% (4) Black or African American, 0.30% (4) Native American, 0.22% (3) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.15% (2) from other races, and 0.97% (13) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.17% (29) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 692 households, 9.2% had children under the age of 18; 54.6% were married couples living together; 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.9% were non-families. Of all households, 36.0% were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.45.<ref name=Census2010/>

8.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 11.8% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 40.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $88,527 (with a margin of error of +/− $20,202) and the median family income was $135,781 (+/− $32,487). Males had a median income of $162,125 (+/− $69,973) versus $46,397 (+/− $17,278) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $99,655 (+/− $18,059). About 1.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Avalon borough, Cape May County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,143 people, 1,045 households, and 668 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,281 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.69% White, 0.14% African American, 0.56% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Avalon borough Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 3, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Avalon borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,045 households, out of which 12.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% 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 2.56.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 14.1% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 32.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,196, and the median income for a family was $72,750. Males had a median income of $60,227 versus $39,886 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,016. About 2.2% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 0.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

The Borough of Avalon is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the five-member borough council. Members of the borough council are elected in non-partisan elections to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two seats (and the mayoral seat) or three seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the May municipal election.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 8.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" Template:Webarchive, p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, Avalon's mayor is John M. McCorristin, whose term of office ends on June 30, 2027. Members of the borough council are Council President James T. McDermott Jr. (2025), Council Vice President Maura H. "Mari" Coskey (2025), Greg "Chet" Johnson (2025; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Barbara L. Juzaitis (2027) and Samuel D. Wierman (2027).<ref name=ElectedOfficials>Elected Officials, Borough of Avalon. Accessed July 17, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Avalon. Accessed June 9, 2023.</ref><ref name=CapeMayOfficials>2023 County & Municipal Elected Officials Cape May County, NJ -- July 2023, Cape May County, New Jersey, August 3, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2023.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2023Municipal>Cape May County Statement of Vote 2023 Cape May County Municipal Election, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated May 17, 2023. Accessed Jul 17, 2023.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2021Municipal>Statement of Vote 2021 Cape May County Municipal Election, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated May 18, 2021. Accessed April 28, 2022.</ref>

In July 2023, the borough council appointed Chet Johnson to fill the council seat expiring in June 2025 that had been held by John McCorristin until he stepped down to take office as mayor.<ref>Conti, Vince. "Avalon Appoints New Council Member to Vacant Seat", Cape May County Herald, July 13, 2023. Accessed July 17, 2023. "Avalon Borough Council moved to fill a vacancy in its membership, July 12, by authorizing the appointment of Planning and Zoning Board Chair Greg 'Chet' Johnson to the seat vacated by John McCorristin."</ref>

In July 2015, William G. Burns Jr., was appointed to fill the vacant seat expiring 2017 of David Ellenberg, who resigned from office earlier that month.<ref>William Burns Appointed to Avalon Borough Council, Borough of Avalon. Accessed August 8, 2015. "The Avalon Borough Council voted unanimously to appoint Bill Burns to a vacant seat on Council during its meeting on Wednesday, July 22nd.... Burns will serve the vacant seat formerly held by David Ellenberg until the November 3, 2015 general election."</ref>

Mayor Pagliughi and Councilmembers Covington and Dean ran unopposed in the May 2011 municipal election.<ref>Barlow, Bill. "'Team Avalon' running unopposed: Three seek fresh terms after long service" Template:Webarchive, Shore News Today, March 30, 2011. Accessed December 4, 2011. "Mayor Martin Pagliughi, Council President Dick Dean and Avalon Councilman Chuck Covington are set to run for reelection together as 'Team Avalon' in the May 10 municipal election. That means everyone on the ballot will be on the same team. According to Avalon spokesman Scott Wahl, no one else turned in petitions to appear on the ballot. If re-elected, as seems quite likely, this July Pagliughi will start his 20th year as Avalon's mayor, which he ran for after a four-year term on council."</ref><ref>Staff. "Avalon, Sea Isle, Wildwood hold municipal elections Tuesday", The Press of Atlantic City, May 10, 2011. Accessed December 4, 2011. "Avalon, Sea Isle City and Wildwood will hold nonpartisan municipal elections today from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. In Avalon, Mayor Martin L. Pagliughi and Councilmen Charles P. Covington and Richard E. Dean are running unopposed."</ref> With 245 of 1,330 registered voters participating (turnout of 18.42%) all three candidates were re-elected.<ref>2011 Municipal Election May 10, 2011Summary Report Cape May County Official Results, Cape May County, New Jersey, May 19, 2011. Accessed October 29, 2016.</ref>

In the May 2013 election, incumbents Ellenberg and Hudanich were re-elected, as newcomer John McCorristin won the seat that had previously been held by Joseph Tipping who didn't run for another term of office.<ref>Procida, Lee. "Avalon, Sea Isle City each elect 2 incumbents, 1 newcomer in unopposed elections", The Press of Atlantic City, May 15, 2013. Accessed August 20, 2013. "In Avalon, incumbents David B. Ellenberg and Nancy Hudanich won re-election to four-year terms, while John McCorristin won a seat on Borough Council... In Avalon, Councilman Joseph Tipping chose not to run for re-election because of health reasons."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Avalon is located in the 2nd 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 1st 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>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,307 registered voters in Avalon, of which 206 (15.8%) were registered as Democrats, 676 (51.7%) were registered as Republicans and 425 (32.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Cape May, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 66.5% of the vote (622 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 32.9% (308 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (6 votes), among the 943 ballots cast by the borough's 1,331 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.8%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.4% of the vote (663 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 35.7% (379 votes), with 1,063 ballots cast among the borough's 1,325 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.2%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 66.1% of the vote (766 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 32.6% (377 votes), with 1,158 ballots cast among the borough's 1,419 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.6.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|52.2% 451	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|45.7% 395
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|58.0% 547	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|41.2% 388
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.0% 511	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|37.5% 325
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Election">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|66.5% 622	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|32.9% 308
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.4% 663	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.7% 379
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|66.1% 766	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|32.6% 377

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 84.0% of the vote (589 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 15.3% (107 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (5 votes), among the 710 ballots cast by the borough's 1,279 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 55.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.7% of the vote (547 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.0% (245 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.0% (42 votes), with 845 ballots cast among the borough's 1,357 registered voters, yielding a 62.3% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Cape May County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>

Education

File:Avalon Free Public Library and Elementary School.jpg

Avalon Elementary School and Avalon Free Public Library

Avalon School District is a public school district that serves students in public school for first through eighth grade.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Avalon School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 26, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 83 students and 12.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Avalon School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Avalon had the smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 43 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 1. Avalon Borough; Enrollment: 43; Grades: 5-8; County: Cape May"</ref>

Starting with the 2011–12 school year, in an agreement with the Stone Harbor School District, public school students in grades K–4 from both communities attend school in Stone Harbor while all students in grades 5–8 attend school in Avalon, at Avalon Elementary School.<ref>Avalon Elementary School 2016-17 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 15, 2018. "Full-Time 3 and 4 year old programs, accepting tuition students, send-receive relationship with Stone Harbor School District (K-4), Avalon School District (PK, 5-8)"</ref>

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools, together with students from Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine.<ref>Middle Township High School 2015 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Woodbine Borough."</ref><ref>Home page, Middle Township Public Schools. Accessed May 30, 2016. "The high school is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades. In addition to students from Middle Township, students from Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 790 students and 65.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1.<ref>School data for Middle Township High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in the Cape May Court House area, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.<ref>Frequently Asked Questions, Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All residents of Cape May County are eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School.... The Cape May County Technical High School is a public school so there is no cost to residents of Cape May County."</ref><ref>Technical High School Admissions, Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All students who are residents of Cape May County may apply to the Technical High School."</ref> Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in the Cape May Court House area.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates Bishop McHugh Regional School, a Catholic K–8 school, in Ocean View, Dennis Township,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which has a Cape May Courthouse postal address.<ref>Template:Cite web - Compare to the address: "2221 Rt. 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210"</ref> It is the parish school of Avalon/Stone Harbor Catholic Church and three other churches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

File:2018-10-04 17 23 36 View north along Cape May County Route 619 (Ocean Drive) at 29th Street in Avalon, Cape May County, New Jersey.jpg

County Route 619 in Avalon

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Cape May County.<ref>Cape May County Mileage by Municipality and JurisdictionTemplate:Dead link, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways serve Avalon. The most significant roads are minor county routes, such as County Route 601 (Avalon Boulevard), which connects the Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9 to the oceanfront, and County Route 619, which follows Ocean Drive.

Public transportation

There is also a seasonal trolley service that runs through the seven-mile-long island. Avalon also has multiple NJ Transit bus stops, and is served by the 315 to and from Philadelphia and the 319 that provides service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>Cape May County bus routes, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed June 30, 2011.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed September 2, 2014.</ref>

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Avalon has a Humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

The Nor'easter of 1962

In March 1962, a major Nor'easter, the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, tore through the U.S. East Coast causing massive ocean swells. Much of Avalon suffered very serious flooding and major coastline loss.<ref>History of Avalon, VisitNJShore.com. Accessed October 29, 2016.</ref><ref>Avalon Residents Recall 1962 Storm. Accessed April 11, 2007. Template:Webarchive</ref> Much of the island was under water for four to five days, with damage to homes dependent on the foundation construction of the home and location on the island.

File:AvalonRocks.jpg

Rocks were erected where 8th Street meets Townsend's Inlet to hold back the ocean.

Protection efforts against storms

While there have been many strong storms since 1962, extensive rock jetty construction on Townsends Inlet (as recent as Summer 2006) has mostly succeeded in protecting the inlet-side homes. However, beaches and property facing the ocean at 8th through 12th Streets have struggled to prevent further loss of this barrier island through various anti-erosion schemes, including extending the 8th Street rock jetty, the installation of an artificial reef and the beach replenishment. So far, there has been no more "shrinkage" of the island at this location, but at a very high monetary cost. Several times, in 2015, the causeway leading north from Avalon to Townsends Inlet has been closed by flooding during stormy weather.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Avalon would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20).<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

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Avalon include:

• Geno Auriemma (born 1954), head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team<ref>Elliott, Rich. "Hoop recruit spikes UConn", News-Times, August 26, 2008. Accessed March 1, 2011. "Auriemma, his wife, Kathy, and Ernie and Joanie Delle Donne had dinner several times this summer at the Jersey Shore to discuss the situation. Auriemma owns a house in Avalon, N.J. The Delle Donnes own a house in nearby Stone Harbor."</ref><ref>Giuca, Linda. "Celebrity Cookie Countdown: Geno Auriemma" Template:Webarchive, Hartford Courant. Accessed March 1, 2011. "The Auriemmas spent Thanksgiving at their home in Avalon, N.J., close to the Philadelphia area where the couple's respective families live."</ref>
• Neil Hartman, Comcast Sportsnet personality<ref>Neil Hartman Template:Webarchive, Alternative Energy Development Group. Accessed August 23, 2015. "He resides in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey with his wife and two children. He also owns a home in Avalon, New Jersey."</ref>
• Paul Holmgren (born 1955), former General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers and current president<ref>Staff. "Bike crash bloodies Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren", Sporting News, September 6, 2011. Accessed October 16, 2012. "Holmgren owns a home in Avalon and is a Somerset, N.J., resident, according to The Press of Atlantic City."</ref><ref>Staff. "Flyers GM Holmgren injured in bike crash in Avalon", The Press of Atlantic City, September 6, 2011. Accessed October 16, 2012. "Holmgren, who owns a home in Avalon, has been the team's general manager since 2006. He also played for the Flyers from 1976-83 and coached the team from 1988-92."</ref>
• Tim Kerr (born 1960), right winger who played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers<ref>Staff. "For A Radio Pair, Bad Reception \ Monkey Boy And An Intern Were Turned Away From The Arena. And So Was Their Stanley Cup.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 1997. Accessed November 20, 2008. "'It's great to be back,' said Kerr, 37, who lives in Avalon."</ref><ref>Lulgjuraj, Susan. "Many Philadelphia Flyers past and present call Cape May County home", The Press of Atlantic City, May 24, 2010. Accessed March 1, 2011. "Tim Kerr has a huge presence in the Avalon and Stone Harbor area. The three-time All-Star played in Philadelphia for 11 seasons from 1980 to 1991 and holds Philadelphia's team record for the most 50-goal seasons with four. He owns Tim Kerr's Powerplay Realty on Dune Drive, which sells and rents homes in the Avalon and Stone Harbor area. For several years, Kerr also has run a charity run that bears his name. Kerr splits time between his homes in Avalon and Moorestown, Burlington County, said Tim Kerr Realty sales associate Ann Delaney."</ref>
• Ed McMahon (1923–2009), television show host<ref>Staff. "Ed McMahon dies at age 86; He had many connections to N.J. shore", The Press of Atlantic City, June 24, 2009. Accessed October 29, 2016. "A Marine pilot in World War II and Korea, McMahon married in Atlantic City and got his start in show business working on television in Philadelphia. During that time he purchased a summer home in Avalon and he and his family were frequent visitors."</ref>
• Joe Paterno (1926–2012), Penn State football head coach<ref>McLane, Jeff. "Paterno eager for football", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 19, 2008. Accessed August 6, 2008. "Perhaps Paterno's eagerness to attend the event has grown in the last month, one spent partly at his beach house in Avalon, N.J."</ref>
• Michael W. Rice (born 1945), CEO/Chairman of Utz Quality Foods<ref>Strauss, Robert. "Zoning; Big Money, Big Plans Equal Big Headaches", The New York Times, October 1, 2006. Accessed October 26, 2019. "The Rices -- his grandparents started the Utz company nearly 100 years ago -- bought the property of just over an acre on the high dunes in 2000 for $3.5 million and tore down a late-1940s cottage. They applied for permits from the State Department of Environmental Protection and from Avalon to build an approximately 20,000-square-foot house but were refused, and eventually compromised with the current plans for a house with 40 rooms and 15 bathrooms."</ref>
• Ed Stefanski, former General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers<ref>Mazda, Jason. "NBA's No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner brings 76ers buzz to beach", The Press of Atlantic City, August 1, 2010. Accessed October 16, 2012. "'I'm a sports fan in general, and this is my third year coming to this thing,' said Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, who, like Stefanski, owns a home in Avalon."</ref>

External links

• Avalon Borough website
• Avalon Elementary School
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Avalon Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics
• Seven Mile Publishing
• Avalon Chamber of Commerce
• Avalon Borough Facebook Page