Lavallette, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Lavallette is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,787,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 88 (−4.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,875,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 790 (−29.6%) from the 2,665 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> Lavallette is situated on the Barnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that separates Barnegat Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Lavallette was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 21, 1887, from portions of Dover Township (now Toms River Township), based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.<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. 203. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref>

Lavallette was named for Elie A. F. La Vallette, one of the first rear admirals appointed in the United States Navy when President Abraham Lincoln created the rank in July 1862, and the father of Albert T. Lavallette, co-founder of the borough.<ref>Historical Background Template:Webarchive, Borough of Lavallette. Accessed July 19, 2007. "In February of 1878, the directors of the Barnegat Land Improvement Company filed a plot plan with Ocean County, designating the tract they purchased from Michael W. Ortley as 'Lavallette City by the Sea.' The name honored U. S. Navy Admiral Elie A. F. LaVallette, who distinguished himself as a young lieutenant aboard Commodore Thomas McDonough's flagship in the battle of Lake Champlain and later commanded the U.S.S. Constitution. Of French descent, the Admiral legally anglicized his name to Lavallette in 1830. His son, A. T. Lavallette, was secretary of the Land Improvement Company."</ref><ref>Brief history on Lavallette, Borough of Lavallette. Accessed February 25, 2020. "Lavallette was co-founded in 1888 by Albert T. Lavallette and named after his father, the famous Admiral Elie A.F. Lavallette."</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 182. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 2, 2015.</ref>

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Lavallette as its 8th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.<ref>"Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.50 km²), including 0.82 square miles (2.11 km²) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.38 km²) of water (15.42%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the Ocean County municipality of Toms River Township.<ref>Areas touching Lavallette, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>Ocean County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 25, 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 1,875 people, 945 households, and 557 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,207 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 97.87% (1,835) White, 0.11% (2) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.53% (10) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.01% (19) from other races, and 0.48% (9) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% (56) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 945 households, 11.4% had children under the age of 18; 47.8% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.1% were non-families. Of all households, 36.7% were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.57.<ref name=Census2010/>

11.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 13.1% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 40.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 86.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,296 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,961) and the median family income was $76,797 (+/− $16,601). Males had a median income of $48,810 (+/− $40,510) versus $39,643 (+/− $14,630) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,293 (+/− $5,500). About 4.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lavallette borough, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,665 people, 1,208 households, and 741 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,210 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.12% White, 0.26% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lavallette borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lavallette borough, Ocean County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,208 households, out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.66.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 36.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $43,846, and the median income for a family was $57,778. Males had a median income of $44,583 versus $32,292 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,588. About 5.9% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Parks and recreation

There are nine protected ocean beaches designated for swimming as well as two on the Barnegat Bay. Four of the ocean beaches have specifically designated areas for surfing and surf-fishing. The borough offers tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, basketball and roller blading opportunities on land while Barnegat Bay provides fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, sailing, windsurfing and other water sports.

There are also band concerts, fireworks, and Movies on the Bay, held at the Centennial Gazebo and Gardens located at Philadelphia Avenue and the bayfront.

Government

Local government

Lavallette is 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. 53.</ref> The borough form of government used by Lavallette 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 Lavallette is Republican Walter G. LaCicero, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Lavallette Borough Council are Council President Anita F. Zalom (R, 2026), James G. Borowski (R, 2024), Joanne Filippone (R, 2024), David Finter (R, 2026), Robert P. Lamb (R, 2025) and Michael Stogdill (R, 2025).<ref name=Government>Government, Borough of Lavallette. Accessed July 4, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Lavallette. Accessed July 4, 2024.</ref><ref name=OceanProfile>Borough of Lavallette, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 4, 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>

The mayoral election held on November 7, 2006, was declared null and void after allegations of voter fraud were filed by the losing candidate Walter G. LaCicero, who had lost the election by four votes; As part of a settlement agreement, Joseph Ardito stepped down from office as mayor and a special election to fill the seat was scheduled for March 13, 2007.<ref>Vandiver, John. "Mayor agrees to special election: New race is part of settlement", Asbury Park Press, January 23, 2007.</ref> In the rerun election, Republican LaCicero was elected Mayor was sworn into office on March 19, 2007, for a term of office ending on December 31, 2010.<ref>McGinn, Brian. "After swearing in new mayor, council discusses 2007 budget" Template:Webarchive, The Ocean Star, March 23, 2007. Accessed January 24, 2015. "After being informed by Borough Administrator Christopher Parlow that the results of last Tuesday's special election had been certified at noon, Walter LaCicero decided to take his oath of office Monday, becoming Lavallette's 29th mayor."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Lavallette 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 10th 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 1,704 registered voters in Lavallette, of which 241 (14.1%) were registered as Democrats, 913 (53.6%) were registered as Republicans and 550 (32.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 90.9% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 102.1% 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 Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 26, 2012. Note that percentages in excess of 100% can occur where new residents have been added to the voter rolls while former residents have not been removed.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 66.5% of the vote (646 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 33.3% (324 votes), and other candidates with 0.2% (2 votes), among the 980 ballots cast by the borough's 1,758 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 55.7%.<ref name="2012Elections" /><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.0% of the vote (862 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 35.0% (487 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (16 votes), among the 1,391 ballots cast by the borough's 1,843 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.6% of the vote (949 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.3% (489 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (11 votes), among the 1,469 ballots cast by the borough's 1,944 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.6.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Ocean County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Presidential Elections Results

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|63.7% 909	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.1% 501	1.2% 15
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.8% 908	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.8% 518	1.4% 13
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|67.3% 818	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|29.9% 364	2.8% 34
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|66.5% 646	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|33.3% 324	0.2% 2
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|62.0% 862	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|35.0% 487	1.2% 16
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|64.6% 949	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|33.3% 489	0.6% 11

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 84.1% of the vote (752 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 15.1% (135 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (7 votes), among the 907 ballots cast by the borough's 1,646 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 55.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.9% of the vote (784 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.2% (280 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.4% (62 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (4 votes), among the 1,155 ballots cast by the borough's 1,757 registered voters, yielding a 65.7% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Ocean County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2012.</ref>

Education

Lavallette School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Lavallette Elementary School.<ref>Living & Learning in Ocean County - Public Schools Directory 2021-2022, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed February 8, 2022.</ref><ref>Lavallette Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lavallette School District. Accessed February 25, 2020. "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 eight in the Lavallette School District. Composition: The Lavallette School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lavallette."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Lavallette Borough School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 156 students and 16.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Lavallette Borough School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Lavallette was tied as the 23rd-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 146 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.... 23. Lavallette Borough (tie) - Enrollment: 146; Grades: K-8; County: Ocean"</ref>

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Point Pleasant Beach High School in Point Pleasant Beach, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Point Pleasant Beach School District, together with students from Bay Head and Mantoloking.<ref>Point Pleasant Beach School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 1, 2016. "The Point Pleasant Beach School District is one of the oldest and finest at the Shore. Our school is rich in history and tradition. In addition to serving the students of Point Pleasant Beach and Mantoloking the district serves the high school age students of Bay Head and Lavallette."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 382 students and 36.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.<ref>School data for Point Pleasant Beach High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-09-24 09 07 26 View south along New Jersey State Route 35 (Anna O Hankins Boulevard) just south of President Avenue in Lavallette, Ocean County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 35 southbound in Lavallette

Roads and highways

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.<ref>Ocean County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 24, 2014.</ref>

New Jersey Route 35 traverses the borough, connecting the Dover Beaches South (Ortley Beach) section of Toms River Township to the south and the Toms River community of Dover Beaches North to the north.<ref>New Jersey Route 35 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, June 2009. Accessed August 11, 2014.</ref>

Public transportation

Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC10 Toms River Connection route.<ref>Ocean County Bus Service Template:Webarchive, Greater Mercer TMA. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean Ride Rider's Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref><ref>Ocean County Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed August 10, 2015.</ref>

Movie location

The 2007 coming-of-age romance movie Greetings from the Shore was set and shot in Lavallette.<ref>Hyman, Vicki. "'Greetings from the Shore' celebrates filmmaker's Jersey roots", The Star-Ledger, September 11, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2012. "Greetings from the Shore, an indie film set in Lavallette and produced by Hackettstown native Gabrielle Berberich, lingers on gilded sunsets, the twinkling promise of the boardwalk on a summer night, the uncomplicated glory of a tray of rainbow-colored golf balls. It's the rare film not only set in New Jersey but seen from the eye of someone not trying to escape it."</ref>

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Lavallette has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above Template:Convert, at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above Template:Convert, at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above Template:Convert and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Lavallette, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values at or above Template:Convert. On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below Template:Convert. The plant hardiness zone at Lavallette Beach is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name="USDA">Template:Cite web</ref> The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is between Template:Convert and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Lavallette would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20).<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

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

• William Fenn (1904–1980) , cyclist who competed in two events at the 1924 Summer Olympics<ref>"William S. Fenn, 76; 1924 Olympic cyclist", Asbury Park Press, December 23, 1980. Accessed July 4, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Lavallette - William S. Fenn, who won a bronze medal for bicycle racing at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, died yesterday at Point Pleasant Hospital. He was 76 and lived on Guyer Avenue. He was born in Newark and moved here in 1961."</ref>
• Joe Pesci (born 1943), actor<ref>Spoto, Maryann. "Songwriter finds harmony at Jersey Shore", The Star-Ledger, July 12, 2007. Accessed December 26, 2012. "Lavallette has Joe Pesci, Mantoloking lays claim to James Gandolfini, and now Asbury Park can list John Oates among its part-time residents."</ref>

External links

• official website