Somers Point, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Somers Point, New Jersey
City
The site of the former Somers Point Circle at Route 52, CR 559, and CR 585
Seal
Motto(s):  "The Shore Starts Here"
Map of Somers Point in Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Somers Point, New Jersey
Somers Point, New Jersey Location in Atlantic County, New Jersey Show map of Atlantic County, New Jersey Somers Point, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Somers Point, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Atlantic
European settlement	1693
Incorporated	April 24, 1886 (as Borough)
Reincorporated	April 2, 1890
Reincorporated	April 9, 1902 (as city)
Government
• Type	City
• Body	City Council
Area
• Total	5.23 sq mi (13.55 km2)
• Land	4.01 sq mi (10.39 km2)
• Water	1.22 sq mi (3.17 km2)  23.37%
Area rank	270th of 565 in state 18th of 23 in county
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,469
• Estimate  (2023)	10,465
• Rank	235th of 565 in state 7th of 23 in county
• Density	2,610.7/sq mi (1,008.0/km2)
• Density rank	243rd of 565 in state 5th of 23 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08244
Area code	609 exchanges: 601, 653, 926, 927
FIPS code	34001684307
GNIS feature ID	0885397
Website

Somers Point is a lovely city located on the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. It's the oldest town in Atlantic County! People from Europe first settled here in 1693. Somers Point became an official town, called a borough, in 1886. Later, in 1902, it became a city. You can find Somers Point in the eastern part of Atlantic County, a bit southwest of Atlantic City. In 2020, about 10,469 people lived here.

Every year, people in Somers Point celebrate Richard Somers Day. Richard Somers was a brave officer in the United States Navy. His courage and dedication to his country are still remembered today.

The Story of Somers Point

Early Days and First Settlers

Long ago, the Lenape Native Americans lived in the area that is now Somers Point. The first European to settle here was John Somers in 1693. He bought land along the Great Egg Harbor Bay. This made Somers Point the oldest European settlement in Atlantic County. John Somers called his new home Somerset Plantation.

In 1695, John Somers started the first ferry service across the Great Egg Harbor Bay. His son, Richard, built the beautiful Somers Mansion between 1720 and 1726. This mansion is still the oldest home in the county! The area was known by different names like Somers Ferry before it officially became Somers Point in 1750.

Becoming a City

Somers Point became a popular summer spot by the 1830s. Many people visited to enjoy the shore. On April 24, 1886, Somers Point officially became a borough. This means it became a self-governing town. Later, on April 9, 1902, Somers Point became a city. All these names and changes honored John Somers, the first settler.

Where is Somers Point?

Somers Point covers about 5.23 square miles. Most of this is land, but a good part is water, like bays and rivers.

Neighboring Towns

Somers Point shares its borders with several other towns. In Atlantic County, it borders Egg Harbor Township, Longport, and Linwood. It also borders Ocean City and Upper Township in Cape May County.

People of Somers Point

In 2020, the city of Somers Point had a population of 10,469 people. The city is home to many different families and individuals.

What People Do in Somers Point

Jobs and Businesses

One of the biggest places to work in Somers Point is Shore Medical Center. It's a hospital that helps many people and employs about 1,500 staff members.

Fun Events

Somers Point is famous for hosting the biggest crabbing tournament in the United States! It's called the "Assault on Patcong Creek." This exciting event happens every June and brings people from many different states to catch crabs.

Fun Places and Parks

Somers Point Bike Path

You can enjoy a bike ride on the Somers Point Bike Path. This path used to be a railroad track! It stretches for about 6 miles between Pleasantville and Somers Point.

John F. Kennedy Park

John F. Kennedy Park is a large park at 50 Broadway. It's a great place to visit with beautiful views of the Great Egg Harbor Bay. The park was renamed in 1963 to honor the 35th President of the United States.

William Fehrle Athletic Field

The William Fehrle Athletic Field is a place for sports and games. It's named after Sgt. William Fehrle, a brave soldier who served his country.

How Somers Point is Governed

Local Leaders

Somers Point has a city government led by a Mayor and a City Council. The Mayor is like the city's chief manager. They make sure city laws, called ordinances, are followed. The Mayor serves for four years.

The City Council has seven members. They work together to create new laws, manage the city's money, and make important decisions for Somers Point.

Current City Leaders

As of 2024, the Mayor of Somers Point is Dennis Tapp. He is a member of the Republican Party. His term ends on December 31, 2027.

The City Council members are:

• Council President Janice Johnston (serving the 1st Ward)
• Richard L. DePamphilis III (serving the 1st Ward)
• Charles J. Haberkorn (serving the 2nd Ward)
• Howard W. Dill (serving the 2nd Ward)
• Joseph T. McCarrie Jr. (serving At Large)
• Sean T. McGuigan (serving the 1st Ward)
• Michael Owen (serving the 2nd Ward)

Bay Front Historic District

Bay Front Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location	Roughly bounded by Decatur Avenue, Egg Harbor Bay, George Avenue, and Shore Road
Area	82 acres (33 ha)
Architectural style	Bungalow/craftsman, Stick/eastlake, Cottage
NRHP reference No.	89000227
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 22, 1989

The Bay Front Historic District is a special area in Somers Point. It covers about 82 acres. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It's important because of its unique buildings, fun activities, and interesting social history. There are 189 special buildings in this district.

Education in Somers Point

Schools for Younger Students

Students from kindergarten through eighth grade attend schools in the Somers Point Public Schools district. As of the 2023–24 school year, about 763 students were enrolled across three schools.

The schools in the district are:

• New York Avenue School: This school, built in 1914, serves pre-kindergarten students.
• Dawes Avenue School: Built in 1998, this school teaches students from Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
• Jordan Road Middle School: Constructed in 1966, this school is for students in 4th through 8th grade.

High School Education

For high school, students from Somers Point attend Mainland Regional High School. This high school also welcomes students from Linwood and Northfield. It is located in Linwood. In the 2023–24 school year, about 1,171 students attended the high school. Mainland Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1997–98 for its excellence.

Other School Options

Somers Point students can also choose to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing. Another option is the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, which is right in Somers Point.

There is also a private school, St. Joseph Regional School, for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Getting Around Somers Point

The northbound Garden State Parkway at U.S. Route 9 in Somers Point

Roads and Highways

Somers Point has many roads, including the Garden State Parkway. This major highway connects Somers Point to other towns. You can find an exit for Somers Point and Ocean City at Interchange 30.

Bridges connect Somers Point to Cape May County. One important connection is via Route 52 over the Great Egg Harbor Bay. A new causeway for Route 52 was finished in 2012, making travel easier.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit provides bus services in Somers Point. You can take a bus to travel between Ocean City and Atlantic City using routes 507 and 509.

Famous People from Somers Point

Many interesting people have connections to Somers Point, including:

• Joe Bastardi (born 1955), a meteorologist who studies weather.
• Matt Broomall (born 1994), a soccer player who was a goalkeeper for the Richmond Kickers.
• Joshua Cohen (born 1980), a talented novelist and story writer.
• Doug Colman (born 1973), a former professional football player.
• Peter Erskine (born 1954), a famous jazz drummer.
• Joe Maloy (born 1985), a triathlete who competed for the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Osun Osunniyi (born 1998), a college basketball player.
• Cody Stashak (born 1994), a professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.
• John Stone (born 1979), a wide receiver who played in the NFL.
• Gregory L. Verdine (born 1959), a scientist and entrepreneur.

Images for kids

• 

  Historical Somers Mansion

• 

  Panoramic map of "Somers-Point" from 1925

Related pages

• Richard Somers, a U.S. Navy hero in the First Barbary War.
• Capt. John Jeffries Burial Marker, a marble gravestone that stands 12-feet high in the cemetery of the Palestine Bible Church.

See also

In Spanish: Somers Point para niños