South Amboy, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids South Amboy, New Jersey
City
Downtown South Amboy along Broadway
Seal
Nickname(s):  "The Gateway to the Shore"
Location of South Amboy in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of South Amboy, New Jersey
South Amboy, New Jersey Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey Show map of Middlesex County, New Jersey South Amboy, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey South Amboy, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Middlesex
Incorporated	February 21, 1798
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
• Body	City Council
Area
• Total	2.70 sq mi (6.99 km2)
• Land	1.54 sq mi (3.98 km2)
• Water	1.16 sq mi (3.01 km2)  42.76%
Area rank	365th of 565 in state 19th of 25 in county
Elevation	9 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,411
• Estimate  (2024)	10,549
• Rank	254th of 565 in state 19th of 25 in county
• Density	6,119.0/sq mi (2,362.6/km2)
• Density rank	88th of 565 in state 6th of 25 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes	08879
Area code(s)	732 and 848
FIPS code	3402368550
GNIS feature ID	0885399

South Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, located right on Raritan Bay. In 2020, about 9,411 people lived there. This was an increase from 8,631 people in 2010.

South Amboy and Perth Amboy are often called "The Amboys." They are located across the Raritan River from each other.

History of South Amboy

Early Beginnings and Names

The area was first home to the Lenape Native Americans. They called the land around Perth Amboy "Ompoge," which means "level ground." When Europeans settled here in 1684, they named the city New Perth. This was to honor James Drummond, Earl of Perth. The Native American name "Ambo" or "Point Amboy" was later combined with the colonial name. This is how "South Amboy" came to be.

South Amboy became an important port for trade. Goods moved between Lower New York Bay and Philadelphia. At first, people used stagecoaches. Later, railroads connected these places. The city was first known as Radford's Ferry. It also helped protect New Amsterdam from the British. South Amboy was one of the earliest and largest townships, formed around 1685.

Key Moments in South Amboy's Growth

Many important things happened in South Amboy over the years:

• In 1808, the first store opened.
• In 1831, the famous "John Bull" steam engine arrived for the Camden & Amboy Railroad.
• The town got its first lawyer in 1832 and a post office in 1844.
• Most of the city's churches were built between the 1850s and 1880s.
• The Great Beds Lighthouse was built offshore in 1880.
• A local newspaper, "The Citizen," started in 1882.
• In 1890, a big fire destroyed a city block. This led to the first fire station being built.
• New Jersey's first air mail flight happened here in 1912.
• The South Amboy Public Library opened in 1914.
• The first public high school was established in 1919.
• The Victory Bridge was built in 1927. It connects South Amboy to Perth Amboy.
• The South Amboy First Aid Squad started in 1931.
• In 1998, Raritan Bay Waterfront Park opened.
• The Seastreak Ferry service began in 2002.
• In 2010, a YMCA and senior center opened.

South Amboy has changed its official type of government several times. It started as a township in 1798. Over time, parts of it split off to form other towns. In 1888, it became a borough. Finally, in 1908, South Amboy officially became a city.

Historical Explosions

Because South Amboy was a key transportation spot, it faced two major incidents involving military explosives.

• The 1918 explosions happened during World War I.
• The 1950 explosion occurred when ammunition was being moved from a train to barges.

Both events caused a lot of damage. Dozens of people were killed, and hundreds were injured. Many buildings in South Amboy were damaged. Even today, ammunition pieces from these events sometimes appear.

Geography and Location

South Amboy covers about 2.68 square miles (6.95 km²). About 1.54 square miles (3.98 km²) is land, and 1.15 square miles (2.97 km²) is water. The city is next to Sayreville to the south and west. To the north, it's across the Raritan River from Perth Amboy. To the east, it faces Staten Island across Raritan Bay.

South Amboy uses Area codes 732 and 848. Some nearby areas also use the South Amboy ZIP Code of 08879. Neighborhoods within the city include Mechanicsville, White's Dock, and Thomas J. Dohany Homes.

Population and People

South Amboy has always been a place where different cultures come together. At the start of the 1900s, many Irish and Polish immigrants moved here. They came to work on the railroads. Even today, South Amboy has a strong Polish community.

Population in 2010

In 2010, South Amboy had 8,631 people. Most residents (86.42%) were White. About 4.43% were Black or African American, and 4.03% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 13.42% of the population.

The average household had about 2.56 people. The average family had about 3.11 people. About 20.8% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 39.3 years.

Population in 2000

In 2000, the city had 7,913 people. The racial makeup was similar to 2010, with most residents being White (94.22%). About 6.75% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 24.3% of the population was under 18. The median age was 37 years.

City Government

South Amboy is run by a Mayor and a five-member City Council. The Mayor is chosen by voters. The City Council has five members: two are elected from the whole city, and three are elected from specific areas called "wards." All these leaders serve four-year terms.

As of 2024, the Mayor of South Amboy is Fred Henry. His term ends in December 2026. The City Council members are Michael "Mickey" Gross, Anthony Conrad, Zusette Dato, Lawrence “Larry” Lenahan, and Thomas B. Reilly.

South Amboy is part of New Jersey's 6th Congressional District. It is also in the 19th state legislative district.

Political Trends

In recent presidential elections, South Amboy voters have shown support for both Democratic and Republican candidates. For example, in the 2012 election, Barack Obama (Democrat) received 55.6% of the votes. In the 2016 election, Donald Trump (Republican) received 53.0% of the votes. In 2020, Donald Trump received 51.0% of the votes. In 2024, the Republican candidate received 54.3% of the votes.

In the 2013 election for governor, Republican Chris Christie received 65.0% of the votes.

Education in South Amboy

The South Amboy Public Schools educate students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has two schools:

• South Amboy Elementary School: For students in PreK-5.
• South Amboy Middle High School: For students in grades 6-12.

As of the 2020–21 school year, about 1,100 students attended these schools. There were about 81 teachers, meaning about 13.6 students per teacher.

Students in Middlesex County can also apply to the Middlesex County Magnet Schools. These schools offer special career and technical programs. They are located in different towns like East Brunswick and Edison.

Raritan Bay Catholic Preparatory—Sacred Heart School was a private Catholic school. It closed in June 2016 because not enough students were enrolled. Cardinal McCarrick High School also closed in 2015 due to money problems.

Transportation Options

View north along US 9 at Route 35 in South Amboy

South Amboy has many roads and highways. These include parts of U.S. Route 9 and Route 35. Several exits for the Garden State Parkway are also very close by.

Public Transit

• Train Service: The South Amboy station offers frequent train service on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Trains go north to places like Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan. Some trains also go to Hoboken Terminal. Southbound trains go to Bay Head.
• Bus Service: NJ Transit also provides local bus service on two routes. The 815 bus travels between New Brunswick and the Woodbridge Center. The 817 bus runs between Middletown and Perth Amboy.
• Ferry Service: Ferry service to Manhattan began on October 30, 2023. The NY Waterway ferry connects South Amboy to Downtown (Brookfield Place) and Midtown (W39th Street). Free local shuttles help people get to the ferry terminal. The ferry runs on weekdays during mornings and evenings. There is free parking at the terminal. A new, permanent ferry facility is being built and is expected to open in 2025.

Notable People from South Amboy

Many interesting people have connections to South Amboy:

• Don Campbell (1916–1991), a football player in the NFL.
• Allie Clark (1923–2012), a baseball player who won the World Series in 1947 and 1948.
• Craig Coughlin (born 1958), a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Greg Evigan (born 1953), an actor known for TV shows like B. J. and the Bear and My Two Dads.
• Harold G. Hoffman (1896–1954), a former mayor, congressman, and governor of New Jersey. South Amboy Elementary School is named after him.
• Jack McKeon (born 1930), a baseball manager who led the Florida Marlins to win the 2003 World Series.
• Johnny O'Brien (born 1930) and Eddie O'Brien (1930–2014), twin brothers who played baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Charles Pettit (1736–1806), a lawyer and merchant who was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation.
• Thomas J. Scully (1864–1921), a former South Amboy mayor and congressman.
• Marques Townes (born 1995), a basketball player.
• Ted Weiss (1927–1992), a politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives.

See also

In Spanish: South Amboy para niños