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Ventnor City, New Jersey
City
City of Ventnor City
Atlantic Ocean shoreline at Ventnor City
Atlantic Ocean shoreline at Ventnor City
Official seal of Ventnor City, New Jersey
Coat of Arms
Motto(s): 
Shore'ly the Best!
Location of Ventnor City in Atlantic County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Location of Ventnor City in Atlantic County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Ventnor City, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey is located in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Location in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey is located in the United States
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Ventnor City, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Atlantic
Incorporated March 17, 1903
Named for Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Government
 • Type Walsh Act
 • Body Board of Commissioners
Area
 • Total 3.52 sq mi (9.13 km2)
 • Land 1.96 sq mi (5.06 km2)
 • Water 1.57 sq mi (4.06 km2)  44.52%
Area rank 314th of 565 in state
21st of 23 in county
Elevation
3 ft (0.9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,210
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,226
 • Rank 258th of 565 in state
8th of 23 in county
 • Density 4,711.0/sq mi (1,818.9/km2)
 • Density rank 123rd of 565 in state
1st of 23 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08406
Area code(s) 609
FIPS code 3400175620
GNIS feature ID 0885426

Ventnor City is a city situated on the Jersey Shore on Absecon Island, within Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 9,210, a decrease of 1,440 (−13.5%) from the 2010 census count of 10,650, which in turn reflected a decrease of 2,260 (−17.5%) from the 12,910 counted in the 2000 census. The city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the Atlantic CityHammonton metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the PhiladelphiaWilmingtonCamden, PA–NJ–DEMD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Ventnor City was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1903, from portions of Egg Harbor Township.

History

S. Bartram Richards, the wife of the secretary-treasurer of the Camden and Atlantic Land Company, suggested the name "Ventnor" for the area then being developed by the company south of Atlantic City, having recently visited the English seaside resort on the Isle of Wight with the same name. The name was chosen in January 1889. The city was formally incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1903.

Chapter 51 of the laws and Sessions of the State of New Jersey provided the beginning to Ventnor City stating,

"Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of New Jersey that all part or portion of the County of Atlantic, formerly a part of Egg Harbor Township, situated on Absecon Beach, lying between the Westwardly limit of Atlantic City and the Eastwardly limit of South Atlantic City, the Atlantic Ocean on the south as far as the jurisdiction of the State extends, and to the center of Beach Thoroughfare on the North, be, and is hereby constituted as a City of this State, and all of the inhabitants of the State residing within the limits aforesaid be and they are hereby ordained, constituted and declared to be from time to time forever hereafter one body politic and corporate, in fact and in name, by the name, Ventnor City. This act shall take effect immediately, and was approved on March 17, 1903."

The first meeting was held on April 20, 1903, in the Carisbrooke Inn, which was located behind the present City Hall, on Atlantic Avenue between Cambridge and Sacramento Avenues; Carisbrooke is also a place name taken from the Isle of Wight.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ventnor City city had a total area of 3.52 square miles (9.13 km2), including 1.96 square miles (5.07 km2) of land and 1.57 square miles (4.06 km2) of water (44.52%).

The city is located on 8.1-mile (13.0 km) long Absecon Island, along with Atlantic City to the northeast, and Margate City and Longport on the southwest. The boardwalk runs along the entire 1.7-mile (2.7 km) Ventnor City beach front and is connected to the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It ends at Ventnor City's border with Margate City. The city borders Atlantic City and Margate City.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 491
1920 2,193 346.6%
1930 6,674 204.3%
1940 7,905 18.4%
1950 8,158 3.2%
1960 8,688 6.5%
1970 10,385 19.5%
1980 11,704 12.7%
1990 11,005 −6.0%
2000 12,910 17.3%
2010 10,650 −17.5%
2020 9,210 −13.5%
2023 (est.) 9,226 −13.4%
Population sources: 1910–2000
1910–1920 1910 1910–1930
1940–2000 2000
2010 2020

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 10,650 people, 4,592 households, and 2,645 families in the city. The population density was 5,457.4 per square mile (2,107.1/km2). There were 7,829 housing units at an average density of 4,011.8 per square mile (1,549.0/km2). The racial makeup was 75.83% (8,076) White, 4.25% (453) Black or African American, 0.47% (50) Native American, 8.68% (924) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 8.08% (860) from other races, and 2.65% (282) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.05% (1,922) of the population.

Of the 4,592 households, 20.9% had children under the age of 18; 39.3% were married couples living together; 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.4% were non-families. Of all households, 34.6% were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.00.

18.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $52,465 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,688) and the median family income was $66,467 (+/− $9,437). Males had a median income of $42,560 (+/− $12,377) versus $33,693 (+/− $5,007) for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,790 (+/− $4,057). About 9.0% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Ventnor City School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 684 students and 70.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1. The Ventnor City School District operates two schools for Pre-K–8 within the Ventnor Educational Community Complex. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Ventnor Elementary School with 376 students in grades Pre-K–5 and Ventnor Middle School with 286 students in grades 6–8.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades, along with those from Brigantine and Margate City, attend Atlantic City High School in neighboring Atlantic City, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Atlantic City School District that has existed since 1920. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,796 students and 153.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1. The Ventnor district has considered options for an alternative high school sending relationship.

City public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operated St. James School, a K–8 school, until 2008, when it merged with Blessed Sacrament School in Margate City into Holy Family Regional School (using the St. James site). By 2011 it had a loss of $172,000 and only had 92 students. The sponsoring churches of Holy Family were Holy Trinity Church in Ventnor and St. Gianna Beretta Church of Northfield. The diocese announced that it would close Holy Family at the end of the 2010–2011 school year, as its enrollment was insufficient to cover the deficit. The building was demolished in 2016.

Transportation

2018-10-04 15 35 47 View east along Atlantic County Route 629 (Dorset Avenue) at Winchester Avenue in Ventnor City, Atlantic County, New Jersey
County Route 629 in Ventnor City

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the city had a total of 36.45 miles (58.66 km) of roadways, of which 34.03 miles (54.77 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.42 miles (3.89 km) by the county.

No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highway directly serve Ventnor City. The only numbered roads in Ventnor City are minor county routes, such as County Route 629.

Dorset Avenue Bridge

Dorset Avenue Bridge is a double-leaf bascule drawbridge across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) Inside Thorofare. Its operation is federally regulated. The bridge serves as a link in County Route 629.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the city to Atlantic City on routes 504 (from Margate) and 505 (from Longport).

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ventnor City has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Ventnor City, 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 95.0 °F (35.0 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0.0 °F (−17.8 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Ventnor City Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 8.0 °C (46.4 °F). The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Climate data for Ventnor City Beach, NJ (1981–2010 Averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 41.4
(5.2)
43.4
(6.3)
50.2
(10.1)
58.9
(14.9)
68.2
(20.1)
77.2
(25.1)
82.2
(27.9)
81.1
(27.3)
75.6
(24.2)
65.4
(18.6)
56.1
(13.4)
46.4
(8.0)
62.3
(16.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.9
(1.1)
35.8
(2.1)
42.3
(5.7)
51.1
(10.6)
60.4
(15.8)
69.8
(21.0)
75.1
(23.9)
74.1
(23.4)
68.0
(20.0)
57.4
(14.1)
48.2
(9.0)
38.7
(3.7)
54.7
(12.6)
Average low °F (°C) 26.3
(−3.2)
28.2
(−2.1)
34.3
(1.3)
43.4
(6.3)
52.6
(11.4)
62.4
(16.9)
68.0
(20.0)
67.1
(19.5)
60.4
(15.8)
49.3
(9.6)
40.2
(4.6)
31.1
(−0.5)
47.0
(8.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.22
(82)
2.88
(73)
4.14
(105)
3.57
(91)
3.17
(81)
2.91
(74)
3.33
(85)
4.09
(104)
3.04
(77)
3.59
(91)
3.35
(85)
3.88
(99)
41.17
(1,046)
Average relative humidity (%) 68.1 67.0 63.8 65.1 69.6 73.4 73.4 75.3 73.7 71.9 69.8 68.7 70.0
Average dew point °F (°C) 24.5
(−4.2)
25.9
(−3.4)
30.9
(−0.6)
39.8
(4.3)
50.4
(10.2)
60.9
(16.1)
66.0
(18.9)
65.8
(18.8)
59.3
(15.2)
48.4
(9.1)
38.8
(3.8)
29.3
(−1.5)
45.1
(7.3)
Source: PRISM
Climate data for Atlantic City, NJ Ocean Water Temperature (3 NE Ventnor City)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °F (°C) 37
(3)
35
(2)
42
(6)
48
(9)
56
(13)
63
(17)
70
(21)
73
(23)
70
(21)
61
(16)
53
(12)
44
(7)
54
(12)
Source: NOAA

Ecology

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

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Ventnor City, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ventnor City include:

  • Chris A. Brown (born 1964), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2012 to 2021, representing the 2nd Legislative District
  • B. J. Callaghan (born 1981/1982), association football manager who was named as the interim head coach of the United States men's national soccer team in May 2023
  • Wayne Colman (born 1946), linebacker who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints
  • Royden B. Davis (1923–2002), Dean of Georgetown College
  • Walter Evans Edge (1873–1956), Governor of New Jersey from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947
  • Angelo Errichetti (1928–2013), politician who served as Mayor of Camden and in the New Jersey Senate before being convicted during Abscam
  • Frank S. Farley (1901–1977), New Jersey State Senator who was a Republican political boss in Atlantic County
  • Benjamin Foulois (1879–1967), United States Army general and aviation pioneer
  • Robert Geddes (1923–2023), architect who served as dean of the Princeton University School of Architecture
  • Roland Greenfield (1919–1997), member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 171st District
  • Pinky Kravitz (1927–2015), radio broadcaster and print journalist
  • Frank LoBiondo (born 1946), member of Congress from New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
  • Barry Lubin (born 1952), "Grandma" of the Big Apple Circus
  • Siegmund Lubin (1851–1923), German-American motion picture pioneer who founded the Lubin Manufacturing Company
  • Sol Metzger (1880–1932), football player and coach
  • Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933), clergyman and social reformer who died after sleepwalking off the porch of his Ventnor home
  • Greg Roman (born 1972), National Football League assistant coach
  • John Roman (born 1952), offensive lineman who played for the New York Jets
  • Cathy Rush (born 1947), former women's basketball program head coach at Immaculata University who led the team to three consecutive AIAW national titles from 1972–1974
  • Mike Segal (1922–1982), politician and businessman who led the initiative to legalize gambling in Atlantic City
  • Valerie Solanas (1936–1988), radical feminist author who shot and nearly killed Andy Warhol
  • Justin Williams (born 1981), professional ice hockey right winger with the Carolina Hurricanes who brought the Stanley Cup to Ventnor City Hall in 2012

See also

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