Loch Arbour, New Jersey


Loch Arbour is a village situated on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 224, an increase of 30 from the 2010 census count of 194, which had in turn reflected a decline of 86 from the 280 recorded at the 2000 census.
In 2020, Loch Arbour was the third-smallest municipality in New Jersey in terms of area and was the fifth-smallest municipality by population in the state of New Jersey.

History

Loch Arbour was incorporated as a village by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 23, 1957, from portions of Monmouth County, New Jersey|Ocean Township], based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The borough was named after Lochaber, Scotland.
Its formation was driven by efforts to build beachfront condominiums in the area. Residents who sought to prevent the development led the secession, taking with them the last portion of oceanfront property in what The New York Times described as "the now ironically-named Ocean Township."
In 1997, Loch Arbour voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have it merge back into Ocean Township by an 88–69 margin, and proposals to merge with Allenhurst or Interlaken failed by a nearly 10–1 margin.
A ballot proposal in 2011 again considered a merger with Allenhurst, citing a potential reduction in property taxes for residents. In 2012, Loch Arbour officials held discussions with their counterparts in Allenhurst towards a plan in which the two municipalities would merge, subject to approval by the councils of both communities and approval of a referendum by voters in both Loch Arbour and Allenhurst. The merger drive was driven by property taxes paid to the Ocean Township School District, a relationship that would be ended by the merger, under which the combined municipality would send students at lower cost to the Asbury Park Public Schools.
While there are four municipalities that retain the Village type of government, none of them still use the Village form of government. Loch Arbour was the last to do so, but on December 20, 2011, its residents voted to change from having a form with five village trustees to the Walsh Act form of government, under which Loch Arbour is governed by a three-member board of commissioners.
In 1892, James J. Corbett set up his training camp in Loch Arbour for the bout with John L. Sullivan in which Corbett won the world heavyweight boxing championship.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village had a total area of 0.13 square miles, including 0.09 square miles of land and 0.05 square miles of water.
The village is located along the Atlantic Ocean in eastern Monmouth County and is bordered to the north by the Borough of Allenhurst, to the west by the borough of Interlaken and to the south by the City of Asbury Park.
Deal Lake covers which is overseen by the Deal Lake Commission, which was established in 1974. Seven municipalities border the lake, accounting for of shoreline, including Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Deal, Interlaken, Neptune Township and Ocean Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 194 people, 82 households, and 53 families in the village. The population density was. There were 159 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 94.85% White, 1.55% Black or African American, 0.00% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|other races], and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population.
Of the 82 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18; 52.4% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households, 29.3% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91.
19.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 13.9% from 25 to 44, 44.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 108.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $120,000 and the median family income was $119,167. Males had a median income of $73,500 versus $92,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $60,575. None of the population were below the poverty line.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 280 people, 120 households, and 77 families residing in the village. The population density was. There were 156 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the village was 95.00% White, 2.14% African American, 0.71% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 120 households, out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $68,542, and the median income for a family was $74,250. Males had a median income of $61,964 versus $41,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $34,037. None of the families and 4.8% of the population were living below the poverty line.

Government

Local government

Since 2011, the Loch Arbour has been governed under the Walsh Act form of government. The village is one of 30 municipalities statewide that use this commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of a Board of Commissioners, whose three members are chosen by the voters at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve concurrent three-year terms of office as part of the May municipal election. At a reorganization meeting held after each election, each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee and administer, and the commissioners select one of their members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor. In December 2011, residents voted to switch from the Village form to the current Walsh Act form of government.
, members of Loch Arbour's Board of Trustees are
Mayor Saul M. Tawil,
Deputy Mayor Jack D. Hedaya and
Jason Elo, all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office ending May 31, 2028.

Federal, state, and county representation

Loch Arbour is located in the 6th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 11th state legislative district.

Politics

Education

Since the 1960s, Loch Arbour had been a part of the Ocean Township School District, a consolidated public school district serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from both Loch Arbour and Ocean Township.
At the end of the 2016–2017 school year, Loch Arbour left the Ocean Township district after getting approval from the New Jersey Department of Education and the approval of a referendum by over 95% of voters. With 14 public school students and school property taxes of $2 million, Loch Arbour had been paying an average of $143,000 per pupil under the old arrangement, while Ocean Township residents paid only $16,000 per pupil. Under new sending/receiving relationships established with the West Long Branch district for Pre-K–8 and Shore Regional for 9–12, Loch Arbour pays tuition to each district based on the number of students.
The West Long Branch Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Students from Allenhurst and Interlaken also attend the district's school as part of sending/receiving relationships, in which students attend on a tuition basis. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 551 students and 61.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.0:1. Schools in the district are
Betty McElmon Elementary School with 330 students in pre-Kindergarten through fourth grade and
Frank Antonides School with 214 students in fifth through eighth grades.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Shore Regional High School, a regional high school located in West Long Branch that also serves students from the constituent districts of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport and Sea Bright. The high school is part of the Shore Regional High School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 613 students and 55.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the village had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Route 71 is the main access road that passes north–south through the village.
Loch Arbour is one hour south of New York City and east of Philadelphia. The closest limited access road is Route 18, and both Interstate 195 and the Garden State Parkway are at least 15 minutes away.

Public transportation

, NJ Transit served the village on the 837 route.
NJ Transit train service is available nearby at the Allenhurst station in neighboring Allenhurst. Commuter rail service is available on the North Jersey Coast Line, which passes through, but does not stop, in Loch Arbour.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Loch Arbour has a humid subtropical climate. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature above, at least four months with an average temperature at or above, at least one month with an average temperature at or above and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with a cooling afternoon sea breeze in Loch Arbour, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values above. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on August 9, 2001, and the highest daily average mean dew point was on August 13, 2016. July is the peak in thunderstorm activity and the average wettest month is August. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was August 27, 2011, with of rain. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is. Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below. The average seasonal snowfall total is, 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, Loch Arbour would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest. The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 24 and fall color typically peaks in early-November.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Loch Arbour include: