Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Stone Harbor is a borough in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough, and all of Cape May County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area. It occupies the southern portion of Seven Mile Island together with its northern neighbor Avalon. It is a resort community that attracts visitors looking to enjoy its beaches, sailing facilities and commercial center. The community attracts a large number of vacationers from the Mid-Atlantic region and Quebec.
As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 796, a decrease of 70 from the 2010 census count of 866, which in turn had reflected a decline of 262 from the 1,128 counted at the 2000 census. The borough has a summer population in excess of 20,000, who are generally wealthier than full-time residents.
The New York Times described Stone Harbor as a place of "gleaming McMansions and elegant shops", with an average single-family home selling for US$2.5 million in 2008. In 2017, Stone Harbor was the third-most expensive ZIP Code in New Jersey based on median home sale price, and had the second-most expensive residential real estate transaction in the state that year at $10 million. In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Stone Harbor at the 191st spot on its list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.
History
Development began in the late 19th century as a beach resort along the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad line. The community was marketed to wealthy residents of Philadelphia seeking a resort destination for a second home.Stone Harbor was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1914, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1914. The borough gained a portion of Avalon on December 27, 1941. The borough is said to be named for an English sea captain named Stone who sought shelter from a storm in the area.
In 2015, a contract was awarded to dredge adjacent bodies of water. In early 2016, during the dewatering stage of the operation, a total of three geotubes discharged a small quantity of sediment containing several contaminants. Dredging was halted pending development of a plan to prevent future such spills.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.19 square miles, including 1.42 square miles of land and 0.77 square miles of water.Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Seven Mile Beach.
Stone Harbor borders Avalon Borough, Middle Township, North Wildwood City and the Atlantic Ocean.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 866 people, 441 households, and 256 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 97.11% White, 1.62% Black or African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.35% of the population.Of the 441 households, 10.2% had children under the age of 18; 49.2% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.0% were non-families. Of all households, 37.4% were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.54.
10.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 11.8% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 41.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 84.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $69,286 and the median family income was $92,083. Males had a median income of $55,417 versus $70,208 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $60,057. About 2.8% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,128 people, 596 households, and 330 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 3,428 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.76% White, 0.80% African American, 0.18% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.There were 596 households, out of which 11.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 12.3% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 14.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 38.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $51,471, and the median income for a family was $67,250. Males had a median income of $52,500 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,427. About 1.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Stone Harbor is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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. The borough form of government used by Stone Harbor 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., the mayor of Stone Harbor Borough is Republican Timothy J. Carney, whose term of office ends December 31, 2028. Members of the Stone Harbor Borough Council are Council President Jennifer B. Gensemer, Ken Biddick, Robin Lynn Casper, Francis J. "Frank" Dallahan, Victor Foschini and Bernadette "Bunny" Parzych.
In June 2019, Frank Dallahan was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that was vacated by Robert Levins when he resigned from office due to health issues; Dallahan served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In November 2018, the council selected Reese Moore from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated the previous month following the resignation of Council President Karen Lane; Moore served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the remainder of the term.
In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $8,615, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.
Federal, state and county representation
Stone Harbor is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 778 registered voters in Stone Harbor, of which 62 were registered as Democrats, 588 were registered as Republicans and 128 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.Education
The Stone Harbor School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 78 students and 9.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Stone Harbor had the 4th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 75 students.The Avalon and Stone Harbor school districts operate like a single school district even though they are legally two separate districts; they can move teachers between the two schools. In terms of their student populations both districts having among the lowest numbers in New Jersey. Starting with the 2011–12 school year, in an agreement with the Avalon School District, public school students in grades K–4 from both communities attend school in Stone Harbor while all students in grades 5–8 attend school in Avalon.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools, together with students from Avalon, Dennis Township and Woodbine. As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 825 students and 66.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents. Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in the Cape May Court House area.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates Bishop McHugh Regional School, a Catholic K–8 school, in Ocean View, Dennis Township, which has a Cape May Courthouse postal address. It is the parish school of Avalon/Stone Harbor Catholic Church and three other churches.
Cape May County Library operates the Stone Harbor Library.