Ship Bottom, New Jersey


Ship Bottom is a borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 1,156, reflecting a decline of 228 from the 1,384 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 32 from the 1,352 counted in the 1990 Census. The borough is located on Long Beach Island and borders the Atlantic Ocean.
The borough's name derives from an incident in March 1817, in which a woman was saved from a wrecked ship that had flipped over, after her rescuers used axes to cut through the bottom of the hull.
What is now Ship Bottom was originally incorporated as the borough of Ship Bottom-Beach Arlington by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1925, from portions of Long Beach Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 23, 1925. The borough name was shortened to Ship Bottom in 1947.
The borough is known as the "Gateway to Long Beach Island", as Route 72 provides the sole road access from Manahawkin in Stafford Township, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.001 square miles, including 0.713 square miles of land and 0.288 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Beach Arlington.
The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Long Beach Township, Stafford Township and Surf City.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $60,673 and the median family income was $97,841. Males had a median income of $51,641 versus $33,580 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,184. About 5.4% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,384 people, 664 households, and 395 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,991.1 people per square mile. There were 2,218 housing units at an average density of 3,191.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.32% White, 0.29% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 1.08% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% of the population.
There were 664 households, out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 14.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $42,098, and the median income for a family was $60,417. Males had a median income of $36,382 versus $28,958 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,870. About 4.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Ship Bottom is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 of 565 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body consists 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 consists of 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 Ship Bottom 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. Each Council member chairs a committee that oversees a department: Revenue and Finance; Public Safety; Water/Sewer; Parks and Recreation; Public Property and Community Affairs; and Public Works.
, the Mayor of Ship Bottom Borough is Republican William Huelsenbeck, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2022. Members of the Ship Bottom Borough Council are Council President Edward English, Robert J. Butkus, David Hartman, Peter J. Rossi Sr., Tom Tallon and Joseph Valyo.

Federal, state and county representation

Ship Bottom is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Ship Bottom had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 988 registered voters in Ship Bottom, of which 142 were registered as Democrats, 497 were registered as Republicans and 349 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 85.5% were registered to vote, including 97.1% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.4%, and other candidates with 0.3%, among the 590 ballots cast by the borough's 998 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.2% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.3% and other candidates with 1.4%, among the 732 ballots cast by the borough's 1,036 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.3% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.5% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 784 ballots cast by the borough's 1,084 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.7%, and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 523 ballots cast by the borough's 967 registered voters, for a turnout of 54.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.2% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.2%, Independent Chris Daggett with 5.8% and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 552 ballots cast by the borough's 1,005 registered voters, yielding a 54.9% turnout.

Education

For pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, public school students attend the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, which also serves students from Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township and Surf City. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 234 students and 33.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 7.1:1. Schools in the district are
Ethel Jacobsen School in Surf City with 111 students in pre-kindergarten to second grade and
Long Beach Island Grade School in Ship Bottom with 125 students in grades 3 – 6. The district's board of education is made of nine members who are directly elected from the constituent municipalities on a staggered basis, with three members elected each year. Of the nine seats, one member is elected from Ship Bottom.
Students in public school for seventh through twelfth grades attend the Southern Regional School District, which serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District, along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, as well as students from Ocean Township who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Schools in the district are
Southern Regional Middle School with 944 students in grades 7-8 and
Southern Regional High School with 1,941 students in grades 9-12. Both schools are in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Ocean County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The eastern terminus of Route 72 is in Ship Bottom, which connects the borough to the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge.

Public transportation

Ocean Ride local service is provided on the OC9 Long Beach Island route.
The LBI Shuttle operates along Long Beach Boulevard, providing free service every 5 to 20 minutes from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It serves the Long Beach Island municipalities / communities of Barnegat Light, Loveladies, Harvey Cedars, North Beach, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Long Beach Township, Beach Haven and Holgate.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ship Bottom, New Jersey has a humid subtropical climate with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Ship Bottom, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 95 °F. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F. The plant hardiness zone at Ship Bottom Beach is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 3.9 °F. 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, Ship Bottom, New Jersey would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Ship Bottom include: