 Jenkinson's Boardwalk onPoint Pleasant Beach  | |
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Northeastern United States |
| Coordinates | 39°45′48″N74°06′23″W / 39.7632°N 74.1064°W /39.7632; -74.1064 |
| Coastline | 141 mi (227 km) |
| Highest point | Mount Mitchill |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean |
| Longest river | Raritan River |
| Largest lake | Manasquan Reservoir |
| Climate | Humid subtropical climate |
| Terrain | Atlantic Coastal Plain |
| Natural resources | Atlantic Ocean |
| Exclusive economic zone | Atlantic City |
TheJersey Shore, commonly calledthe Shore by locals, is thecoastal region of theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. The term encompasses about 141 miles (227 km)[1] ofoceanfront bordering theAtlantic Ocean, fromPerth Amboy in the north toCape May Point in the south. The region includesMiddlesex,Monmouth,Ocean,Atlantic, andCape May counties, which are in thecentral andsouthern parts of the state.[2] Located in the center of theNortheast Megalopolis, the northern half of the shore region is part of theNew York metro area, while the southern half of the shore region is part of thePhiladelphia metro area. The Jersey Shore hosts thehighest concentration of oceanside boardwalks in the United States.
Famous for its wide beaches, and manyboardwalks featuringarcades,amusement parks, andwater parks, the Jersey Shore is a popular vacation spot for residents ofNorth Jersey,New York,Maryland,Delaware,Connecticut, andPennsylvania. Certain shore communities are also popular with visitors from theCanadian province ofQuebec. Due to New Jersey'speninsular geography, bothsunrise andsunset are visible over water from different points on the Jersey Shore.
In 2012,Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the northern part of the Jersey Shore, spawning the demolition and rebuilding of entire neighborhoods, with reinvention on a physically and financially elevated, and economically upscale level; this process ofgentrification escalated property values and transformed communities on the Jersey Shore into a second home for theNew York financial community, akin to the more establishedGold Coast andHamptons onLong Island.[3]
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The Jersey Shore is lined with over 40 different towns and communities, each with a different character, flavor, and vibe. Many towns cater extensively to summer tourists, while others are increasingly or completely full-year residential communities. The towns listed below are ordered geographically from north to south.
Perth Amboy, along with neighboringSouth Amboy across theRaritan River, make upThe Amboys. Perth Amboy was a resort town in the 19th century and early 20th century, located on the northern edge of theRaritan Bayshore. Since the early 1990s Perth Amboy has seen redevelopment. Small businesses have started to open up, helped by the city's designation as anurban enterprise zone. The waterfront has also seen a rebirth, with new parks, a new promenade and an expansion of the marina complementing the oldVictorian homes along the bay. Local attractions include thePerth Amboy Ferry Slip andKearny Cottage. The Raritan Yacht Club, it is one of the oldestyacht clubs in the United States.[4] As of 2023, hundreds of millions of dollars were being invested in the redevelopment of Perth Amboy'swaterfront area, in part related to its strategically located industrial area.[5] On October 30, 2023,NY Waterway launched a new ferry service in South Amboy, which connects toLower andMidtownManhattan.[6] Both towns are served by theNorth Jersey Coast Line.
Laurence Harbor is anunincorporated community located inOld Bridge. The waterfront neighborhood looks directly upon many points inNew York City, includingStaten Island's South Shore; theVerrazzano-Narrows Bridge;Lower Manhattan (and theEmpire State Building inMidtownManhattan on a clear night); andBrooklyn. TheNew Jersey Transit Railroad no longer has a station in Laurence Harbor. It had a Morgan station during most of the 1st half of the 20th century, located right across Cheesequake Creek, sometimes referred to locally as "The Front", from Laurence Harbor, dividing the community into eastern and western sections.Cliffwood Beach also borders Laurence Harbor when traveling south. Morgan is named after the 1703 family that had 645 acres (2.61 km2) here and were cousins of the infamous pirate captainHenry Morgan. Morgan is located one mile to the northwest, across the Cheesequake Creek and the Morgan Bridge onNew Jersey Route 35. The Morgan Draw carries theNorth Jersey Coast Line.
Laurence Harbor is home to Old Bridge Waterfront Park, which consists of a newboardwalk (the old boardwalk was destroyed in the 1940–1950s) that was completed in 2002. The beachfront was redone through a joint venture by Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, and Middlesex County Parks Department. It extends approximately one mile from the Old Bridge Police substation south, to theAberdeen Township neighborhood of Cliffwood Beach, running parallel with New Jersey Route 35. This area is very popular for fishing as three jetties extend intoRaritan Bay and are in excellent condition, have been consistent well-maintained. The park's boardwalk is also popular for jogging anddog walking. At the northern parking lot of the park, there is bay beach swimming access along with a bathroom and showers.
Union Beach is aborough situated on the North Shore of Monmouth County, onRaritan Bay. Union Beach is part of theBayshore Regional Strategic Plan, an effort by nine municipalities in northern Monmouth County to reinvigorate the area's economy by emphasizing the traditional downtowns, dense residential neighborhoods,maritime history, and the natural beauty of theRaritan Bayshore coastline.
Keansburg was a popular early 20th century summertime destination for tourists fromNew York City, who would cross theRaritan Bay on steamboats to escape the city heat.Hurricane Donna wiped out much of the waterfront area in 1960, and a number of fires in the 1980s destroyed many of the town's main attractions, including the Dance Hall Auditorium, the Keansburg Bowling Alley, and the Casino Theater.
The Keansburg Amusement Park, founded in 1904, started a massive expansion project in 1995. Upgrades were made to the park and an adjacent water park, Runaway Rapids, was constructed.
Atlantic Highlands, which overlooks where the Atlantic Ocean andRaritan Bay meet at Sandy Hook, containsMount Mitchill, the highest point on the eastern seaboard south ofMaine, rising 266 feet (81 m) above sea level.[7]
TheManhattan skyline can be seen from the borough's ridges and its shoreline. Pleasure, fishing, and commuter boats sail from its harbor, which was built from 1938 through 1940. It is the largest on the East Coast.
Atlantic Highlands is home to the high-speedSeastreak ferry service to New York City, which was introduced in 1986.[8] SeaStreak ferry provides high-speed commuter service for residents on the Raritan Bayshore in northern Monmouth County toManhattan. The ferry also offers seasonal sightseeing excursions. Many Jersey Shore residents board the ferry to travel to different points across theTri-State area andNew England coastline. Many New York residents board the ferry to travel to Atlantic Highlands and Sandy Hook Beach, along with the rest of the Jersey Shore region at large.
Sandy Hook is a long, narrow largely undevelopedbarrier spit, most of which is owned and managed by theNational Park Service as a unit of theGateway National Recreation Area. The eastern, ocean-facing shoreline consists of various public and fishing beaches and serves as a Shore gateway and popular destination for recreation in summer when seasonal SeaStreak ferries bring beachgoers.[9] Sandy Hook'sGunnison Beach is one of the largest clothing-optional beaches on theEast Coast.[10][11] The northern end of the peninsula is home to theSandy Hook Lighthouse, theMarine Academy of Science and Technology, and the restored buildings ofFort Hancock, a formerUnited States Army base. Spread across Sandy Hook are former military installations, including four ammunition bunkers, two gun stations, and aNike Missile Base.
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Red Bank, overlooking theNavesink River, is a noted social and commercial destination, filled withboutiques, designer clothing stores, parks, and restaurants. The town is also considered a center of artistic activity and is home to the Monmouth County Arts Council, as well as theCount Basie Theatre,Two River Theater, and several art galleries. Various festivals held by the town, including theRed Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, draw tourists throughout the year.
Boating,sculling,sailing, andfishing are popular outdoor activities in Red Bank; in the winter,ice boats sail on the Navesink when it freezes over.[12] The Monmouth Boat Club, Marine Park, and the slips of theMolly Pitcher Inn provide access to the river and, from there, the Atlantic Ocean.[13]
Oceanport is an upper-middle-classbedroom community located on the Shrewsbury River, between Red Bank and Long Branch. It is the home ofMonmouth Park Racetrack, one of the oldestthoroughbred racing tracks in the country.
The original racing track was opened by the Monmouth Park Association on July 30, 1870, in nearbyEatontown to increase summer tourism for communities along the Shore.[14][15] Monmouth Park early on earned the nickname as the "Newmarket of America" due to the excellence of its racing. However, after three years of being open financial issues caused the track to close. In 1878, the track was bought byDavid D. Withers,George L. Lorillard,James Gordon Bennett, Jr., andGeorge P. Wetmore. The men spent four years renovating the grounds and grandstand and reopened Monmouth Park in 1882. From 1882 to 1890, the track increased in popularity and as a result, a new racetrack was constructed next to the original. The new racetrack opened in 1890 becoming the second Monmouth Park.[15] However, legislation proposed in 1891 and enacted in 1894 barredparimutuel betting inNew Jersey, and the track closed its doors. It was not until 1946 when theNew Jersey Legislature passed a bill providing for state regulation ofhorse racing that the current Monmouth Park opened.[15]
Its location on the shore and as a stop on theNorth Jersey Coast Line makes it a popular shore destination for residents fromNew York andNorth Jersey to see thoroughbred racing.[16] TheHaskell Invitational Stakes take place annually in August.
Long Branch developed into a resort town in the late 18th century, with oceanside hotels, large estates, and grand theaters. It was visited by seven United States presidents, includingUlysses S. Grant,Chester A. Arthur,Rutherford B. Hayes,James A. Garfield,Benjamin Harrison,William McKinley, andWoodrow Wilson.[17] All seven worshiped at theChurch of the Presidents in the city, and beachsideSeven Presidents Park is named for their visits. Long Branch's popularity waned in the years followingWorld War II, with the opening of theGarden State Parkway in the mid-1950s allowing tourists to access points further south. The defining moment marking the end of this era occurred on June 8, 1987, when a large fire destroyed the town's pier and adjoining amusement park.
In 2005,Pier Village, a Victorian-inspired mixed-use community consisting of rental residences atop retail space, opened. A public grassy area called Festival Plaza is the site of regular events, including concerts, arts & crafts fairs, outdoor movies, and holiday events. Long Branch is also home toMax's Famous Hotdogs and its rival, the originalWindMill Hot Dogs, located in awindmill-shaped building since 1963.[18]
Theborough ofAllenhurst is best known for its shorelineResidential Historic District, roughly bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Main Street, Cedar Avenue, Hume Street, and Elberon Avenue. The district was added to theNational Register of Historic Places on June 18, 2010, for itshistorical architectural significance. It includes 412contributing buildings.[19]
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Asbury Park developed through the 1920s and 1930s as a resort destination for theNew York metro area, and it remained that way throughWorld War II. TheParamount Theatre andAsbury Park Convention Hall, both connected to the boardwalk via a grand arcade, drew considerable tourists. The post-war era of the 1950s and 1960s saw the construction of theGarden State Parkway and theMonmouth Mall, taking visitors away from Asbury Park and its shopping areas. At the same time, the city's music scene gained prominence with artists likeBruce Springsteen & theE Street Band andSouthside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes getting their starts at venues likeAsbury Lanes andThe Stone Pony, the latter one of New Jersey's best-known music venues. These acts and others led to the development of a sub-genre ofrock and roll known as theJersey Shore sound.
Race riots on July 4, 1970, resulted in the destruction of various buildings across the city. A popular indoor amusement complex,Palace Amusements, was closed in 1988 and demolished in 2004, despite multiple attempts to save it. A pair of large murals on the building's side known collectively as "Tillie" became an icon of the Jersey Shore and was saved.
In the 1990s, Asbury Park emerged as a primeLGBT destination, with multiplegay bars and nightclubs, as well as theEmpress Hotel, the state's first gay-oriented hotel, opening. Since the early 2000s, a burgeoning crowd of artists along with local political leaders have helped push the town through major redevelopment, which is still ongoing. Asbury Park still retains the lively music scene which made it famous. Events like theAsbury Music Awards and theGarden State Film Festival continue to draw tourists to the city.
Ocean Grove was originally developed in 1869 as aMethodist summercamp meeting site.[20] Today, it is an unincorporated community located withinNeptune Township and is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. Ocean Grove is noted for its abundant examples ofVictorian architecture. It is home to The Great Auditorium, a 6,250-seat indoor arena constructed out of wood in 1894 on bridge-like iron trusses laid on stone foundations. The Auditorium contains apipe organ that is one of the 20 largest in the world.[21] Surrounding the Auditorium are 114 tents, which are occupied from May to September, just as they have been since the town's founding. The tents adjoin to rear sheds containing a kitchen and bathroom and are stored in the sheds during the winter. They are in such demand that there is a waiting list of ten years for summer rentals.[20] Ocean Grove was named one of the top 15 best beaches by Fodor's in 2014.[22]
Belmar is a popular vacation destination due to itsnatural and recreational resources. Its boardwalk and town offer shops, restaurants, an active arts scene, sporting events, festivals, and a variety of family-oriented activities. Belmar is also a popular party town for young adults and college students. Belmar is among the most popular surf spots on the East Coast, frequently hosting surfing events and competitions.
Spring Lake is easily recognized by its tree lined streets, stately mansions, and seasonal cottages (of which few remain). During theGilded Age of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prominent members ofNew York City andPhiladelphia high society purchased a large tract of farmland with the vision of creating a resort and religious retreat area catering to the wealthy- similar in fashion to the communities ofNewport, Rhode Island, andBar Harbor, Maine.[23] Grand hotels and guest cottages were constructed to accommodate an anticipated influx well-to-do seasonal visitors. Notably, in 1900 many of the largest hotels were destroyed by fire, leaving way for wealthy families to construct houses for year-round living. But to this day, few original structures remain; as it is now commonplace to raise lots and demolish structures in order to make way for the largest homes possible. Of those still in existence, theMartin Maloney Cottage and theAudenried Cottage[24][25] serve as examples of what now remains.
Manasquan has an active downtown area defined by its Main Street, lined with small businesses and original Victorian houses. It is home to a historic 540-seat theatre, named after the Native American tribe that inhabited the land before European settlement. Built in 1938 as a movie house, it converted during May 1994 to a professional theatre.[26][27] Over the course of the 20th century, much of the traditional neighborhood beach bungalows were demolished and replaced with dwellings to accommodate larger single families, helping turn Manasquan into a predominately year-round residential community, easing the focus on summer tourism.[28]
TheManasquan Inlet is the northern terminus of the inland portion of theIntracoastal Waterway.[29] It provides surfers with waves that are corralled, refracted, and enlarged by thejetty protruding out into theAtlantic Ocean.
Point Pleasant Beach is situated on theBarnegat Peninsula, a long, narrow barrier peninsula that divides theBarnegat Bay from theAtlantic Ocean at the Manasquan Inlet, and the borough derives its name from this location. The town'sboardwalk is approximately one mile long, and its central third is home to Jenkinsons' amusement park, aquarium, and arcades, as well as numerouspizza restaurants, ice cream parlors,games-of-chance, andminiature golf courses.[30] Point Pleasant is home to the firstJersey Mike'ssub shop, founded in the town in 1956.
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Seaside Heights is a resort community, with a beach, an amusement-oriented boardwalk, and numerous clubs and bars making it a popular destination. During the summer, the borough attracts a crowd largely over the age of 21, drawn to a community with boardwalk entertainment and one of the few shore communities with sizable numbers of apartments. In the peak months of July and August, the town's population explodes from around 3,000 residents to between 30,000 and 65,000 people on any given day.[31] South of the town sitsIsland Beach State Park, the largest reserve of an undeveloped barrier island in New Jersey and one of the largest in the United States.[32]
Casino Pier is anamusement park situated on apier extending over theAtlantic Ocean. The pier offers many family-friendly attractions and roller coasters, as well as an arcade, games-of-chance, and a rooftop miniature golf course. Across the street, a go-kart track, a new miniature golf course, and a waterpark, Breakwater Beach, round out the attraction list. The rest of the 2-mile (3.2 km) long boardwalk offers various arcades, attractions, souvenir shops, restaurants and food stands.[33]
On October 29, 2012, substantial portions of the boardwalk were damaged and much of theborough was flooded as a result ofHurricane Sandy. Both Casino Pier and Funtown Pier suffered major damage, with sections of both piers torn apart by a powerful storm surge that caused many rides to collapse into the ocean. One such ride, Casino Pier'sStar Jet, became a symbol of the storm's destruction as it sat upright in the Atlantic Ocean after the pier washed out below it.[34] A portion of the rebuilt boardwalk and all of Funtown Pier were destroyed in a2013 fire.[35]
The community is also known as the setting of the hitMTV showJersey Shore, as well as various editions ofMTV True Life andMTV Summer Beach House.[36]
Long Beach Island, colloquially known as LBI, is abarrier island andsummer colony approximately 18 miles (29 km) in length.[37] The primary industries includetourism,fishing, andreal estate. The only access point to the island by car is via theManahawkin Bay Bridge, locally known as "The Causeway", which carries Route 72 overManahawkin Bay. Long Beach Island is home to about 20,000 people on a year-round basis. However, the population swells significantly during the summer months and reaches about 100,000 people, including both part-time residents and tourists, who are often referred to as "shoobies".[38] The island's close-knit communities are largely affluent and contain vacation homes for wealthy individuals who reside elsewhere inNew Jersey, as well asNew York,Pennsylvania, andConnecticut.
The low-density northern end of the Long Beach Island, including the communities ofBarnegat Light,Loveladies,Harvey Cedars, and North Beach, are home to an assortment of high-end waterfront vacation homes. The southern end contains significantly more year-round residents and businesses, particularly in the larger boroughs ofBeach Haven,Long Beach, andSurf City. Long Beach Island typically attracts a family-oriented crowd during the summertime; the island has not contained a boardwalk since the1944 hurricane, and nightlife is limited to a few bars. Tourists generally take part in recreational activities likeminiature golf,parasailing,jet skiing, and relaxing on the beaches. The island has a reputation as a base for long-rangedeep-sea fishing and charter boats.
Attractions include theBarnegat Lighthouse, a 165 feet (50 m) tall lighthouse overlooking theBarnegat Inlet, located in astate park at the island's northern tip. A small amusement park, Fantasy Island, serves the surrounding communities, and the originalRon Jon Surf Shop location sits at the foot of the Manahawkin Bay Bridge inShip Bottom.
Brigantine is an island community, the northernmost in Atlantic County. The Brigantine Lighthouse, constructed to attract tourists, is a central identifying symbol of the city.[39] Brigantine is home to theMarine Mammal Stranding Center, the state's only rescue center for stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. It has rescued more than 3,900 whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles since it was formed.[40] Part of theEdwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern end of the island. The town is named after the numerous shipwrecks in the area, many of which were likelybrigantines.[41]
Atlantic City is a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. In an effort at revitalizing the city, New Jersey voters in 1976 passed areferendum, approvingcasino gambling for Atlantic City. Today, the city is second toLas Vegas in number of casinos, yearly gaming revenue, and number of casino hotel rooms. Casinos like theOcean Casino Resort,Borgata,Harrah's,Caesars, andTropicana draw tourists from around the world.
TheAtlantic City Boardwalk is the world's oldestboardwalk, opening on June 26, 1870.[42][43] At5+1⁄2 miles (8.9 km) long, it is also the world's longest and busiest boardwalk.[44] The boardwalk starts atAbsecon Inlet and runs along the beach for 4 miles (6 km) to the city limit. An additional1+1⁄2 miles (2 km) of the boardwalk extend into neighboringVentnor City. Casinos and hotels front the boardwalk, as well as stores, restaurants, games, and other attractions.
Events likeThunder over the Boardwalk, as well as more traditional attractions like theAbsecon Lighthouse andLucy the Elephant, bring in additional visitors. Shopping in the city includePlayground Pier,Tanger Outlets The Walk, andThe Quarter at Tropicana.
Notable landmarks includeBoardwalk Hall, an arena and convention center opened in 1929, andSteel Pier, an amusement park on a 1,000 foot (300 m) long pier over the Atlantic Ocean. Home of theMiss America pageant, Atlantic City has been featured in numerous films and television series, most notably as the setting of the 1980 filmAtlantic City and the 2011 HBO seriesBoardwalk Empire. The city also served as the inspiration for the board gameMonopoly.
Ocean City is home to a boardwalk fronted by several shops and amusement areas. Known as a family-oriented seaside resort, the city has prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages within its limits since its founding in 1879.[45] Ocean City has miles of guarded beaches, a 2.5-mile boardwalk, and a downtown shopping and dining district. Gillian's Wonderland Pier and Playland's Castaway Cove are two large amusement parks located along the boardwalk, with both family and thrill rides. A water park, various arcades, miniature golf courses, and a historic entertainment hall, the Ocean City Music Pier, round out the boardwalk attractions.Corson's Inlet State Park was established by theNew Jersey Legislature in 1969 to protect and preserve one of the last undeveloped tracts of land along the state's oceanfront.
The Wildwoods is used as a collective term for the four communities that have "Wildwood" as part of the municipality name — the Borough ofWildwood Crest, City ofWildwood, Borough ofWest Wildwood and the City ofNorth Wildwood — together withDiamond Beach, a portion ofLower Township situated on the island. Its most notable features are its beach and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) boardwalk, home to theMorey's Piers amusement complex and Raging Waters and Ocean OasisWaterparks owned by Morey's Piers. The boardwalk features a trolley called the "Tramcar", which runs from end to end.
The Wildwoods is home to over 200 motels, built during theDoo-Wop era of the 1950s and 1960s,[46] in an area recognized by the state of New Jersey, known as theWildwoods Shore Resort Historic District'[47]
The term doo-wop was coined byCape May's Mid-Atlantic Center For The Arts in the early 1990s to describe the unique, space-age architectural style, which is also referred to as theGoogie or populuxe style.[48] The motels are unique in appearance, with Vegas-like neon signs andfantastic architecture.[49]
Cape May is at the southern tip ofCape May Peninsula where theDelaware Bay meets theAtlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations.[50] TheCape May – Lewes Ferry connectsUS 9 from Cape May toLewes, Delaware.
The following is a list of all the towns within the state of New Jersey that have a beach either along theRaritan Bay orAtlantic Ocean, listed north to south:
Most ocean beaches in New Jersey charge admission to the beaches through the use ofbeach tags. Ocean beaches in New Jersey that do not use beach tags include Atlantic City, Strathmere (Upper Township), North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest.[51]
The Jersey shore is expected to have increasing problems with the water supply in part due to saltwater intrusion, and also changes in weather patterns.[52] Communities on the eastern shore are also expected to see significant change in the commercial fisheries along the coast, hurting communities dependent on fishing.[53]
The Jersey Shore is particularly vulnerable tosea level rise accelerated byclimate change, and will be experiencing more sea level rise than the global average.[54] This is in large part because of the slow down of theAtlantic meridional overturning circulation which will allow sea level rise 2 feet greater than average.[54] The region already experiences frequent flooding duringking tides andstorm surge, because most infrastructure was built based on 20th century standards.[54] Several academic studies have explore various responses to the sea level rise includingmanaged retreat, improvedcoastal management practices to mitigate risk, and hard structures.[55][56]
The entirety of the Jersey Shore region was significantly damaged byHurricane Sandy in October 2012. The devastating effect of thestorm surge on property adjacent to the beach resulted in substantial cost to thereinsurance industry which has since advocated avoidance of rebuilding closely packed middle-class residences or flimsy commercial structures adjacent to the beach. The hurricane reached up to 74 mph. Hurricane Sandy's pure kinetic energy for storm surge and wave destruction potential reached a 5.8 out of 6 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's scale. Storm surges reached 14 ft above average low tide. The Barrier Islands were especially damaged, leaving dozens of homes completely washed away. Many iconic places from "The Shore" were also damaged due to Hurricane Sandy, including the Belmar boardwalk, Casino Pier, and Funtown Pier.
Unlike areas in the interior of the state, which has manybig box stores andmalls, small businesses are a significant portion of the economy of barrier island Jersey Shore towns. This is because small businesses can more easily adapt to the seasonal nature of business in shore towns. Stores that are located at the shore are all unique ranging from psychics and accessories at Ocean City to home-made chocolates in Long Beach Island. In addition, many shore towns deliberately stymie the entry of big box stores because they want to reduce traffic.
Every town along the Jersey Shore has properties owned by people who do not live in New Jersey. State resident ownership has dropped by 30% since 1989. People from out of state own about 37% of the properties in shore towns. In 10 towns, a majority of the property is owned by out of state residents. Summer tourism swells the population of towns along the shore. Some towns have fewer than 5,000 year-round residents, then explode to more than 30,000 residents during the summer.Monmouth County has the highest percentage of New Jersey resident ownership, at 88%, followed byOcean County at 80%, 57% inAtlantic County, and only 27% inCape May County.[57]Avalon has the lowest percentage of state resident ownership at 27.5%, whileMonmouth Beach has the highest at 92.7%.
| Town | County | Percentage | Resident Population 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allenhurst | Monmouth | 67.1% | 472 |
| Asbury Park | Monmouth | 88.4% | 15,188 |
| Atlantic City | Atlantic | 74% | 38,497 |
| Atlantic Highlands | Monmouth | 92.5% | 4,414 |
| Avalon | Cape May | 27.5% | 1,243 |
| Avon-by-the-Sea | Monmouth | 90% | 1,933 |
| Barnegat Light | Ocean | 69% | 640 |
| Bay Head | Ocean | 80.5% | 930 |
| Beach Haven | Ocean | 66.9% | 1,027 |
| Belmar | Monmouth | 90.3% | 5,907 |
| Bradley Beach | Monmouth | 87.4% | 4,282 |
| Brigantine | Atlantic | 38.8% | 7,716 |
| Cape May | Cape May | 48.2% | 2,768 |
| Cape May Point | Cape May | 39.5% | 305 |
| Deal | Monmouth | 39.4% | 900 |
| Harvey Cedars | Ocean | 66.9% | 391 |
| Highlands | Monmouth | 88.4% | 4,621 |
| Lavallete | Ocean | 87.2% | 1,787 |
| Loch Arbour | Monmouth | 79.7% | 224 |
| Long Beach | Ocean | 67.7% | 3,153 |
| Long Branch | Monmouth | 89.8% | 31,667 |
| Longport | Atlantic | 40.4% | 893 |
| Manasquan | Monmouth | 92.6% | 5,938 |
| Mantoloking | Ocean | 75.5% | 331 |
| Margate City | Atlantic | 52.7% | 5,317 |
| Monmouth Beach | Monmouth | 92.7% | 3,174 |
| North Wildwood | Cape May | 45.2% | 3,621 |
| Ocean City | Cape May | 43.9% | 11,229 |
| Point Pleasant Beach | Ocean | 89.4% | 4,766 |
| Sea Bright | Monmouth | 85.8% | 1,449 |
| Sea Girt | Monmouth | 88.9% | 1,866 |
| Sea Isle City | Cape May | 34.5% | 2,104 |
| Seaside Heights | Ocean | 83.3% | 2,440 |
| Seaside Park | Ocean | 80.9% | 1,436 |
| Ship Bottom | Ocean | 72.9% | 1,098 |
| Spring Lake | Monmouth | 83% | 2,789 |
| Stone Harbor | Cape May | 29.6% | 796 |
| Surf City | Ocean | 77.2% | 1,243 |
| Ventnor City | Atlantic | 62.8% | 9,210 |
| Wildwood | Cape May | 52.8% | 5,157 |
| Wildwood Crest | Cape May | 55.4% | 3,101 |
The Jersey Shore is home to numerousrock music clubs, includingThe Stone Pony inAsbury Park, whereBruce Springsteen,Bon Jovi, andSouthside Johnny appeared early in their careers.
Bill Haley & His Comets first performed "Rock Around the Clock" live at Hof Brau Hotel inWildwood.
Five years after Hurricane Sandy destroyed communities along the shore, some towns have used the rebuilding process as a time to reinvent themselves.
$500 Million Redevelopment Project to Generate 1,500 Permanent Jobs
Crowds are also increasing these final summer days atBlacks Beach nearSan Diego, atMazo Beach on the lower Wisconsin River and atGunnison Beach in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, adress optional sand strip run by theNational Park Service that was recently deemed by the Clean Beaches Council, an environmental group, one of the top 10 beaches in the United States.
40°02′53″N74°03′07″W / 40.048°N 74.052°W /40.048; -74.052
| Counties |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Major cities | ||
| Cities and towns 50k–99k | ||
| Cities and towns 30k–50k | ||
| See also | ||
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