Beachwood, New Jersey

Beachwood is a borough in Ocean County, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 10,859, a decrease of 186 (-1.7%) from the 2010 census count 11,045, which in turn reflected an increase of 670 (+6.5%) from the 10,375 counted in the 2000 census.

Beachwood was incorporated as a Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1917, from portions of Berkeley Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 12, 1917.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 201. Accessed May 11, 2012.

History

What is now the borough of Beachwood dates its settlement to a 1914 plan backed by the publishers of the ''New-York Tribune'', under which of Berkeley Township were purchased and sectioned off as a summer colony called "Beachwood". Buyers paid $19.60 for a plot of land measuring and received a six-month subscription to ''The Tribune'' as a bonus. The first residents of the community moved in during April 1915, and work on a Club House, the Pier, the Bath House, the Lodge, a dining hall and a railroad station were planned to be completed by the end of May. Other offerings within the development included tennis courts, and facilities along the beach and on the river for canoeing, sailing and swimming. The first "cottages" in the community were constructed during that first summer season.Perry, Ruth
''Fifty Years of Beachwood, 1917 - 1967''
, Borough of Beachwood, 1967. Accessed at the website of the Beachwood Historical Alliance, August 20, 2013.

A Property-Owner's Association was established in 1916. In addition to overseeing local services within the development, the organization also advocated that the community should become an independent municipality. Legislation was passed by the Legislature on March 22, 1917, and a referendum approving the establishment of the borough passed on April 12. On May 11, the borough's first council was elected, along with Joseph H. Senior, who was chosen by the voters as Beachwood's first mayor. A Board of Education was formed the following year, with school transportation provided on the back of a truck outfitted with wooden benches.

In December 2008, the Beachwood Historical Alliance was established, with the goal of the creation of an official town-run Preservation Commission for the purpose of recognizing, restoring and preserving aspects of Beachwood's formation, history and heritage.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.76 square miles (7.16 km²), including 2.76 square miles (7.16 km²) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km²) of water (0.04%).

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Berkeley Township, Pine Beach and South Toms River.

The borough is one of 11 municipalities in Ocean County that are part of the Toms River watershed.

Demographics

2010 census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,611 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,668) and the median family income was $83,083 (+/− $4,210). Males had a median income of $58,981 (+/− $3,686) versus $46,632 (+/− $5,031) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,366 (+/− $1,915). About 5.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,375 people, 3,475 households, and 2,818 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,623 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.66% White, 0.97% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Beachwood borough, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Beachwood borough, Ocean County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

There were 3,475 households, out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $59,022, and the median income for a family was $64,190. Males had a median income of $41,204 versus $30,189 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,247. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Beachwood was originally governed under the Walsh Act commission form of government, which was maintained until the mid-1970s. Beachwood is now governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised 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.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. The Borough form of government used by Beachwood 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 Beachwood is Republican Ronald F. Roma Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Beachwood Borough Council are Council President Gerald "Jerry" LaCrosse (R, 2022), William J. Cairns (R, 2024), Beverly Clayton (R, 2024), Gregory Feeney (R, 2023), Steven Komsa (R, 2023) and Edward Zakar (R, 2022).Our Elected Officials
Borough of Beachwood. Accessed July 28, 2022.Borough of Beachwood
Ocean County, New Jersey