Harvey Cedars

Harvey Cedars is a borough in Ocean County, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 337,DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Harvey Cedars borough, Ocean County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Harvey Cedars borough
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 25, 2012. reflecting a decline of 22 (−6.1%) from the 359 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 3 (−0.8%) from the 362 counted in the 1990 Census. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island.

Harvey Cedars was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 15, 1894, from portions of Union Township (now Barnegat Township), based on the results of a referendum held on November 20, 1894.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 202. Accessed October 26, 2012. The community's post office was initially known as High Point, the name of a neighborhood in the borough that lies at a higher elevation, before a name change was made in the 1930s at the request of the United States Postal Service to differentiate the post office from the northern New Jersey community of High Point in Sussex County.

The majority of the housing units in the borough are seasonal houses used primarily in the summer by owners who live elsewhere, bringing the summer population to 12,000. The borough's quiet character and bay and ocean access make housing very expensive, with many bay or oceanfront houses priced at $2 million or more. Despite the borough's small size, its property was assessed at over $1.28 billion in 2019.

History

Before Long Beach Island was developed, its northern area, from the Barnegat Inlet to the Great Swamp (now Surf City), was covered with Atlantic white cedar (chamaecyparis thyoides). Early inhabitants of the area harvested salt hay (spartina patens) and seaweed to make a living.

The earliest reference to the area was a deed from 1751 that called the place "Harvest Quarters". The name "Harvey Cedars" may be derived from the "harvest" housing used by these farmers and the "cedars" that grew in the area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km²), including 0.56 square miles (1.45 km²) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.62 km²) of water (52.61%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include High Point.

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Barnegat Township, Long Beach Township and Stafford Township.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $106,875 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,693) and the median family income was $112,656 (+/− $8,889). Males had a median income of $85,625 (+/− $32,732) versus $51,875 (+/− $42,840) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $74,525 (+/− $13,683). About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 359 people, 167 households, and 112 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,205 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 96.94% White, 0.56% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 1.95% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Harvey Cedars 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 Harvey Cedars borough, Ocean County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

There were 167 households, out of which 16.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 14.5% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,875, and the median income for a family was $69,722. Males had a median income of $71,042 versus $32,361 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,757. About 2.6% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Borough of Harvey Cedars has operated under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1923. The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of the three-member Board of Commissioners whose members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve concurrent four-year terms of office in voting held as part of the November general election.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. Each commissioner is assigned to oversee and administer a department. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Board from among its members. The mayor has no veto power.

, members of the Harvey Cedars Board of Commissioners are
Mayor Jonathan S. Oldham (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property),
John M. Imperiale (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety) and
Paul George Rice (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all of whom are serving concurrent four-year terms of office that expire on December 31, 2023.Government
Borough of Harvey Cedars. Accessed July 3, 2022.Borough of Harvey Cedars
Ocean County, New Jersey