Avon-by-the-Sea (often called simply Avon; pronunciation: , ) is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 1,901, reflecting a decline of 343 (-15.3%) from the 2,244 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 79 (+3.6%) from the 2,165 counted in the 1990 Census.
Avon-by-the-Sea was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1900, from portions of Neptune City. The borough was named for Avon, England, or for the Avon Inn, a hotel constructed in 1883.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.40 km2), including 0.43 square miles (1.10 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) of water (21.30%).
The borough borders the Monmouth County communities of Belmar, Bradley Beach, Neptune City and Neptune Township.
Avon-by-the-Sea is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is surrounded by two other bodies of water; the south side of Avon is located on the Shark River and the north end of Avon rests on Sylvan Lake.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $83,333 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,008) and the median family income was $113,750 (+/- $18,599). Males had a median income of $56,635 (+/- $32,033) versus $58,300 (+/- $5,223) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $58,063 (+/- $6,550). About 1.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,244 people, 1,043 households, and 535 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,262.9 people per square mile (2,014.9/km2). There were 1,387 housing units at an average density of 3,253.0 per square mile (1,245.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.15% White, 0.53% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.41% of the population.
As of the 2000 Census, 36.5% of Avon-by-the-Sea residents were of Irish ancestry, the third-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and second-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.
There were 1,043 households, out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.7% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% 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 3.04.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,192, and the median income for a family was $80,605. Males had a median income of $53,125 versus $35,857 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,238. About 2.3% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Avon-by-the-Sea has governed under the Walsh Act since 1919. The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the November general election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. At a reorganization meeting after each election, each commissioner is assigned a department to administer and oversee; one of the commissioners is chosen to serve as mayor.
, members of the Avon-by-the-Sea Board of Commissioners are
Mayor Edward R. Bonanno (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety),
John B. Magrini (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and
Robert Mahon (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2023.
Federal, state and county representation
Avon-by-the-Sea is located in the 4th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Avon-by-the-Sea had been in the 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Avon-by-the-Sea 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 1,465 registered voters in Avon-by-the-Sea, of which 379 (25.9%) were registered as Democrats, 415 (28.3%) were registered as Republicans and 670 (45.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 63.3% of the vote (662 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 35.7% (373 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (11 votes), among the 1,053 ballots cast by the borough's 1,530 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.2% of the vote (680 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.4% (480 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (9 votes), among the 1,189 ballots cast by the borough's 1,520 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.5% of the vote (759 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.2% (459 votes) and other candidates with 0.2% (3 votes), among the 1,234 ballots cast by the borough's 1,605 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.9.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.4% of the vote (600 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.0% (183 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (13 votes), among the 812 ballots cast by the borough's 1,502 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.1% of the vote (583 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.6% (269 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.1% (46 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (4 votes), among the 909 ballots cast by the borough's 1,484 registered voters, yielding a 61.3% turnout.
Education
The Avon School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Avon Elementary School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 146 students and 18.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Avon was tied with the 23rd smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 158 students.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend either Asbury Park High School or Manasquan High School, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the respective districts, based on the results of a lottery under which 62.5% of students are sent to Manasquan and 37.5% to Asbury Park.
As of the 2018–19 school year, Asbury Park High School had an enrollment of 420 students and 38.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.
The Manasquan school also serves students from Belmar, Brielle, Lake Como, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective districts. As of the 2018–19 school year, Manasquan High School had an enrollment of 969 students and 72.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.3:1.
Students may also apply to academy schools in the Monmouth County Vocational School District, which include the Academy of Allied Health & Science, Biotechnology High School, High Technology High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology and Communications High School. Students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como, which accepts students on a lottery basis from the communities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como.
Transportation
Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Monmouth County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Route 71 is the main north–south road that passes through. Route 35 is immediately outside the borough, and provides access to Route 138/I-195. The Garden State Parkway is also nearby.
Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus transportation to Philadelphia on the 317 route and local service on the 830 route. The closest NJ transit train service is at the Belmar station and Bradley Beach station on the North Jersey Coast Line.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Avon-by-the-Sea has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average temperature > , at least four months with an average temperature ≥ , at least one month with an average temperature ≥ and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid with a cooling afternoon sea breeze in Avon-by-the-Sea, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > . Since 1981, the highest air temperature was on August 9, 2001 and the highest daily average mean dew point was on August 13, 2016. The average wettest month is July which correlates with the peak in thunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is . Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < . The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between and , 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, Avon-by-the-Sea would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25). The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of . The average date of first spring leaf-out is March 24 and fall color typically peaks in early-November.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Avon-by-the-Sea include:
Leo P. Carlin (1908-1999), Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1953 to 1962.
Dougie Hamilton future defenseman for the New Jersey Devils
Bronson Howard (1842-1908), dramatist.
Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941), concert pianist.
E. Donald Sterner (1894-1983), lumberman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
