Stone Harbor is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States, that is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. It occupies the southern portion of Seven Mile Island together with its northern neighbor Avalon. It is a resort community that attracts visitors looking to enjoy its beaches, sailing facilities and commercial center. The community attracts a large number of vacationers from the Mid-Atlantic region and Quebec. The borough has a summer population in excess of 20,000, though as of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a year-round population of 866, reflecting a decline of 262 (-23.2%) from the 1,128 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 103 (+10.0%) from the 1,025 counted in the 1990 Census. In general, summer visitors are wealthier than full-time residents.
The New York Times describes Stone Harbor as a place of "gleaming McMansions and elegant shops", with an average single-family home selling for $2.5 million in 2008. In 2017, Stone Harbor was the third-most expensive Zip Code in the State of New Jersey based on median home sale price, and had the second-priciest residential real estate transaction in the state that year at $10 million. In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Stone Harbor (ZIP Code 08247) as #191 on its list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.
History
Development began in the late 19th century as a beach resort along the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad line. The community was marketed to wealthy residents of Philadelphia seeking a resort destination for a second home.
Stone Harbor was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1914, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1914. The borough gained a portion of Avalon on December 27, 1941. The borough is said to be named for an English sea captain named Stone who sought shelter from a storm in the area.
In 2015, a contract was awarded to dredge adjacent bodies of water. In early 2016, during the dewatering stage of the operation, a total of three geotubes discharged a small quantity of sediment containing several contaminants. Dredging was halted pending development of a plan to prevent future such spills.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.19 square miles (5.68 km2), including 1.42 square miles (3.68 km2) of land and 0.77 square miles (2.01 km2) of water (35.34%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Seven Mile Beach.
Stone Harbor borders Avalon Borough, Middle Township, North Wildwood City and the Atlantic Ocean.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $69,286 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,969) and the median family income was $92,083 (+/- $19,643). Males had a median income of $55,417 (+/- $23,166) versus $70,208 (+/- $15,479) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $60,057 (+/- $10,700). About 2.8% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,128 people, 596 households, and 330 families residing in the borough. The population density was 796.1 people per square mile (306.7/km2). There were 3,428 housing units at an average density of 2,419.4 per square mile (932.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.76% White, 0.80% African American, 0.18% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 596 households, out of which 11.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.50.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 12.3% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 14.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 38.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $51,471, and the median income for a family was $67,250. Males had a median income of $52,500 versus $35,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,427. About 1.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Stone Harbor is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 565) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised 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 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. The Borough form of government used by Stone Harbor 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 Stone Harbor Borough is Republican Judith M. Davies-Dunhour, whose term of office ends December 31, 2020. Members of the Stone Harbor Borough Council are Council President Council President Joselyn O. "Josee" Rich (R, 2020), Francis J. "Frank" Dallahan (R, 2021; elected to serve an unexpired term), Jennifer B. Gensemer (R, 2022), Charles C. Krafczek (R, 2022), Reese E. Moore (R, 2020; elected to serve an unexpired term) and Raymond W. Parzych (R, 2021).
In June 2019, Frank Dallahan was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that was vacated by Robert Levins when he resigned from office due to health issues; Dallahan served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In November 2018, the council selected Reese Moore from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated the previous month following the resignation of Council President Karen Lane; Moore served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the remainder of the term.
In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $8,615, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.
Federal, state and county representation
Stone Harbor is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 778 registered voters in Stone Harbor, of which 62 (8.0%) were registered as Democrats, 588 (75.6%) were registered as Republicans and 128 (16.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In 2016, Republican Donald Trump received 59.3% of the vote (296 votes) vs. Hillary Clinton's 37.5% (187 votes) with other candidates taking 3.2% (16 votes). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.8% of the vote (411 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.1% (216 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (7 votes), among the 640 ballots cast by the borough's 782 registered voters (6 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 81.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 62.7% of the vote (416 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 36.1% (240 votes), with 664 ballots cast among the borough's 801 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 69.6% of the vote (519 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 29.1% (217 votes), with 746 ballots cast among the borough's 920 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.1.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 82.7% of the vote (324 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 15.8% (62 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (6 votes), among the 405 ballots cast by the borough's 742 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.9% of the vote (349 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 30.5% (172 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.4% (25 votes), with 564 ballots cast among the borough's 808 registered voters, yielding a 69.8% turnout.
Education
The Stone Harbor School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 99 students and 11.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.0:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Stone Harbor had the 4th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 75 students.
Starting with the 2011–12 school year, in an agreement with the Avalon School District, public school students in grades K-4 from both communities attend school in Stone Harbor while all students in grades 5-8 attend school in Avalon.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools, together with students from Avalon, Dennis Township and Woodbine. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 767 students and 64.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1.
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents. Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in the Cape May Court House area.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates Bishop McHugh Regional School, a Catholic K-8 school, in Ocean View, Dennis Township, which has a Cape May Courthouse postal address. It is the parish school of Avalon/Stone Harbor Catholic Church and three other churches.
Cape May County Library operates the Stone Harbor Library.
Transportation
Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Cape May County.
No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways pass through Stone Harbor. The most significant roads are minor county routes such as County Route 619, which follows Ocean Drive, and County Route 657, which provides access to the mainland and connects to the Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9.
Public transportation
NJ Transit offers the 315 inter-city bus route that runs through the town three times a day and shuttles people to and from Philadelphia, and the 319 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Points of interest
The Stone Harbor Water Tower pumping station, built in 1924, is the oldest municipal structure still in use in Stone Harbor. The tower, high, can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. It holds of water and is supplied by four individual fresh water wells deep that tap the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. In 2005, artist Peter Max developed a plan to cover the water tower with a mural made up of digital version of his paintings and artworks that covered that would be glued to the tower from June through September, with facsimiles of the art sold through Ocean Galleries as a fundraiser to benefit The Wetlands Institute and other charities.
Stone Harbor attractions include The Wetlands Institute, the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary and the Stone Harbor Museum. The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, maintain the Villa Maria by the Sea convent, which opened in June 1937. The beach fronting the Villa is called Nun's Beach and is a well known surfing spot.
Stone Harbor's oceanfront was ranked the tenth-best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Stone Harbor, New Jersey has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) 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 (> 0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Stone Harbor, 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 (≥ 35 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F (< -18 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Stone Harbor Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 6.0 °F (-14.4 °C). The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 12 and 18 inches (31 and 46 cm), 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, Stone Harbor, New Jersey would have a dominant vegetation type of northern cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of coastal prairie (20).
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Stone Harbor include:
Joseph Hergesheimer (1880-1954), writer of the early 20th century known for his naturalistic novels of decadent life among the very wealthy.
Clarence Charles Newcomer (1923-2005), United States federal judge.
Taylor Swift (born 1989), summered until age 14, describing Stone Harbor as a "pretty magical place to grow up."
Donald Voorhees (1903-1989), composer and conductor who received an Emmy Award nomination for "Individual Achievements in Music" for his work on the television series, The Bell Telephone Hour.
