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 COMMUNITY
PROFILE
About
Our Community
The City of Somers Point, originally known
as Somerset Plantation, is the oldest settlement in the County of Atlantic,
dating back to 1693. This four square mile, attractive municipality, is
located in the eastern portion of Atlantic County in what was once known
as Great Egg Harbor. Somers Point was first incorporated as a borough
in 1886. At that time the voting population was 48.
The city is
approximately seven miles southwest of Atlantic City, and 60 miles east
of Philadelphia. The city is bordered on the east and west by Egg Harbor
Township and to the north by the City of Linwood. Three bridges join Somers
Point to Cape May County on its southerly border; they are the Beesleys
Point Bridge (Route 9), the Garden State Parkway Bridge and the Route
52 bridge into Ocean City.
Somers Point
is primarily a residential community with a relatively large proportion
of its residents employed in professional services or executive positions
in the City and its neighboring communities.
Shore Memorial
Hospital, a modern 380-bed medical facility, is Somers Point's largest
employer, providing 1,400 jobs. Because of Somers Point's location on
the Great Egg Harbor River bayfront, it is known for its marinas, boating,
and numerous fine restaurants. Somers Point also has a vast variety of
small businesses located throughout the community, including many medical
professional offices as a result of the location of Shore Memorial Hospital.
Fire
Protection
A
volunteer fire department with approximately 60 members who are trained
to fight fires covers the entire City from two modern centrally located
firehouses. The City contributes to the operating expenses of the department
and also purchases the fire fighting equipment. The City currently is
housing four pumpers, one 102-foot aerial tower fire truck, two rescue
units, one utility vehicle, and two service cars.
Hospital
and Rescue Squad Services
The City
contributes to a volunteer rescue squad which maintains three well-equipped
ambulances. The squad includes 24 members; most of whom are certified
emergency maintenance personnel. There are 18 part-time paid members available
for service seven days per week.
Recreation
Numerous recreational and athletic facilities are
located throughout the City. These include eight baseball/softball fields,
one football field, two street hockey courts, various tennis and basketball
courts, a bicycle path that runs the length of the City, boat ramps and
a bathing beach. The City also provides a program of community education
that includes a wide range of topics, from arts and crafts to physical
exercise. The foregoing programs and facilities are supervised by a Council-appointed
Board of Recreation.
Privately owned
facilities in Somers Point include a golf course, swimming and tennis
club and several clubs that provide well-rounded sports and exercise programs.
Water
and Sewer
New Jersey-American Water Company provides water
service, and the City provides sewer service to virtually the entire City.
The City collects and pumps the sewage to facilities operated by the Atlantic
County Utilities Authority, and pays the County Authority for treatment
and disposal.
Trash Collection/Recycling
The City provides the residents of the entire City
with trash collection on a once-a-week basis the entire year. In addition,
recycling collection is provided by Atlantic County on a biweekly basis.
Transportation
The City is accessible by land via the Garden State
Parkway, a major north-south artery, which is adjacent to the City and
provides access to New York City, and via the Atlantic City Expressway,
which is seven miles distant and leads directly to Philadelphia. The Parkway
going south connects with the Cape May-Lewes ferry service, which provides
a convenient, modern method of crossing the Delaware Bay to points south.
The Atlantic
City International Airport (approximately 20 minutes distant) provides
both commuter and regular air travel to major eastern cities.
Education
The School District operates a kindergarten through
8th grade school system. It currently employs two school: the Jordan Road
School serving grades kindergarten-8, and the Dawes Avenue School serving
grades kindergarten-6.
The School
District is a constituent district of the Mainland Regional High School
District. Its public school students in grades 9 through 12 attend the
Mainland Regional High School,
located in Linwood.
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