Long Beach Island (colloquially known as LBI or just The island ) is a barrier island and summer colonies along the Atlantic Ocean coast at Ocean County, New Jersey in the United States. Along the north-south, the northern part is generally slightly higher ending low-density housing, while the southern part has higher density housing and considerable commercial development. Major industries include tourism, fisheries, and real estate. The only access point to the island by land is a single cross road.
The island is home to about 20,000 people each year. The population is distributed among six separate municipalities, the largest being Long Beach Township. However, island populations swell significantly during the summer months and reach about 100,000 people, including part-time residents and tourists, often referred to as "shoobies" or the term "bennies" are less known. The island's nearby communities are mostly prosperous and contain vacation homes for rich people living elsewhere, especially New Jersey and New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Video Long Beach Island
Geografi Edit
Long Beach Island (LBI) lies 42 miles (68 km) north of Atlantic City, 61 miles (98 km) east-southeast of Philadelphia and 101 miles (163 km) south of New York City. LBI is about 18 miles (29 km), which includes a three mile (5 km) nature reserve located at the southern end. The island is about half a mile wide (800 m) at its widest point on the Lower Ship, and spans one fifth of a mile (300 m) at the smallest point on Harvey Cedars.
Long Beach Island was split by State Route 72, formerly "South 40", which connects the mainland to the island at Ship Bottom. This is the only access point for land vehicles to land on top of Manahawkin Bay. This results in the division of the island into the northern and southern parts. From the bridge to the north, the island includes the Ship Bottom community, Surf City, North Beach (part of Long Beach Township), Harvey Cedars, Loveladies (part of Long Beach Township), High Bar Harbor (the northernmost part of Long Beach City), and Light of Barnegat. From the bridge to the south, the island includes the Lower Ship community, Long Beach Township (including a census-designated spot from North Beach Haven) and Beach Haven, with Holgate section in Long Beach Township at the southernmost tip of the island.
Climate Edit
Long Beach Island has a humid subtropical climate. In winter, the island does not get as much snow as northern and western parts of New Jersey or inland areas as it is close to the Atlantic Ocean. Overall, Long Beach Island has relatively mild winters due to the warm Atlantic waters. The island also received the last snow in the state due to its mild autumn climate. Summer is mostly hot and sunny, with storms almost once a week and a small possibility of a storm in late summer.
Maps Long Beach Island
History Edit
The island has continued to settle since 1690, initially being the goal of the hunters. Barnegat Inlet, in the north of the island, is an important route for goods delivery and whaling from the 17th century to the 20th century. Due to the importance of Inlet and its turbulent waters, a lighthouse tower was built in 1835 to guide the senders through the area, but insufficient for ships, constantly misinterpreted as other boats passing by as light has been repaired. The problem of erosion destroyed the tower in 1857, two years before Barnegat Lighthouse was currently completed in 1859, flashing at each compass point every 10 seconds. It was built by the United States Army Engineer Corps under the supervision of George Gordon Meade, famous for leading the Union forces to victory four years later during the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Life Savings Service of the United States built Station # 17 at Barnegat Light (then known as Brownsville) around 1872, which continues today as the United States Coast Guard station.
The burgeoning tourism sector is driving the Tuckerton Railroad (a short lane from Tuckerton to Whiting) to build a bridge across the bay of Barnegat that runs from the town of Barnegat to Beach Haven; the track was completed in 1886, and leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). The Jersey Shore shark attack of 1916 included a fatal attack on Beach Haven, killing Pennsylvania University student Charles Vansant in July 1916, which partially inspired the Jaws book. Severe winter storms in 1920 destroyed most of the beaches along the island, several hotels, and reopened the new entrance at Holgate. The storm in 1923 further reduced the tourism sector, resulting in the discontinuation of rail services to the City of Barnegat between 1923 and 1926. In 1935, the railway bridge to the mainland was swept away, leaving the entire island without rail service.
A few hurricanes throughout the island's history have resulted in the island being split in two, with the division occurring at the narrowest point of the island at Harvey Cedars. The most famous of such storms, however, is Ash Wednesday Storm in 1962, which separates Long Beach Island into many parts and nearly destroys the island as a whole. The storm caused the destroyer USS Monssen to run aground at Beach Haven Inlet, Long Beach Township. The current Route 72 was established in the late 1950s that replaced the low-lane two-lane bridge that itself had replaced the previously destroyed railway bridge.
Hurricane Sandy Edit
In late October 2012, parts of Long Beach Island were significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The inhabitants were evacuated and some of the islands were flooded, with the sea meeting the bay in remote places. The streets are left covered with sand up to four feet at some point. Several houses along the ocean and the bay front community were damaged by a nine foot and 18 foot storm that pounded the barrier island.
The Manahawkin Bay Bridge remained closed to residents for 13 full days after the storm, and local residents were banned from returning to the island except for short visits to pick up things. Bulldozers and front-end loaders move hundreds of tons of sand, along with power lines and ships, in an effort to make roadways go by. Long Beach Island was finally reopened for residents and building owners on Nov. 10, with the exception of Holgate's portion of Long Beach Township, where infrastructure and road damage are still too dangerous. However, island officials warned that some areas were still without sewage, water and electricity services at that time.
Damage is distributed unevenly across the island. Areas with a hillside system have limited damage, while areas without dunes, or where dunes are violated, receive far greater damage. In the neighborhood - in some parts like Holgate, on the southern tip of the island - devastating destruction. Protective sand, an ambitious project developed by the US Army Engineer Corps has been a source of controversy in recent years, and has led to conflicts between local officials arguing for dune needs, and property owners who feel that dunes are devaluing their property. Thus, the work is incomplete and there is a significant pause in the dune system. Other affected areas include Loveladies and North Beach. The area where the dune system in place fared much better, such as Harvey Cedars, Ship Bottom, Surf City, and Barnegat Light.
Electricity is restored to 70% Island on November 4, 2012. On November 20, 2012, natural gas services are restored to almost the entire island.
In mid-November many businesses reopened in Long Beach Island with a return to normal life for most of the island in mid-December.
Demographics Edit
There are six separate municipalities on Long Beach Island. Long Beach Township is the largest of these, and is further subdivided into several environments:
- The Light of Barnegat
- Beach Haven
- Harvey Cedars
- Long Beach City
- Brant Beach
- Haven Crest Beach
- Beach Haven Gardens
- Haven Inlet Beach
- Beach Haven Park
- Beach Haven Terrace
- Brighton Beach
- Beach Haven
- High Bar Harbor
- Holgate
- Loveladies
- North Beach Haven
- North Beach
- Peahala Park
- South Haven Beach
- Spray Beach
- Under the Ship
- Surf City
Culture Edit
In the 1970s, an article in Philadelphia Magazine insinuated that, "The one turns to the right (south) and has the custom turn left (north)," referring to the right or left turning option when it arrives at island of the bridge. Naturally accurate, the lowlands of the north of the island, Loveladies, North Beach, and the surrounding neighborhood are home to large-scale homes that attract many visitors and are often sources of rumors about holiday celebrities during the summer. The south community of Beach Haven has a historic and elegant Victorian home that has survived many storms. The southern end contains significantly more commercial zonation, which generally declines in the north of the bridge. Year-round residents and businesses that operate more generally towards the southern end of the island, especially in larger districts of Beach Haven and Ship Bottom.
Long Beach Island usually attracts a family-oriented crowd over the summer, unlike the more frenzied beach vacation destinations like Belmar and Seaside Heights. The island has no sidewalks because the one in Beach Haven was washed away by a 1944 storm, and the nightlife was limited to a few bars. Visitors generally take part in activities such as mini golf, parasailing, jet skiing, walking, shopping, and relaxing on the beach. The island has a reputation as a base for a lot of long-term recreational fishing and rental vessels, whose journey can range from 10-100 miles from one of the two islands on the island (at Barnegat Light in the north and Beach Haven in the south.) In 2009 , The International Lighthouse Film Festival was launched on the Island. This three-day event screened movies in various places across the island. Other art venues include Surflight Theater at Beach Haven, and many art galleries across the island. The Surflight Theater was closed for foreclosures, but has now reopened with plans to expand the number of performances presented each year.
Beach refilling Edit
Some of the 18 km beaches (29 km) from the coast have experienced significant erosion in recent decades, threatening the multimillion dollar seaside homes in the area. In 2005, with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, work began on a $ 75 million project to build a 22-foot (6.7 m) tall, 30-foot (9.1 m) wide island long dune, using sand pumped from off beach. In front of the sand dunes, a 61-foot (61 m) sand stretch separates the sand dunes from the ocean. Coastal filling projects begin at Ship Bottom and Surf City. By working on the now complete beaches, the project continues towards the northern tip of the island. Coastal filling has become a very controversial topic. Many surfers and swimmers argue that pumping sand destroys the sand dune that creates waves and provides a better swimming environment. Some homeowners claim that the dunes will reduce the value of the property, while island officials argue that dunes are needed to fight coastal erosion and protect the island from storms.
Transportation Edit
Sharing the developed area is the only access point for road vehicles, via State Route 72, which consists of the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge (locally known as "The Causeway", although the term is not appropriate in its application). This bridge is known for its "String of Pearls", a row of lights mounted on the fence lining the bridge. The bridge was designed by an engineer of the American Department of Transport of Africa, New Jersey, Dorland J. Henderson who also designed unique bridge lights. The bridge extends from Manahawkin onshore to Ship Bottom on the island. The island can also be reached by water transport. The $ 155 million plan that was inaugurated by the New Jersey Department of Transport in 2005 will replace the existing bridge and add a second range. The new southern range was opened in 2016 and the original bridge will be rebuilt over the next 3 years. For public transport, NJ Transit Bus 559 Lakewood - Atlantic City operates to Manahawkin. Local Ocean Ride service is provided on OC9 Long Beach Island route.
Surf Line Bus, a direct private bus service, takes you directly from New York City to various stops on the Island. During 2017, just run Friday from NYC and Sunday from LBI from late July to Labor Day weekend. In 2018 and thereafter, the bus will operate during the summer weekend from the Heroes Day weekend until Labor Day weekend.
TransportAzumah offers daily service during the summer between Midtown Manhattan in New York City and Long Beach Island with a stop at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The LBI Shuttle operates an 18-mile island on Long Beach Boulevard, providing free service every 5 to 20 minutes from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm during the summer. It serves the town/community of Long Beach Island from Barnegat Light, Loveladies, Harvey Cedars, North Beach, Surf City, Lower Ship, Long Beach Township, Beach Haven and Holgate.
Important location Edit
The historic Barnegat Lighthouse is located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the north end of the island, along Barnegat Inlet. The cone-shaped tower stands as high as 165 feet (50 m) and the park covers several paths through the original foliage as well as along the dock built in the 1990s. The clamber of Lindsay L, anchored near the Viking Village at Cahaya Barnegat, is used in the film The Perfect Storm . The lighthouse is open daily from 10:00 to 16:30 (weather permitting) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is a $ 3 charge per person to enter the lighthouse from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Children ages 6 to 11 are $ 1 and children ages 5 and under are free and should be accompanied by adults. Visitors can also capture views from the top without climbing 217 steps thanks to four cameras that send images directly from view to view in adjacent Interpretive Center.
Loveladies is home to the Long Beach Island Arts and Science Foundation, founded in 1948 by artist Boris Blai. The organization provides art, science and recreation programs to residents and visitors. The Foundation offers After School's Art Education Program for local schools, Artists Residency and Retreat Program for New Jersey Artists, Ceramic Artists Visit over the summer, and ceramic scholarships and residency opportunities.
In the south, at Beach Haven, Fantasy Island Theme Park is the only full-time location on the island with standard-cost amusement rides (including classically designed carousel). Fantasy Island offers rides, games, food, live entertainment, and family-style casino arcades; amusement park is currently celebrating its 30th year. Entertainment, entrance tickets, and free parking. Carnival Festival Festival Of The Sea also performed at St. Francis Community Church at Ship Bottom every August for one week per year. Lucille's Oh Fudge! Candy has a great saltwater taffy look in front of her shop in Brant Beach, the first candy made near Atlantic City. Candy Lucille also has a location on Route 72 in Manahawkin Thundering Surf Water Park, the island's only water park, offering fun for all ages. With six waterslides, a children's area, lazy river, mini golf, and Flow House, the water park is a popular attraction for families.
Two significant commercial companies are Schooner's Wharf/Bay Village, in Beach Haven, and Viking Village, in Barnegat Light. The latter includes many family-owned shops that are generally oriented towards the local fishing industry and many fishing boats sail there, although handicrafts can also be found. The first is directed more specifically toward the tourism industry, featuring a variety of restaurants and more mainstream shops. Across from the Thundering Surf Water Park, Bay Village began in 1965 when John Maschal bought a half block around his "Country Kettle Fudge" store - which had opened four years earlier - and expanded it into the existing shopping area. When Bay Village opened, he joined Lucy Evelyn, a schooner of 3 masteds who had been placed on land and turned into a gift shop and museum. Lucy Evelyn, 140 'long with 32' and 10 'draft beams, built in 1917 in Harrington, Maine, burned down in January 1972. Replaced by a schooner-like structure. One of the original "Shaman Seaman" that surrounds Lucy Evelyn is still on the northwestern outskirts of the Bay Village. The annual Chowderfest clam chowder competition is held at Schooner's Wharf/Bay Village in Beach Haven every October, attracting many tourists during the quiet season. Over the last 20 years, the island's restaurants compete in Manhattan and New England Clam Chowder. Recent winners include Stefano's Pizza and Pasta, Howard Restaurant, Country Kettle Chowda, Buckalew's Restaurant and Tavern, and The Black Whale Bar and Fish House.
Media Edit
Asbury Park Press provides daily coverage of cities such as WOBM-FM radio. The city government provides columns and comments for The Southern Ocean Times, which is one of seven weekly papers from Micromedia Publications.
See also Edit
- The Effect of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey
- Jersey Shore
References Edit
External links Edit
- South Ocean County Chamber of Commerce - Official LBI visitor guide with information on hotels, meals, events & amp; more
- LBI Chamber of Commerce - Complete event calendar, business directories, and up-to-date news.
- LBInet: Long Beach Island, New Jersey
- longbeachisland.com
- Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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