Stone Harbor, New Jersey
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Stone Harbor is a borough in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough, and all of Cape May County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> 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.
As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 796,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 70 (−8.1%) from the 2010 census count of 866,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn had reflected a decline of 262 (−23.2%) from the 1,128 counted at the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The borough has a summer population in excess of 20,000,<ref>Master Plan, Borough of Stone Harbor. Accessed May 22, 2008.</ref> who are generally wealthier than full-time residents.<ref>Master Plan Reexamination 2019, Borough of Stone Harbor. Accessed October 28, 2019. "Harbor is attracting wealthier homeowners. The Cape May County Planning Department Estimates that Stone Harbor's population swells to just over 21,000 people in the summer. The second homeowners who occupy their summer dwellings are typically more affluent then the year round population."</ref>
The New York Times described Stone Harbor as a place of "gleaming McMansions and elegant shops",<ref name=NYT2005>Strauss, Robert. "Worth Noting; Stone Harbor Gets A Coat of Many Colors", The New York Times, June 26, 2005. Accessed April 29, 2013.</ref> with an average single-family home selling for US$2.5 million in 2008.<ref name=NYT2008/> In 2017, Stone Harbor was the third-most expensive ZIP Code in New Jersey based on median home sale price, and had the second-most expensive residential real estate transaction in the state that year at $10 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, Forbes magazine ranked Stone Harbor (ZIP Code 08247) at the 191st spot on its list of the most expensive ZIP Codes in the United States.<ref>Carlyle, Erin. "New York Dominates 2014 List of America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", Forbes, October 8, 2014. Accessed March 16, 2020.</ref>
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.<ref name=NYT2008>Lyttle, Bethany. "High & Low | Stone Harbor, N.J. - Fine White Sand and Summer Homes", The New York Times, October 10, 2008. Accessed April 29, 2013.</ref>
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.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 116. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The borough is said to be named for an English sea captain named Stone who sought shelter from a storm in the area.<ref>Truluck, Leslie. "Grassroots Website 'Capt. Stone's Log' Gives Local Stone Harbor Insight", Cape May County Herald, June 19, 2009. Accessed October 10, 2015. "Koch writes from the persona of Capt. Stone, an English seaman who is credited with having named the borough when he sought refuge in the borough's back bay from a storm."</ref><ref>Cole, T. Mark; and Glasgow, Cheryl. Stone Harbor, p. 10. Arcadia Publishing, 2001. Template:ISBN. Accessed October 10, 2015. "Named for an English sea captain who found refuge from a storm here, the area was first called Stoneharbor. In 1931, the name was changed to Stone Harbor."</ref>
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.<ref>Benson, David. "Stone Harbor project shut down after second spill" Template:Webarchive, The Gazette of Middle Township, April 7, 2016. Accessed May 31, 2016. "A Stone Harbor dredging project aimed at removing about 100,000 cubic yards of silt from the borough's back bays has been shut down by the state after two geotubes failed recently at the Stone Harbor marina parking lot, releasing mud which seeped through bulkhead openings and into the North Basin, officials said."</ref>
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%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Seven Mile Beach.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
Stone Harbor borders Avalon Borough, Middle Township, North Wildwood City and the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>Areas touching Stone Harbor, MapIt. Accessed March 13, 2020.</ref><ref>Cape May County, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 13, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 866 people, 441 households, and 256 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 97.11% (841) White, 1.62% (14) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.12% (1) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.69% (6) from other races, and 0.46% (4) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.35% (29) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 441 households, 10.2% had children under the age of 18; 49.2% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.0% were non-families. Of all households, 37.4% were made up of individuals and 21.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.54.<ref name=Census2010/>
10.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 11.8% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 41.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 84.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
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.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Stone Harbor borough, Cape May County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,128 people, 596 households, and 330 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,428 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Stone Harbor borough, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Stone Harbor borough, Cape May County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
Local government
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Stone Harbor is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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 includes 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 8.</ref> 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Agenda and Meetings, Borough of Stone Harbor. Accessed March 13, 2020. "The Borough form of municipal government is the most common among New Jersey's municipalities. This form of government provides for a mayor and a six-member council, elected separately in partisan elections at the November general election. The mayor serves for four years. Council members serve three-year staggered terms of office, with two council seats being contested each year. The mayor and council members are elected at large from the entire community."</ref>
Template:As of, the mayor of Stone Harbor Borough is Republican Timothy J. Carney, whose term of office ends December 31, 2028. Members of the Stone Harbor Borough Council are Council President Jennifer B. Gensemer (R, 2025), Ken Biddick (R, 2025), Robin Lynn Casper (R, 2023), Francis J. "Frank" Dallahan (R, 2027), Victor Foschini (I, 2025) and Bernadette "Bunny" Parzych (R, 2027).<ref name=Council>Borough Council Standing Committees, Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Accessed February 19, 2025.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Accessed February 19, 2025.</ref><ref name=CapeMayOfficials>2024 County & Municipal Elected Officials Cape May County, NJ -- July 2024, Cape May County, New Jersey, July 9, 2024. Accessed February 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2024>2024 General Election Official Results, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2023>Summary Results Report 2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Cape May County, New Jersey, November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2022>Summary Results Report 2022 November Cape May General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>
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 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>Conti, Vince. "Dallahan Joins Council", Cape May County Herald, June 11, 2019. Accessed October 28, 2019. "When health-related issues led Robert Levins to resign from Stone Harbor Borough Council, the process to temporarily fill the seat requires that the municipality’s Republican organization nominate three potential candidates. That left the final decision to the council. Frank Dallahan, one of the candidates nominated, was appointed by council June 4 to finish Levins’ unexpired term."</ref><ref name=CapeMay2019>Cape May County 2019 General Election Successful Candidates, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
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.<ref>Conti, Vince. "Shifts Occur on Council", Cape May County Herald, November 27, 2018. Accessed October 28, 2019. "Stone Harbor Council President Karen Lane resigned from council effective Oct. 22.... Council member Joselyn Rich was selected as its president for the remainder of the calendar year.... On Nov. 20, council announced its appointment to Lane’s vacant seat: Reese Moore, an active member in the Stone Harbor Property Owners Association (SHPOA)."</ref><ref name=CapeMay2019/>
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.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Stone Harbor Borough was $8,615 in 2018, the highest in Cape May County."</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
Stone Harbor is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>
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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.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Cape May, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref>
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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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref> 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.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref>
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|50.7% 263 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.0% 244 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|56.0% 296 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.5% 230 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.3% 296 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|37.5% 187 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Election">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|64.8% 411 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|34.1% 216 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.7% 416 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|36.1% 240 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|69.6% 519 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|29.1% 217 |
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%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>2009 Governor: Cape May County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 17, 2012.</ref>
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Education
The Stone Harbor School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Stone Harbor School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Stone Harbor School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 78 students and 9.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Stone Harbor School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Stone Harbor had the 4th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 75 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 4. Stone Harbor Borough; Enrollment: 75; Grades: K-4; County: Cape May; Town population: 866"</ref>
The Avalon and Stone Harbor school districts operate like a single school district even though they are legally two separate districts; they can move teachers between the two schools. In terms of their student populations both districts having among the lowest numbers in New Jersey. 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.<ref>Stone Harbor Elementary School 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 5, 2017. "The district has entered into a 'send-receive' agreement with the neighboring district on the island to consolidate the instructional programs in the two schools. Stone Harbor houses the K-4 programs for both districts and Avalon houses grades 5-8."</ref>
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.<ref>Middle Township High School 2015 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 23, 2020. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Woodbine Borough."</ref><ref>Home page, Middle Township Public Schools. Accessed February 19, 2025. "Middle Township High School is a comprehensive, four-year public school that serves students in ninth- through twelfth-grade. In addition to educating the children from Middle Township, the District also serves high school-aged students from Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 825 students and 66.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.<ref>School data for Middle Township High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>
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.<ref>Frequently Asked Questions, Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All residents of Cape May County are eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School.... The Cape May County Technical High School is a public school so there is no cost to residents of Cape May County."</ref><ref>Technical High School Admissions, Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All students who are residents of Cape May County may apply to the Technical High School."</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which has a Cape May Courthouse postal address.<ref>Template:Cite web - Compare to the address: "2221 Rt. 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210"</ref> It is the parish school of Avalon/Stone Harbor Catholic Church and three other churches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cape May County Library operates the Stone Harbor Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transportation
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Roads and highways
Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Cape May County.<ref>Cape May County Mileage by Municipality and JurisdictionTemplate:Dead link, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
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,<ref>Cape May County Route 619 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated July 2011. Accessed February 13, 2023.</ref> and County Route 657, which provides access to the mainland and connects to the Garden State Parkway and U.S. Route 9.<ref>Cape May County Route 657 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated July 2011. Accessed February 13, 2023.</ref><ref>Cape May County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 13, 2023.</ref>
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.<ref>Cape May County Bus/Rail Connections, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed December 15, 2014.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 15, 2014.</ref>
Points of interest
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The Stone Harbor Water Tower pumping station, built in 1924, is the oldest municipal structure still in use in Stone Harbor. The tower, Template:Convert high, can be seen from almost anywhere on the island. It holds Template:Convert of water and is supplied by four individual fresh water wells Template:Convert deep that tap the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer.<ref>Department of Water & Sewer Template:Webarchive, Borough of Stone Harbor. Accessed August 30, 2013.</ref> 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 Template:Convert 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.<ref name=NYT2005/>
Stone Harbor attractions include The Wetlands Institute,<ref>About Us, The Wetlands Institute. Accessed August 30, 2013.</ref> the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary<ref>The Sanctuary’s History, Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. Accessed August 30, 2013.</ref> and the Stone Harbor Museum.<ref>About the Museum, Stone Harbor Museum. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref> 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.<ref>Gillin-Schwartz, Megan. "Villa Maria-by-the Sea celebrates 70th Anniversary", Cape May County Herald, July 10, 2007. Accessed August 30, 2013. "On July 8, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the treasured Villa Maria-by-the Sea retreat home on 111th Street with a celebratory mass for benefactors, and an open house for the public.... The retreat house opened June 20, 1937; a little more than four months after the first piece of lumber was laid."</ref>
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.<ref>Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Sandy laurels for South JerseySeven of the Top 10 N.J. beaches are in Cape May County", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Accessed October 10, 2015. "Neighboring Wildwood Crest came in second, followed by Ocean City, North Wildwood, Cape May, Asbury Park in Monmouth County, Avalon, Point Pleasant Beach in northern Ocean County, Beach Haven in southern Ocean County and Stone Harbor."</ref>
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Stone Harbor 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 above Template:Convert, at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above Template:Convert, at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above Template:Convert 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 at or above Template:Convert. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below Template:Convert. The plant hardiness zone at Stone Harbor Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of Template:Convert.<ref name="USDA">Template:Cite web</ref> The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is Template:Convert, 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 would have a dominant vegetation type of northern cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of coastal prairie (20).<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions), Data Basin. Accessed March 18, 2020.</ref>
Notable people
Template:Category see also 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<ref>"J. Hergesheimer, Novelist, 74, Dead; Author of 'Java Head,' Best Seller, Wrote 20 Works in a Period of 20 Years; Brought Past to Life Known as a Historian, He Also Commented on the Foibles of the Twenties", The New York Times, April 26, 1954. Accessed August 22, 2015. "The writer, whose home was in Stone Harbor, is survived by his widow, Dorothy Hemphill Hergesheimer."</ref>
- Owen Murphy (1893–1965) , songwriter, film maker, and writer for radio, film, and theatre<ref>"Owen Murphy is Dead at 71; Was Composer; Songwriter Had Lived For Many Years In Bergen County", The Record, April 5, 1965. Accessed March 25, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Ho Ho-Kus - Owen Murphy, a noted composer, died Saturday at Stone Harbor where he had resided after living at Jacqueline Avenue here for many years."</ref>
- Clarence Charles Newcomer (1923–2005), United States federal judge<ref>Martin, Douglas. "Clarence C. Newcomer, a Longtime Federal Judge, Dies at 82", The New York Times, August 25, 2005. Accessed July 8, 2015. "Clarence C. Newcomer, who as a federal judge in Philadelphia for more than three decades won a reputation for no-nonsense jurisprudence in hundreds of cases ranging from civil rights to organized crime to baseball cards, died Monday at his home in Stone Harbor, N.J., near Cape May. He was 82."</ref>
- Taylor Swift (born 1989), summered until age 14, describing Stone Harbor as a "pretty magical place to grow up"<ref>Strauss, Robert. "Taylor Swift's Stone Harbor; From Coffee Talk gigs to Italian Garden pizza, it was a "pretty magical place to grow up.'", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 15, 2009. Accessed July 8, 2015. "From the time she was 2 until she was 14, when her family left for Nashville, Taylor Swift's parents had a summer house on the bay in Stone Harbor."</ref>
- 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<ref>Flint, Peter B. "Donald Voorhees, 85, Conductor Who Led Bell Telephone Hour", The New York Times, January 11, 1989. Accessed September 18, 2017. "Donald Voorhees, for 28 years the conductor and musical director of the Bell Telephone Hour, one of the most popular musical programs in broadcasting history, died of pneumonia yesterday at Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Cape May Court House, N.J. He was 85 years old and lived in Stone Harbor, N.J."</ref>
- Josh Weikert (born 1978), Immaculata University professor, author, and six-time Jeopardy! champion summers in Stone Harbor<ref>Knight, Karen. "Stone Harbor Homeowner Advances on 'Jeopardy!'", Cape May County Herald, April 3, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025.</ref>
References
External links
- Stone Harbor Borough website
- Avalon Stone Harbor Schools
- Template:NJReportCard
- Stone Harbor School District, National Center for Education Statistics
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